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. 2021 Nov 2;13(11):1840. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111840

Table 2.

AMP-encapsulated polymeric nanoparticles applicable for treatment of various bacterial infections.

Type of Nanoparticles and Particle Composition AMP Physicochemical Properties (Size, Surface Charge, Encapsulation Efficiency, Release) In Vitro and In Vivo Results Application Refs.
Synthetic AMP-loaded nanoparticles
PLGA Esculentin 261–282 nm, −0.7 to −0.8 mV, EE = 100%, LC: 2%, 60% released after 3 h, then sustained for 3 days
  • -

    Enhanced antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo against a mouse model of acute P. aeruginosa after 36 h */**

  • -

    Nanoencapsulation lead to a 3-log reduction of pulmonary P. aeruginosa growth for up to 36 h in vivo */**

 Systemic/lung infection [91]
PLGA LL-37 304 nm, −21 mV, EE = 70%, LC = 1%, ~40% burst release, then 14 day sustained release
  • -

    Accelerated wound healing in excisional wounds in vivo */**

  • -

    Enhanced antimicrobial activity against E. coli in vitro */**

 Topical/wound infection [90]
PLGA G17 and G19 284–291 nm, +7.3 to +12.9 mV, EE = 90%, LC: 0.6–0.9%, 45% released after 1 h, controlled release up to 48 h
  • -

    Decreased MIC50 against MRSA in vitro */**

  • -

    Encapsulation of peptides in PLGA decreased the MIC50 for up to 4 times against E. coli in vitro */**

 Topical/wound infection [93]
PLGA HHC10 320 nm, +13.3 mV, EE = 54%, 42% release up to 10 h followed by plateau phase
  • -

    Maintained inhibition of E. coli growth in vitro **

  • -

    Nontoxic to macrophage mouse cells in vitro after encapsulation

  • -

    91% maximum cellular internalization in 24 h **

 Systemic infection [94]
PLGA with N-acetylcysteine coating IDR-1018 5.1–6.2 μm, EE = 59–62%, sustained release for up to 48 h followed by a controlled release of peptide for up to 120 h
  • -

    Coated and IDR1018-loaded PLGA nanoparticles reduced M. tuberculosis load in macrophage cultures in vitro */**

  • -

    Significantly reduced lung inflammation in vivo in M. tuberculosis infected mice */**

 Systemic/lung infection [21]
PLGA K4 416 nm, +1 mV, 89% peptide conjugation
  • -

    Peptide conjugation to PLGA NPs reduced killing activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa */**

 Topical/chronic wound infection [92]
PLGA Plectasin 215 nm, −18 mV, EE: 71–90%, 77% release after 1 h, rest was released over 24 h
  • -

    Encapsulated peptide enhanced the in vitro antimicrobial activity against S. aureus */**

 Systemic infection [110]
PLGA/PLA GIBIM-P5S9K 258–352 nm, +22.7 to +29.4 mV, EE = 55–75%, 50% peptide release after 8 h and a successive slower release phase
  • -

    Peptide loaded nanoparticles demonstrated enhanced antibacterial activity against E. coli, MRSA, and P. aeruginosa in vitro */**

 Topical infection [96]
Poly(LA-co-MA) BF-30 2.75 µm, EE = 92%, LC = 8%, no initial burst release, only controlled release of peptide was observed after 25 days
  • -

    Released peptide inhibited growth of E. coli, S. aureus, S. typhi, B. subtilis in vitro against F. nucleatum using the inhibition zone assay *

  • -

    Did not significantly enhance the antimicrobial effect *

 Topical infection [100]
Natural AMP-loaded nanoparticles
PLGA-chitosan composite KSL 61–67 µm, EE = 70–93%, LC = 1.7–3.7%, 25–35% released after 10 days, and 80–90% released after 80 days
  • -

    Encapsulation of KSL peptide enhanced antimicrobial activity in vitro against Fusobacterium nucleatum using the inhibition zone assay **

 Topical infection in oral cavity [103]
Carboxymethyl chitosan OH-CATH30 258 nm, 30.2 mV, EE = 82%, LC = 33%, near-linear release with 70% released at 24 h
  • -

    100% killing of E. coli in vitro over 24 h compared to ~25% **

  • -

    Significantly enhanced wound healing in vivo in a mouse model */**

 Topical/skin infection [102]
Pectin Nisin 200–500 nm, −20–−45 mV, EE = 100%
  • -

    Nisin-loaded pectin NPs were 100-fold more effective compared to food preservative, sodium benzoate in vitro

 Food preservation [106]

Acronyms: AMP = antimicrobial peptide, EE = encapsulation efficiency, LC = loading capacity, MIC50 = minimum inhibitory concentration to inhibit the growth of 50% of organisms, PLA = poly (lactic-co-acid), PLGA = poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid), Poly(LA-co-MA): poly(L-lactic acid-co-D,L-mandelic acid); * compared to peptide solution ** compared to empty nanoparticles or no treatment.