Biohybrid Microswimmers for Antibiotic Drug Delivery Based on a Thiol-Sensitive Release Platform.

Abstract

This study reports on the design and engineering of biohybrid microswimmers exploiting a thiol-mediated self-immolative antibiotic release strategy. The design features a covalent attachment of a vancomycin conjugate via a disulfide-based linker to the surface of the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The antibiotic release from the surface of these biohybrids was triggered by the addition of a thiol-based reducing agent, and, subsequently, the inhibition of bacterial growth was observed for Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. These engineered microbots represent the first example of a microalgae-based drug delivery system with a thiol-mediated, reductive release of an antibiotic drug.