J Vet Sci.  2024 Mar;25(2):e30. 10.4142/jvs.23215.

Antibiofilm activity of polyethylene glycol-quercetin nanoparticlesloaded gelatin-N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan composite nanogels against Staphylococcus epidermidis

• Luo W
• Jiang Y
• Liu J
• Sun B
• Gao X
• Algharib SA
• Guo D
• Wei J
• Wei Y

• KMID: 2554568
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.23215

Abstract

Background
Biofilms, such as those from Staphylococcus epidermidis, are generally insensitive to traditional antimicrobial agents, making it difficult to inhibit their formation. Although quercetin has excellent antibiofilm effects, its clinical applications are limited by the lack of sustained and targeted release at the site of S. epidermidis infection.
Objectives
Polyethylene glycol-quercetin nanoparticles (PQ-NPs)-loaded gelatin-N,Ocarboxymethyl chitosan (N,O-CMCS) composite nanogels were prepared and assessed for the on-demand release potential for reducing S. epidermidis biofilm formation.
Methods
The formation mechanism, physicochemical characterization, and antibiofilm activity of PQ-nanogels against S. epidermidis were studied.
Results
Physicochemical characterization confirmed that PQ-nanogels had been prepared by the electrostatic interactions between gelatin and N,O-CMCS with sodium tripolyphosphate. The PQ-nanogels exhibited obvious pH and gelatinase-responsive to achieve on-demand release in the micro-environment (pH 5.5 and gelatinase) of S. epidermidis. In addition, PQ-nanogels had excellent antibiofilm activity, and the potential antibiofilm mechanism may enhance its antibiofilm activity by reducing its relative biofilm formation, surface hydrophobicity, exopolysaccharides production, and eDNA production.
Conclusions
This study will guide the development of the dual responsiveness (pH and gelatinase) of nanogels to achieve on-demand release for reducing S. epidermidis biofilm formation.

Keyword

Staphylococcus epidermidis; quercetin; biofilm; nanogels; on-demand release