1
|
Crivello G, Fracchia L, Ciardelli G, Boffito M, Mattu C. In Vitro Models of Bacterial Biofilms: Innovative Tools to Improve Understanding and Treatment of Infections. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2023; 13:nano13050904. [PMID: 36903781 PMCID: PMC10004855 DOI: 10.3390/nano13050904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial infections are a growing concern to the health care systems. Bacteria in the human body are often found embedded in a dense 3D structure, the biofilm, which makes their eradication even more challenging. Indeed, bacteria in biofilm are protected from external hazards and are more prone to develop antibiotic resistance. Moreover, biofilms are highly heterogeneous, with properties dependent on the bacteria species, the anatomic localization, and the nutrient/flow conditions. Therefore, antibiotic screening and testing would strongly benefit from reliable in vitro models of bacterial biofilms. This review article summarizes the main features of biofilms, with particular focus on parameters affecting biofilm composition and mechanical properties. Moreover, a thorough overview of the in vitro biofilm models recently developed is presented, focusing on both traditional and advanced approaches. Static, dynamic, and microcosm models are described, and their main features, advantages, and disadvantages are compared and discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G. Crivello
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - L. Fracchia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Largo Donegani 2, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - G. Ciardelli
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - M. Boffito
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - C. Mattu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mattu C, Brachi G, Menichetti L, Flori A, Armanetti P, Ranzato E, Martinotti S, Nizzero S, Ferrari M, Ciardelli G. Alternating block copolymer-based nanoparticles as tools to modulate the loading of multiple chemotherapeutics and imaging probes. Acta Biomater 2018; 80:341-351. [PMID: 30236799 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cancer therapy often relies on the combined action of different molecules to overcome drug resistance and enhance patient outcome. Combined strategies relying on molecules with different pharmacokinetics often fail due to the lack of concomitant tumor accumulation and, thus, to the loss of synergistic effect. Due to their ability to enhance treatment efficiency, improve drug pharmacokinetics, and reduce adverse effects, polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) have been widely investigated as co-delivery vehicles for cancer therapies. However, co-encapsulation of different drugs and probes in PNPs requires a flexible polymer platform and a tailored particle design, in which both the bulk and surface properties of the carriers are carefully controlled. In this work, we propose a core-shell PNP design based on a polyurethane (PUR) core and a phospholipid external surface. The modulation of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of the PUR core enhanced the encapsulation of two chemotherapeutics with dramatically different water solubility (Doxorubicin hydrochloride, DOXO and Docetaxel, DCTXL) and of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for MRI imaging. The outer shell remained unchanged among the platforms, resulting in un-modified cellular uptake and in vivo biodistribution. We demonstrate that the choice of PUR core allowed a high entrapment efficiency of all drugs, superior or comparable to previously reported results, and that higher core hydrophilicity enhances the loading efficiency of the hydrophilic DOXO and the MRI contrast effect. Moreover, we show that changing the PUR core did not alter the surface properties of the carriers, since all particles showed a similar behavior in terms of cell internalization and in vivo biodistribution. We also show that PUR PNPs have high passive tumor accumulation and that they can efficient co-deliver the two drugs to the tumor, reaching an 11-fold higher DOXO/DCTXL ratio in tumor as compared to free drugs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Exploiting the synergistic action of multiple chemotherapeutics is a promising strategy to improve the outcome of cancer patients, as different agents can simultaneously engage different features of tumor cells and/or their microenvironment. Unfortunately, the choice is limited to drugs with similar pharmacokinetics that can concomitantly accumulate in tumors. To expand the spectrum of agents that can be delivered in combination, we propose a multi-compartmental core-shell nanoparticles approach, in which the core is made of biomaterials with high affinity for drugs of different physical properties. We successfully co-encapsulated Doxorubicin Hydrochloride, Docetaxel, and contrast agents and achieved a significantly higher concomitant accumulation in tumor versus free drugs, demonstrating that nanoparticles can improve synergistic cancer chemotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Mattu
- Politecnico di Torino, DIMEAS C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy; Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - G Brachi
- Politecnico di Torino, DIMEAS C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy; Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - L Menichetti
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Via G. Moruzzi, 1 56124 Pisa, Italy; Fondazione Regione Toscana G. Monasterio, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - A Flori
- Fondazione Regione Toscana G. Monasterio, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - P Armanetti
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Via G. Moruzzi, 1 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - E Ranzato
- DiSIT-Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, University of Piemonte Orientale, piazza Sant'Eusebio 5, Vercelli 13100, Italy
| | - S Martinotti
- DiSIT-Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, University of Piemonte Orientale, Viale Teresa Michel 11, Alessandria 15121, Italy
| | - S Nizzero
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Applied Physics Graduate Program, Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - M Ferrari
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - G Ciardelli
- Politecnico di Torino, DIMEAS C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|