Using Targeted Nano-Antibiotics to Improve Antibiotic Efficacy against Infections.

The poor bioavailability of antibiotics at infection sites is one of the leading causes of treatment failure and increased bacterial resistance. Therefore, developing novel, non-conventional antibiotic delivery strategies to deal with bacterial pathogens is essential. Here, we investigated the encapsulation of two fluoroquinolones, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, into polymer-based nano-carriers (nano-antibiotics), with the goal of increasing their local bioavailability at bacterial infection sites.

Polysaccharides against Viruses: Immunostimulatory Properties and the Delivery of Antiviral Vaccines and Drugs.

Because viruses still represent a significant threat to human and animal health worldwide, the development of effective weapons against viral infections remains a top priority for the biopharmaceutical industry. This article reviews the dietary and pharmaceutical applications of polysaccharides (PS), first of all chitosan, in the prevention and treatment of viral diseases, focusing more particularly on solid or gel micro/nanoparticulate systems. The intrinsic antiviral activity of PS and their immunostimulatory effects, implemented in animal and human diets, are first surveyed.

Retention properties of hydrophobically end-capped poly(ethylene glycol)s on a beta-cyclodextrin support.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to examine the retention behavior of monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol)s bearing one hydrophobic naphthyl end group (Nap-MPEG) on beta-cyclodextrin polymer (poly-beta-CD) immobilized on a silica support, under isocratic elution conditions and using water as mobile phase. Studies of retentions and theoretical plate heights H were conducted at infinite dilution by comparing the behavior of Nap-MPEGs having different molecular weight (750, 1000 and 5000 g/mol). The larger is its molecular size, the lower is the retention of the polymer.

Immobilization of a (dextran-adamantane-COOH) polymer onto beta-cyclodextrin-modified silica.

Adamantane-modified compounds are known to form stable complexes with beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CD) by host-guest interactions. In this study, the inclusion complex formed between beta-CD cavities and the adamantane group was evaluated for the elaboration of a cation-exchange support. The synthesis of the chromatographic supports involved three steps: (i) a polymer of beta-CD was grafted to diol-modified silica, (ii) a dextran polymer was modified by both adamantane groups and ionizable COOH functions, (iii) the dextran derivative (Ad-Dex-COOH) was bound to the chromatographic support by complexation between the adamantane groups of the dextran and beta-CD cavities of the support.

Determination of binding constants of hydrophobically end-capped poly(ethylene glycol)s with beta-cyclodextrin by affinity capillary electrophoresis.

The formation of inclusion complexes between methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)s (MPEG)s bearing one hydrophobic group (phenyladamantyl) per chain and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) was studied by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The effect of highly sulphated beta-CD (HS-beta-CD) on the migration behaviour of the phenyladamantyl-modified MPEG (MPEG-PhAd) analyte was investigated. It was established that the interaction between the modified PEG and beta-CD involved a 1:1 stoichiometry.