Effective delivery of the anti-mycobacterial peptide NZX in mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intracellular delivery of antimicrobial agents by nanoparticles, such as mesoporous silica particles (MSPs), offers an interesting strategy to treat intracellular infections. In tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis avoids components of the immune system by residing primarily inside alveolar macrophages, which are the desired target for TB therapy.

Methods and findings

We have previously identified a peptide, called NZX, capable of inhibiting both clinical and multi-drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis at therapeutic concentrations. In this study we analysed the potential of MSPs containing NZX for the treatment of tuberculosis. The MSPs released functional NZX gradually into simulated lung fluid and the peptide filled MSPs were easily taken up by pri

SUBMITTER: Tenland E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6391042 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature