Amino-Functionalized Pluronic F127 micelles as a dual drug delivery nanostructure for controlled therapeutics release

Abstract

Bacterial infection is one of the serious leading causes of hospitalization. The development of a novel dual drug delivery nanostructure based on polymeric micelles is presented here for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus-associated infections. The nanostructure was composed of quercetin (QC)-encapsulated in the core of F127 micelles (FQ micelles) which was later shell cross-linked using 3-amisinopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) molecules through condensation reaction. The functionalization of the head groups of FQ micelles with APTES (FQA NPs) facilitated the covalent linkage of vancomycin (Vanc) drug and consequent formation of FQA-Vanc NPs with the hydrodynamic size of 133 nm. FQA-Vanc NPs demonstrated prolong release of QC and Vanc over a period of 168 h. The core–shell structure offered sustainable release of Vanc and QC to the FQA-Vanc NPs during 96 h and 48 h, respectively. The co-administration of Vanc and QC not only enhanced the antibacterial performance of FQA-Vanc NPs, but also induced time and concentration-dependent antioxidant activities. Overall, the Vanc immobilized-FQA NPs together with antibacterial and antioxidant activities could potentially provide a new therapeutic platform for bacterial infection treatment.