Phospholipase A2-responsive antibiotic delivery via nanoparticle-stabilized liposomes for the treatment of bacterial infection.

Adsorbing small charged nanoparticles onto liposome surfaces to stabilize them against fusion and payload leakage has resulted in a new class of liposomes capable of environment-responsive drug delivery. Herein, we engineered a liposome formulation with a lipid composition sensitive to bacterium-secreted phospholipase A2 (PLA) and adsorbed chitosan-modified gold nanoparticles (AuChi) onto the liposome surface. The resulting AuChi-stabilized liposomes (AuChi-liposomes) showed prohibited fusion activity and negligible drug leakage.

Hydrogel containing nanoparticle-stabilized liposomes for topical antimicrobial delivery.

Adsorbing small charged nanoparticles onto the outer surfaces of liposomes has become an effective strategy to stabilize liposomes against fusion prior to "seeing" target bacteria, yet allow them to fuse with the bacteria upon arrival at the infection sites. As a result, nanoparticle-stabilized liposomes have become an emerging drug delivery platform for treatment of various bacterial infections. To facilitate the translation of this platform for clinical tests and uses, herein we integrate nanoparticle-stabilized liposomes with hydrogel technology for more effective and sustained topical drug delivery.

Nanoparticle-stabilized liposomes for pH-responsive gastric drug delivery.

We report a novel pH-responsive gold nanoparticle-stabilized liposome system for gastric antimicrobial delivery. By adsorbing small chitosan-modified gold nanoparticles (diameter ~10 nm) onto the outer surface of negatively charged phospholipid liposomes (diameter ~75 nm), we show that at gastric pH the liposomes have excellent stability with limited fusion ability and negligible cargo releases. However, when the stabilized liposomes are present in an environment with neutral pH, the gold stabilizers detach from the liposomes, resulting in free liposomes that can actively fuse with bacterial membranes.

In vivo treatment of Propionibacterium acnes infection with liposomal lauric acids.

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a Gram-positive bacterium strongly associated with acne infection. While many antimicrobial agents have been used in clinic to treat acne infection by targeting P.

Antibacterial activities of liposomal linolenic acids against antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection with its vast prevalence is responsible for various gastric diseases including gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric malignancy. While effective, current treatment regimens are challenged by a fast-declining eradication rate due to the increasing emergence of H.

Synthesis and characterization of lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles with pH-triggered poly(ethylene glycol) shedding.

Novel lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles are designed with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coating that is shed in response to a low pH trigger. This allows the nanoparticles to be stable during systemic circulation and at neutral pH, but destabilize and fuse with lipid membranes in acidic environments. The hybrid nanoparticles consist of a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) core with a lipid and lipid-PEG monolayer shell.

Assessing susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration with genetic markers and environmental factors.

Objectives: To evaluate the independent and joint effects of genetic factors and environmental variables on advanced forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), including geographic atrophy and choroidal neovascularization, and to develop a predictive model with genetic and environmental factors included.

Methods: Demographic information, including age at onset, smoking status, and body mass index, was collected for 1844 participants. Genotypes were evaluated for 8 variants in 5 genes related to AMD.