Solid lipid nanoparticles containing vancomycin: preparation, characterization and in vitro anti-Staphylococcus aureus biofilms activity

Coagulase-negative staphylococci andStaphylococcus aureus are the most commoncause of nosocomial infections and can inducea wide spectrum of diseases associated with remarkablemorbidity and mortality. Biofilms ofstaphylococci are intrinsically resistant to conventionalantibiotics and, being commonly associatedwith implanted medical device, such ascatheters and vascular grafts, have the potentialto cause blood-stream infections.The paper describes the preparation and characterizationof vancomycin-loaded Solid LipidNanoparticles (SLNs) and in vitro studies of theinhibition of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213 biofilms in the presence of this nanoparticlesystem.Methods. The vancomycin-loaded SLNs wereprepared by microemulsion method. Physicochemicaland technological characterizationof SLNs was performed concerning drug loadingamount, particle size and zeta potentialmeasurements. In vitro microbiological studies,were carried out by methylthiazotetrazolium(MTT) method.Results. The results of studies showed that thevancomycin-loaded SLNs have a better activityin the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureusbiofilms respect to free vancomycin. At concentrationof 10 μg/ml, the SLNs containingvancomycin were three times more active thanfree drug