Different Nanotechnology Approaches for Ciprofloxacin Delivery Against Multidrug-Resistant Microbes

Abstract

The percentages of organisms exhibiting antimicrobial resistance, especially resistance to multiple antibiotics, are incessantly increasing. Studies investigated that many bacteria are being resistant to ciprofloxacin. This review addresses the current knowledge on nano-based ciprofloxacin delivery approaches to improve its effectiveness and overcome the resistance issues. Ciprofloxacin delivery can be modified by encapsulating with or incorporating in different polymeric nanoparticles such as chitosan, PLGA, albumin, arginine, and other organic and inorganic nanostructure systems. Most of these nano-approaches are promising as an alternative strategy to improve the therapeutic effectiveness of ciprofloxacin in the future.

Introduction

Antibiotics are considered the most important advances in the history of modern medicine due to their phenomenal impact on reducing human morbidity, mortality, and economic losses. However, bacteria that challenge not only single but multiple antibiotics have become increasingly common through time. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now the most important challenge in the fight against infectious diseases which is associated with inappropriate use and abuse of the drugs.¹ The number of microbial strains resisting, the geographical coverage, and the extent of resistance toward multiple antibiotics are accelerating. Many drugs with known susceptibility to antibiotics therapy are now returning in new habits as resistant to those therapies.²

Quinolones are among great achievements in the antibiotic discovery. The first groups possessing a narrow range of action and unfavorable drug kinetics rose in the early 1960s. Through time, new quinolones have been developed with improved efficacy and spectrum. Nowadays, they are being widely prescribed for a variety of infectious diseases even though AMR is becoming a tackle against their effectiveness.³ They are known to act by inhibiting type 2 bacterial DNA topoisomerases, DNA gyrase, and topoisomerase IV which are the commonest areas of quinolone resistance now. They are classified with generations as first generation (nalidixic acid), second generation (norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, enoxacin, lomefloxacin), third generation (moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, sparfloxacin), and fourth generation (trovafloxacin). The first generation was effective against Gram-negative bacteria excluding Pseudomonas species but the spectrum broadens toward the new generations.⁴ Ciprofloxacin is used for the treatment of a wide range of infections, such as complicated urinary tract infections, typhoid, bone or joint infections, shigellosis, cystic fibrosis, chronic suppurative otitis media, prostatitis, and epididymo-orchitis. It is one of the topmost selling antibiotics being available at a cheaper cost and with different drug delivery systems like: oral tablets, eye drops, suspensions, ointments, infusion, in-situ gel, hydrogels, films, microbeads, elastic liposomes, floating matrix tablets, ocuserts, and niosomal cream.⁵

Even though a substantial and momentary reduction of infections caused by resistant bacteria was attained by quinolones, concerns about treatment failure and bacterial resistance appeared shortly after their innovation.^6,7 Alarms regarding the suitable use of fluoroquinolones and the quality of their pharmaceutically equivalent preparations have been knocking after the therapeutic failures and amplified bacterial resistance were reported.⁴ Onwards, measures become in need to combat this resistance risk and get the most out of their effectiveness. Research and feedback mechanisms, antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP), susceptibility testing, and targeted clinical response are among the approaches toward fighting AMR. The development of new antibiotics and discovery of novel drug delivery systems should also be considered. To be successful, determined efforts of all members of the society are necessary.⁸ With the growth of innovation and technology, there has been much interest in possible alternative antimicrobial therapies through nanotechnology. The scenarios for conjugates or combinations of nanomaterials (NMs) and the conventional antibiotic drugs for targeting and combating microbial resistance are in a careful optimism.⁹ Nanomaterials can carry or transport antimicrobials; deliver them into the target, or ultimately act synergistically by their inherent antimicrobial activity. Moreover, nanoparticles (NPs) may contest the mechanisms of bacterial drug resistance with different mechanisms. They can inhibit some important bacterial processes like biofilm formation.¹⁰ In this review, the different NMs and associated nanotechnology-based ciprofloxacin delivery approaches against resistant microbes have been discussed.

Resistance Challenges of the Conventional Ciprofloxacin Delivery

Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Problematic Groups and Challenges

Ciprofloxacin has been shown to be active against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial isolates such as: E. coli, H. influenzae, other H. spp., N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitides, Moraxella catarrhalis, K. pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Moraxella catarrhalis, Proteus mirabilis, and P. aeruginosa, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), S. pneumoniae, S. epidermidis, E. faecalis, and S. pyogenes both in vitro and in vivo.⁴ It has been used successfully since 1987 and included in the WHO’s essential medicines list.¹¹ However, an increasing proportion of bacterial clinical isolates are being resistant to ciprofloxacin⁶ that induces higher rates of hospitalization, greater length of hospital stay, and higher rates of illness and death.¹²

Ciprofloxacin replaced aminoglycosides (due to their resistance) as the drug of choice against keratitis caused by P. aeruginosa. However, due to its overuse, there has been a considerable increase in ciprofloxacin resistance among P. aeruginosa isolates (from <1% in 1994, to 4% in 1998, finally to 29% in 2003, and exhibit multidrug-resistant (MDR) character now). Fluoroquinolones were recommended as a drug of choice to treat gonococcal infections in 1993. In 1997, the first resistant strains were reported in Hong Kong and Philippines. In 2004, fluoroquinolone was no longer recommended for treatment due to the increased resistance and declined sensitivity of the causative agent. As a result, cephalosporins were replaced in the place of fluoroquinolones for treating gonococcal infections. Table 1 summarizes the review by Ahmad et al on ciprofloxacin-resistant problematic groups of bacteria.¹³

Table 1.

Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Problematic Bacterial Groups

S. No	Study Area	Study Period	Group of Bacteria	Results
1.	Brazil	2009–2013	Salmonella	43%
2.	Japan	1992	N. gonorrhoeae	40%
3.	India	1990–2000	≫	Most
4.	South Africa	2004–2007	≫	Increased: 7% to 32%
5.	Kenya	2007–2009	≫	Increased: 9.5% to 50%
6.	Europe	2013	≫	53%
7.	Latin America	2004–2010	≫	5–40%
8.	Pittsburgh	1996–2001	S. aureus	Increased: 8% to 20.7% (MSSA), 55.8% to 83.7% (MRSA)
9.	Asian countries	1980s–2010s	Campylobacters	77–99%
10.	South Africa		≫	91%
11.	United Arab Emirates		≫	85.4%
12.	Spain	1993–2003	≫	52.2%

Mechanism for Development of Resistance

Ciprofloxacin resistance in the majority of bacterial isolates is from chromosomal mutations and/or reduced drug accumulation due to overexpression of efflux pump systems.¹⁴ The efflux pump system reduces the intracellular concentrations to sub-lethal levels, while point mutations reduce drug binding to specific enzymatic sites, decreasing activity. In this regard, fluoroquinolones are prevented from binding to the enzymes involved in DNA replication, including DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV.¹² Genetic mutations take the vast proportion of bacterial resistances. GyrAB and parCE are target genes of P. aeruginosa for ciprofloxacin action and their mutation reduced the affinity of DNA gyrase or topoisomerase for the drug.¹¹ In Egypt, double mutations (1 gyrA/1 parC) and three mutations (2 gyrA/1 parC) were found in different bacterial species like E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance is also the other genetic related resistance for ciprofloxacin. Under this group, genes like aac(6′)-Ib-cr of E. coli, qnrB/aac(6′)-Ib-cr and qnrS of K. pneumoniae, qnrB of P. aeruginosa, and qnrS of A. baumannii have been reported.¹⁴ Ciprofloxacin resistance toward S. aureus is due to: 1) point mutations on encoding the subunits of topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase; and 2) efflux by the membrane-associated protein which actively transports fluoroquinolones out of the bacterial cell.¹⁵ Mutation appears to be the only mechanism to acquire resistance in M. tuberculosis and some P. aeruginosa infections. P. aeruginosa contains 12 efflux pumps and four of these are known to efflux fluoroquinolones. E. coli resistance to ciprofloxacin, both in vivo and in vitro, requires mutation.^16,17 Fluoroquinolone resistance to Salmonella isolates includes mutations, active efflux, and plasmid-mediated protection of target topoisomerases. The acrB, soxS, marA, ramA, and rob were characterized as ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis mutant genes.¹⁸ Whereas, resistance to N. gonorrhoeae, Campylobacter spp., and Salmonella can be chromosomally as well as plasmid-mediated and bacterial biofilm formation.¹³

Factors Associated with Ciprofloxacin Resistance

Indiscriminate use in routine clinical practices, unnecessary consumption during viral infections, and drug overuse are the determinant factors for ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics resistance. Clinically, three major factors are associated with increasing resistance to fluoroquinolones: 1) under-dosing, ie, use of a slightly potent drug whose MIC is scarcely reached in serum or infected tissues; 2) overuse or misuse of drugs that encourage resistant mutants; and 3) failure to timely identify and reply to changes in microbial susceptibilities.¹² Prior use history and higher age, high intake of pork and chicken, as well as the concomitant prescription of calcium supplements or proton pump inhibitors with fluoroquinolones were reported as contributing factors for resistance to ciprofloxacin in UTIs.⁷ The accessibility and consumption of inferior-standard and counterfeit ciprofloxacin formulations, especially in the developing countries, is another factor which has contributed to the increased risk of therapeutic failure and drug resistance. The overuse or misuse of ciprofloxacin is likely to be due to widespread availability of generic versions of ciprofloxacin.⁴

Strategies to Minimize or Counter Ciprofloxacin Resistance

Historically, several approaches have been employed to address AMR. These include: 1) the use of a newer more potent antimicrobials; 2) continuing to use older agents, preserving the activity of the new drugs; 3) antibiotic cycling or rotation, with a predefined period, usually 3 months; 4) combination therapy; and 5) pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data-based prescription have been exploited for years. Evidence-based antimicrobial selection must be implemented by clinicians.¹² Loading ciprofloxacin with novel approaches to target the site of infection and use of combination therapies with other anti-Pseudomonas agents are also recommended as possible complementary strategies.¹¹ Reserpine, a well-known mammalian MDR pump inhibitor, has resulted in suppression of resistance in S. aureus and S. pneumoniae strains when used in combination with ciprofloxacin. Boeravinone B 66, an inhibitor of the S. aureus multidrug efflux pump NorA, was recently shown to act synergistically with ciprofloxacin to inhibit biofilm formation by S. aureus.¹³ New drug development alone is now becoming insufficient for safeguarding the advancement in medicine due to the failure of addressing limitations associated with poor pharmacokinetics, incomplete targeting, and toxicity. Nowadays, the application of nanostructures that have intrinsic antimicrobial potential or nanocarriers that can modify the transport and delivery of the antibiotic have been presented as new strategies and defense mechanisms against MDR infectious organisms.^9,19 Application of nanotechnology in the pharmaceutical field offers new advancements for developing novel formulations from the diverse types of nanoparticles (NPs) considering their different sizes and shapes with their versatile antimicrobial properties. These NPs can bring a hopeful solution as they can directly target the bacteria by themselves or can act as drug carrier systems.¹⁰

Nanomaterials: Alternative Delivery Systems for AMR

Nanomaterial Preparation and Mechanisms in Countering AMR

Nanotechnology is an innovative science that utilizes NMs with dimensions from 1–1000 nm. Several NMs are already used as broad-scale antimicrobial agents and carriers of antimicrobial agents in consumer products.⁹ However, the practical applicability of different nanocarriers has been limited due to their insufficient biocompatibility, lower sensitivity (with respect to temperature and pH), and lack of complete biodegradability.²⁰ Antibiotic delivery with NPs results in improved bioavailability by enhancing aqueous solubility, increasing resistance time in the body, and targeting specific site of action.²¹ Although the nanotechnology-associated high costs make the conventional therapy preferable, these platforms might be of utmost importance with their impact on cell wall permeability, efflux activity, reactive species formation, and metabolism and reproduction inhibition.¹⁰

NMs can be incidental (byproduct of industrial and natural processes), engineered, or natural which may be produced from living organisms and plants.²² They are prepared and characterized for their properties in different ways. Metallic NPs are mainly synthesized by either reducing the particle size by mechanical or chemical methods or by green synthesis using bacteria, plant extract, and fungus. Polymeric NPs are prepared by cross linking, polymerization methods, and polymer precipitation methods. Table 2 states the different parameters for characterization of NPs and instruments used for these characterizations.²³ Representative examples for different sources of the nanomaterials used for ciprofloxacin delivery and the characterization done in the articles included in this review are listed in Table 3. NP-based drug delivery systems introduce a wide range of therapeutics, by either binding the drug to their large surface area or carrying it to the site of infection effectively, safely, and with a controlled rate of targeted delivery. They are capable of disrupting bacterial membranes and hindering biofilm formation, thus reducing the survival of the microorganism. This way, NPs provide an alternative strategy with potential to use both antibiotic-free and antibiotic-coated approaches.¹⁰ Nanomaterial antibiotic functionalization includes use of polymers, dendrimers, and inorganic NPs with antibiotic molecules attached to their surfaces. This antibiotic nanomaterial functionalization results in improved effectiveness due to: 1) improved drug-delivery features, better than the conventional antibiotic alone; and 2) interesting synergistic effects. NMs themselves can damage the cell membrane, generate reactive oxygen species, and release toxic metals causing intrinsic antimicrobial effect. Rather than focusing upon particular biochemical processes as traditional antibiotics, they are likely to disrupt multiple cellular processes in a less specific fashion.⁹

Table 2.

Different Parameters for Characterization of Nanoparticles

Nanoparticle Parameters	Instruments Used for Characterization
Particle size and particle size distribution	Zeta sizer, laser diffractometry, PCS, mercury porosimetry
Particle morphology	SEM, TEM, AFM
Particle charge	Laser droplet anemometry, zeta potentiometer
Surface hydrophobicity	Measurement of water contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hydrophobic interaction chromatography
Chemical analysis of surface	Static secondary ion mass spectrometry
Carrier drug interaction	DSC
Nanoparticle dispersion stability	Critical flocculation temperature
Release profile	In-vitro release characteristic under physiologic and sink condition
Drug stability	Bioassay & chemoassay of drug extracted from nanoparticle

Notes: Reproduced from Patel S, Singh D, Srivastava S et al. Nanoparticles as a Platform for Antimicrobial Drug Delivery, Advances in Pharmacology and Pharmacy. 2017; 5(3): 31–43. Copyright©2017 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License.²³.

Abbreviations: PCS, photon correlation spectroscopy; SEM, scanning electron microscopy; TEM, transmission electron microscopy; AFM, atomic force microscopy; DSC, differential scanning calorimetry.

Table 3.

Sources of Nanomaterials for Ciprofloxacin Delivery

Nano-Ciprofloxacin Formulation	Source of Nanomaterial	Instruments for Characterization	Reference
Chitosan-loaded ciprofloxacin	Purchased (synthetic)	DSC, DLS	[24]
	Desert locusts, beetles, honey bee exoskeletons, and shrimp shells	Zeta sizer, FTIR, XRD, centrifugation, UV–Vis spectroscopy	[25]
Ciprofloxacin-loaded albumin	Human serum albumin	DLS, SEM, FTIR	[26]
Ciprofloxacin in arginine nanocarriers	l-Arginine, protamine and pectin	Microscopy, FTIR, and zeta sizer	[27]
Ciprofloxacin HCl-loaded CaCO3 NPs	Purchased	DLS, UV–Vis, zeta sizer, XRD, DSC, FTIR	[28]
Ciprofloxacin incorporated PLGA	Purchased	Zeta sizer, TEM, SEM, HPLC, DSC	[29]
Ciprofloxacin-loaded polysaccharide NPs	Purchased	Zeta sizer, PCS, UV–Vis, FTIR, electron microscopy	[30]
Ciprofloxacin HCl-loaded SLNs	Purchased	LLD, LDE, HPLC-UV, AUC, AFM, SEM, TEM,	[31]
Ciprofloxacin in liposomes	Lipids purchased	DLS, FES	[32]

Abbreviations: DSC, differential scanning calorimetry; FTIR, Fourier transform infrared; XRD; X-ray diffractometer; UV–Vis, ultraviolet–visible; DLS, dynamic light scattering; SEM, scanning electron microscopy; TEM, transmission electron microscopy; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; AUC, analytical ultra centrifuge; LLD, laser light diffraction; LDE, laser Doppler electrophoresis; AFM, atomic fluorescence microscopy; FES, fluorescence emission spectra; PCS, photon correlation spectroscopy.

Nanotoxicity, Resistance, and Regulatory Aspects

Besides their anticipated benefits, prolonged exposure to NMs might cause nanotoxicity and thus, possible jeopardies for human health and the ecosystems. Proteins and other biomolecules from the body and the environment could rapidly bind to NMs, resulting in the formation of protein/biomolecule corona that can affect NM’s nature of interaction with the body system. Systematized knowledge on NMs toxicity is required for their rational design with reduced potential toxicity.³³ NPs that are inhaled or extracted from drug–NP formulations can effortlessly reach the bloodstream and then the liver, heart, or blood cells. Many of them seem to be nontoxic and others have positive health effects. The engineered, smallest size of NPs can facilitate the translocation of active chemical species from barriers of the skin, lung, body tissues, and organs. Thus, irreversible oxidative stress, organelle damage, asthma, and cancer can be caused by NPs depending on their composition. The generation of neoantigens that cause possible organ enlargement and dysfunction are common chronic toxic effects of NPs.²²

Even though there are not well established reports regarding the mechanism and intensity of nano-resistance to microorganisms, there are some predictions and pre-concerns. Potential novel antifungal metal-based NPs, such as ZnO, Ag, or CuO, showed fungal resistance mediated by biomolecule coronas acquired in pathophysiological and ecological environments.³⁴ The great diversity of antimicrobial mechanisms exerted by NPs suggests that bacteria are unlikely to generate resistance to NPs. However, bacterial resistance is dreaded with the mechanisms not yet been investigated more. There are predicted intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms for NP microbial resistance. The intrinsic resistance mechanisms can include outer membrane permeability, multidrug resistance efflux pumps, downregulation of genes, and chromosomal resistance genes. In the other way, the extrinsic mechanisms are in the form of adaptive mutations, point mutations, and plasmids with resistance genes. It is important to study all the aforementioned resistance mechanisms to understand and prevent complex resistance challenges.^35,36

In spite of the great hope on nanomedicine and its pharmaceutical applications, there is currently very little regulation that guides the area. However, the research community is calling repeatedly for providing legal certainty to the manufacturers, policymakers, healthcare providers, and the general public so as to minimize challenges in funding, research, and development of works on NMs that reduce public acceptance and perception.³⁷ Regulations via legislation, laws, and rules have been implemented by several government organizations including the USA and the European Union (EU) to minimize or avoid risks associated with NMs. However, there is no specific international regulation, no internationally agreed upon protocols or legal definitions for production, handling or labeling, testing toxicity, and evaluating the environmental impact of NPs. Extensive research in the field of nanotoxicology and strict regulation by government agencies is essential to identify and avoid toxic NPs.²²

Nanotechnology-Based Approaches for Ciprofloxacin Delivery

Nanoparticles of Chitosan-Loaded Ciprofloxacin

Chitosan, the amino polysaccharide copolymer of 1,4-d-glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine is derived from chitin by alkaline or enzymatic deacetylation. It is used for encapsulation of many antibiotics for their nano-delivery.³⁸ The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin-loaded chitosan NPs was demonstrated to be 50% lower than that of ciprofloxacin HCl alone against E. coli and S. aureus. The loading resulted in increased drug penetration into the bacterial cell improving antibacterial activity with reduced dose.²⁴ Another similar study indicated uppermost ciprofloxacin antibacterial activity against E. coli and MRSA with a significant (85.6%) decrease in MIC, enhanced drug delivery, increased drug penetration, and controlled release.²⁵ Ciprofloxacinchitosan microparticles for local drug delivery to the lungs against pneumonia causing agents, namely E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus demonstrated good loading efficiency, enhanced localized effects, better escaping of the body’s local defense system, improved antibacterial effects, and less cytotoxicity to human lung epithelial cells.³⁹

In vitro evaluation of sustained ciprofloxacin release from chitosan/hydroxyapatite hydrogel nanocomposites exhibited a sustained antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli through a diffusion process promising for designing prolonged release drug delivery systems.⁴⁰ Other in vitro release data of ciprofloxacin with chitosan–alginate systems promised an alternative system for the sustained delivery of ciprofloxacin.¹⁹ A study on chitosan bandages loaded with ciprofloxacin for polymicrobial wound infections demonstrated good flexibility, tensile strength, porosity, and wound exudate absorption. The bandage released ciprofloxacin for up to 14 days in a sustained manner and showed a significant antimicrobial activity both in vitro and in vivo toward poly-microbial cultures of C. albicans, E. coli, and S. aureus.⁴¹ The other important investigation of chitosan–ciprofloxacin NPs is targeting. A study conducted on the ciprofloxacin capsule system encapsulated by chitosan and dextran sulfate biopolymers demonstrated improved targeting of the Salmonella containing vacuoles to kill the pathogen so that complete cure can be achieved without any relapse.⁴² In another study, ciprofloxacin was loaded into chitosan/heparin NPs to target enteropathogenic bacteria. The synergistic effect reduced the MIC of free ciprofloxacin against E. coli by half and a targeted killing of 60% load within 30 min.⁴³

Ciprofloxacin-Loaded PLGA/PCL Nanoparticles

The polymeric NPs of poly(d,l-lactide-coglycolide) (PLGA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) have shown significant therapeutic potential to achieve controlled drug delivery. An investigation on the incorporation of ciprofloxacin encapsulated PLGA and PCL NPs on tissue-engineered scaffolds resulted in high encapsulation efficiency, better stability, predictable controlled release, and targeting the site of action. Additionally, both the encapsulated NPs were safer and effective against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa compared to the free drug.²⁹ Ciprofloxacin-loaded PLGA electrospun fibers also demonstrated effective antibacterial properties against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis.⁴⁴ Türeli et al studied the encapsulation efficiency, release pattern, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin-loaded PLGA NPs. The result revealed high drug loading, promising penetration into the mucus where the bacteria reside, controlled release, sustained local drug concentration, and enhanced anti-P. aeruginosa activity with reduced dose, thus reduced side effects.⁴⁵ NP parameter optimization enabled ciprofloxacin-loaded PLGA NP preparations with pre-defined quality to fulfill the requirements of local drug delivery under cystic fibrosis disease conditions.⁴⁶ Similarly, a study on ciprofloxacin-loaded PLGA NPs for eradicating P. aeruginosa biofilm showed a steady release of the antibiotic and the repeated application of the NPs for 3 days resulted in biofilm reduction by 95%.⁴⁷ Evaluation of the efficacy of sustained release PLGA micro- and nanoparticles containing ciprofloxacin against bacterial biofilms demonstrated a sustained release over 6 days to effectively eradicate culturable S. aureus. The formulation might be a valuable alternative for the treatment of biofilms by achieving high local and sustained drug concentrations while minimizing systemic adverse effects and improving patient compliance.⁴⁸

Liposomal and Micellar NPs for Ciprofloxacin Delivery

The efficacy of liposomal antibiotics has been shown in numerous in vivo studies to be clearly superior to that of the free antibiotics. But, formulation factors such as liposome’s membrane rigidity, surface charge, size, and polymer hydrophobicity must be controlled and optimized.⁴⁹ Liposomal ciprofloxacin formulations have been developed for enhancing lung residence time reducing the burden of inhaled antimicrobial therapy from multiple daily administrations due to rapid absorptive clearance of antibiotics from the lungs.⁵⁰ In a study comparing the release of ciprofloxacin from the liposomal formulation and a solution formulation for inhaled drug delivery, the liposomal formulation provided zero-order release kinetics that prolonged residence time in the lungs.⁵¹ Liposomal ciprofloxacin administered intravenously and intraperitoneally to mice infected with intracellular S. typhimurium demonstrated an increased plasma habitation time and concentration of drug in the liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Besides, an intratracheal administration increased pulmonary drug retention. It has also an extended survival and can reduce the number of bacteria in the liver and spleen compared with the free drug.⁵² Mannosylated liposomes loaded with ciprofloxacin were investigated for targeting against intracellular infections of the respiratory system. Upon pulmonary administration on rats, they demonstrated an efficient macrophage targeting.⁵³

Ciprofloxacin-loaded liposome against Salmonella Dublin demonstrated greater stability and antimicrobial properties than free ciprofloxacin. It helps the drug to be accumulated in the spleen and liver persisting for 48 h after the final administration.⁵⁴ PEGylated phosphatidylcholine-rich liposomal nanovesicles loaded with ciprofloxacin for ameliorating infectious pneumonia led to the eradication of intracellular MRSA with a 3.2-fold increase of pulmonary ciprofloxacin accumulation after IV injection of the lipid nanovesicles.⁵⁵ Inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin NPs were developed to overcome the rapid clearance of antibiotics from the lungs. They successfully controlled the release of ciprofloxacin and showed enhanced antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa supporting the potential of using inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin for respiratory infections.⁵⁶ Current Phase-II clinical studies demonstrated a dual release profile (a rapid bactericidal effect followed by a sustained release from liposomes). The clinical study reports indicated that they are well tolerated with no serious adverse effects, and they significantly reduced pseudomonal bacterial load.⁵⁷

Enhanced localization of ciprofloxacin was achieved by actively loading it into photoactivatable liposomes that contain small amounts of porphyrin-phospholipid. High drug encapsulation and significant light-induced drug release was achieved which established the feasibility of remote loading antibiotics into photoactivatable liposomes promising for enhanced localized antibiotic therapy.³² Ciprofloxacin efficiently inhibits the growth of M. avium in vitro in a murine macrophage-like cell line using negatively charged liposomes and in vivo using specific stealth liposomes in a mouse model of tuberculosis infection.⁵⁸ Ciprofloxacin-loaded liposomes coated with muco-adhesive biocompatible chitosan (chitosomes) resulted in a more pronounced effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with a diffusional drug release mechanism. In addition, chitosan coating improved the ocular permeation of ciprofloxacin HCl where bacterial conjunctivitis symptoms were controlled by the prolonged release.⁵⁹

Polymeric micelles entrap hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds and charged macromolecules through electrostatic, hydrophobic, and hydrogen bonding interactions.⁶⁰ The micellar ciprofloxacin treatment in P. aeruginosa infected mice showed on-demand release of ciprofloxacin with reduced bacterial load and alveolar injury.⁶¹ In an investigation to enhance ocular delivery of ciprofloxacin, micellar formulations had been used to compare them with commercially available ciprofloxacin eye drops in rabbit’s eye. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined and the investigated micellar formulations showed a significant improvement in the rate and extent of absorption with prolonged effect.⁶² Zadeh et al also confirmed that polymeric micelles with proper particle sizes below 190 nm demonstrated improved gastro-intestinal solubility, intestinal membrane permeability, and loading efficiency.⁶³ A study on ciprofloxacin-loaded core-shell micellar nanospheres incorporated into a conventional, transparent contact lens provided a sustained, effective, and new drug delivery platform for treating ocular disorders. Nanosphere/ciprofloxacin incorporated into contact lenses (Figure 1) was tested for growth inhibition of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa and the result demonstrated that polymerized contact lenses were transparent and effective against the bacteria.⁶⁴

Figure 1.

Micellar nanosphere encapsulated ciprofloxacin incorporated into contact lens

Notes: Reproduced with permission from Garhwal R, Shady SF, Ellis EJ, et al. Sustained ocular delivery of ciprofloxacin using nanospheres and conventional contact lens materials. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53:1341-1352. Copyright © 2012 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.⁶⁴

Other Polymer-Based Nanocarriers for Ciprofloxacin Delivery

Albumin, as a polymer abundant in the human body, has favorable properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, low cost, and high ability to bind to a variety of drugs. Ciprofloxacin-loaded human serum albumin (HSA) NPs showed a significant antibacterial effect with greater susceptibility to bacteria which was resistant to all antibiotic groups with sustained release, increased serum half-life, reduced drug toxicity and side effects, and increased susceptibility or reduced resistance.²⁶ In another study, ciprofloxacin entrapped in an arginine-based nanocarrier system developed on a mesoporous silica NP (Arg-MSN) showed gradual drug release, two-fold higher in vitro antibacterial activity against Salmonella, targeting at the intra-vacuolar Salmonella, and localized delivery of the antibiotic. In addition, an increased reactive nitrogen species upon Arg-MSN treatment in the infected cells was observed. The coordinated effect of improved antibiotic delivery, intracellular targeting, and production of reactive nitrogen species resulted in an enhanced antibacterial activity (Figure 2). This can be an attractive antibiotic carrier system for clearing intravacuolar infections.²⁷

Figure 2.

Arginine grafted mesoporous silica nanoparticle targeting intracellular Salmonella.

Notes: Reproduced from Mudakavi RJ, Vanamali S, Chakravortty D, and Raichur AM. Development of arginine based nanocarriers for targeting and treatment of intracellular Salmonella, RSC Adv, 2017;7:7022. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.²⁷

The antibacterial effect of ciprofloxacin was also enhanced by encapsulating the drug in carboxymethyl tamarind kernel polysaccharide (CMTKP). Ciprofloxacin-loaded CMTKP NPs revealed higher antibacterial activity and lowest cytotoxicity than ciprofloxacin alone.³⁰ Ciprofloxacin-loaded poly-isobutyl cyanoacrylate polymeric NPs demonstrated improved pharmacokinetic properties and augmented antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium avium.⁶⁵ Bioactive materials like hydroxyapatite (HA) in combination with antibiotics are widely developed for the treatment of osteomyelitis which play a dual role: as bone substitutes at the affected site and as local drug delivery systems for antibiotic delivery. The in situ loading of ciprofloxacin onto HA NPs provided sustained and prolonged release of ciprofloxacin with synergistic antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli that causes osteomyelitis which can suggest the synthesized ciprofloxacin-loaded HA NPs as potential candidates for the treatment of osteomyelitis.⁶⁶ Use of ciprofloxacin during tissue engineering practices can be enhanced by applying it as ciprofloxacin-loaded polymeric NP incorporated electrospun fiber.²⁹

Ciprofloxacin-Conjugated Metallic Nanoparticles

NPs of silver (Ag), gold (Au), Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and inorganic carriers such as silica and alumina serve as novel carriers for pharmaceutical formulations. Their synergistic antibacterial activity with their bio-modification property with several functional groups such as amines, disulfides, and thiols is a considerable promising advantage.⁶⁷ Metallic NPs can tackle bacterial threats passively through prolonged drug retention at the specific site, or actively through surface conjugation with active molecules that can bind to a certain target.¹⁰

Graphene oxide-coated Ag NPs demonstrated an effective encapsulation of ciprofloxacin with a controlled release and a synergistic antibiotic activity against selected bacterial strains of S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa.⁶⁸ In an investigation of Ag-ciprofloxacin nanoformulation against Pseudomonas keratitis, a synergistic antibacterial effect, decreased ciprofloxacin dose, and decreased genetic mutations for decreasing in the emergence of resistant strains were the main findings.⁶⁹ Functionalization with ciprofloxacin after a one year aging period of synthesized Ag NPs facilitated the penetration of Ag ions into the bacterial cell wall which resulted in a significant improvement of antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.⁷⁰ In another study, ciprofloxacin conjugated to biogenic Au NPs demonstrated enhanced bactericidal activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.⁷¹ Ciprofloxacin, adsorbed in Au NPs, showed a characteristic release over an extended period of time.⁷² Ciprofloxacin capping with metallic (Ag and Au) NPs under optimized conditions significantly implicated an improved solubility, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and a significant antibacterial activity.⁷³

Banoee et al investigated that the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin against S. aureus and E. coli increased in the presence of ZnO NPs. The study predicted that ZnO NPs may interfere with the efflux pumping activity which helps for restoring ciprofloxacin action by increasing its absorption into the cell.⁷⁴ In another similar study, only the low concentrations of ciprofloxacin-coated ZnO NPs (equivalent to the sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of pure ciprofloxacin) demonstrated a considerably enhanced (4- to 32-fold) antibacterial activity. This result is of particular value, as using biocompatible ZnO NPs in combination therapy can lower amounts of antibiotics needed.⁷⁵ A review report by Allahverdiyev et al stated that ciprofloxacin with ZnO NPs showed increased inhibition zone areas against S. aureus and E. coli. The effect of ZnO is proposed to be interference with the pumping activity of NorA protein, possiblly binding on the nitogen, florine, and carboxilic ends of the ciprofloxacin structure (Figure 3).⁷⁶

Figure 3.

Ciprofloxacin-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules and their effects.³¹

Notes: Reproduced from Torge A, Wagner S, Chaves PS, et al. Ciprofloxacin-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules as mucus penetrating drug delivery system intended for the treatment of bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis. Int J Pharm. 2017;527(1–2):92–102. Copyright 2017, with permission from Elsevier.

Metal oxide NPs are already applied as an antibacterial additive in various products. Nanostructured MgO is a low cost, easy to manipulate, and biocompatible metal oxide with intrinsic antibacterial activity. Mixed biphasic ZnMgO NPs showed a high antibacterial efficiency. Zn_0.15Mg_0.85O combined with ciprofloxacin potentiated antibiotic activity of ciprofloxacin against B. subtilis and E. coli.⁷⁷ Metal oxides with magnetic drug delivery properties, like iron oxide, improve the ability to define specific locations increasing the target and reducing the nontarget drug concentration. Ciprofloxacin-loaded CoFe₂O₄ led to magnetic targeting of bacteria, a controlled manner drug release, and a 2-fold increase in the inhibition zone.^68,78 A study of ciprofloxacin-loaded CaCO₃ NPs showed slower in vitro release of 12 h and a preserved antimicrobial effect against S. aureus after 2 days of incubation.²⁸

Ciprofloxacin-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanocarriers

Encapsulation and drug delivery with lipid nanocarriers prevents antibiotic drug therapies suffering from issues of over dosage, associated side effects, poor patient compliance, and development of resistances.²⁰ While poor membrane transport limits the potency of many antibiotics, drug-loaded NP vehicles can enter host cells via endocytosis. Besides, the carrying potentials of multiple drug combinations offer highly complex and unpredictable antimicrobial actions where the bacteria cannot develop resistance.^10,79 The possible improvement in the antimicrobial therapy of ciprofloxacin-loaded lipid NPs is due to the enhanced intracellular delivery of the poorly-cell-penetrating antibiotics. The NPs are ingested by the phagocytic system, involve macrophage activation, and increase the immune response of the host.⁸⁰ Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs) represent a superior alternative to other nanocarriers due to their high entrapment efficiency, ease of scale up, stability during storage, protection of labile drugs against degradation, improved tissue tolerance, less stringent regulatory requirements owing to the use of physiological lipids, and delivery by almost all routes.^81,82

Ciprofloxacin-loaded SLNP formulations were subjected to an in vitro microbiological assay to verify the effect of nanoencapsulation on the cell growth inhibitory activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The result showed a more efficacious delivery inside bacterial cells and a higher stability of the encapsulated drug.⁸³ SLNPs are effective against skin infections as they tend to adhere to the skin surface and continuously release drugs over long periods of time in the stratum corneum. Ciprofloxacin-loaded SLNPs exhibit the prolonged release of drugs, especially in the skin and oral infections. A comparative study of ciprofloxacin-loaded protein, lipid, and chitosan NPs showed that SLNs were found to produce controlled release with the smallest size than others with the potential to act as long-acting antibiotic carriers in various regional and systemic infectious states.⁸⁴ Ghaffari et al demonstrated that ciprofloxacin release from SLNPs is more rapid with a significant burst effect followed by a sustained release that suggested that SLNPs can act as promising carriers for sustained ciprofloxacin release.¹⁹

Ciprofloxacin release from SLNPs containing stearic acid displayed strongest burst effect with rapid release rate.⁸⁵ In an investigation for a solution to overcome biological (mucus) barrier, ciprofloxacin was loaded into lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC) for high mucus permeability, sustained release, and antibacterial activity. It resulted in 50% increase on drug permeation through mucus. High encapsulation efficiency, improved apparent aqueous solubility, reduced dosing frequency and overall dose, biofilm preventing, improved mucus permeation, and protection of the drug from deactivation were the major observations of the study. With these combined advantages, ciprofloxacin-loaded LNC represented a promising drug delivery system of an improved antibiotic therapy in cystic fibrosis.³¹

Conclusion

Targeting ciprofloxacin more precisely to the site of infection by using carriers, an adjuvant approach whereby ciprofloxacin is paired with compounds that potentiate its activity against biofilm cells, combination of materials that act synergistically with ciprofloxacin against microbes, and protection of the drug from deactivation or efflux have been demonstrated to combat resistance and enhance antibacterial activity. Ciprofloxacin–NP conjugation, ciprofloxacin nanoencapsulation, loading ciprofloxacin in liposomes, and polymeric nanoformations are among the different promising nanotechnology-based approaches to combat ciprofloxacin resistance. Highly reduced MIC and dosing, reduced side effects, enhanced stability, targeting and controlling release, synergistic effect, optimized pharmacokinetic profile, and minimized chance of resistance have been demonstrated from the different ciprofloxacin nano-delivery studies. Especially, the synergistic activity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, higher stability, simple synthesis pathway, high loading efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of polymeric NPs are very promising and interesting for further investigations and alternative-setting approaches.

Funding Statement

No funding available.

Abbreviations

AMR, antimicrobial resistance; CMTKP, carboxymethyl tamarind kernel polysaccharide; HA, hydroxyapatite; LNC, lipid-core nanocapsules; MDR, multidrug resistant; MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration; MRSA, methicillin-resistant S. aureus; MSSA, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus; NMs, nanomaterials; NPs, nanoparticles; PCL, poly(ε-caprolactone); PLGA, poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid; SLN, solid lipid nanocarrier; SLNPs, solid lipid nanoparticles; UTI, urinary tract infections.

Disclosure

The authors have declared that there is no competing interest.