The researchers generated nanoparticles (NPs) based on calcium phosphate (CaP) loaded with antimicrobial compounds such as the peptide 1018 (synthesized by the project partner group of CNR-ICRM institute and selected for its antimicrobial property) and the antibiotic colistin. The synthesized and functionalized NPs were also characterized by evaluating their chemical-physical properties using different laboratory techniques, such as Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), spectrophotometry, spectrometry and chromatography. After characterization, the nanoparticles loaded with colistin or with peptide 1018 were tested in-vitro to evaluate their efficacy on clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and on artificial mucus. The experiments showed the effectiveness of the preparations both on bacterial culture and on biofilm inhibition and disintegration. The researchers also report that in in-vivo tests, NPs did not show toxic effects in mice, but further experiments will be needed to investigate the effects in animal models.

Pubblications

• Velino C, Carella F, Adamiano A et al. Nanomedicine Approaches for the Pulmonary Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2019 Dec 17;7:406

Congress abstracts

• Carella F, Velino C, Degli Esposti L et al. Antimicrobial-loaded calcium phosphate nanoparticles for the counteraction of biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance: towards a potential new therapy for cystic fibrosis-related infections, World Biomaterials Congress WBC 2020 Virtual, 11-15 December 2020