Streptococcus pyogenes causes a wide spectrum of diseases varying from mild to life threatening, despite antibiotic treatment. Nanoparticle application could facilitate the foreign pathogen fight by increasing the antimicrobial effectiveness and reducing their adverse effects. Here, we designed and produced erythromycin-loaded chitosan nanodroplets (Ery-NDs), both oxygen-free and oxygen-loaded. All ND formulations were characterized for physico-chemical parameters, drug release kinetics, and tested for biocompatibility with human keratinocytes and for their antibacterial properties or interactions with S. pyogenes. All tested NDs possessed spherical shape, small average diameter, and positive Z potential. A prolonged Ery release kinetic from Ery-NDs was demonstrated, as well as a favorable biocompatibility on human keratinocytes. Confocal microscopy images showed ND uptake and internalization by S. pyogenes starting from 3 h of incubation up to 24 h. According to cell counts, NDs displayed long-term antimicrobial efficacy against streptococci significantly counteracting their proliferation up to 24 h, thanks to the known chitosan antimicrobial properties. Intriguingly, Ery-NDs were generally more effective (104-103 log10 CFU/mL), than free-erythromycin (105 log10 CFU/mL), in the direct killing of streptococci, probably due to Ery-NDs adsorption by bacteria and prolonged release kinetics of erythromycin inside S. pyogenes cells. Based on these findings, NDs and proper Ery-NDs appear to be the most promising and skin-friendly approaches for the topical treatment of streptococcal skin infections allowing wound healing during hypoxia.
Keywords: Streptococcus pyogenes; chitosan; erythromycin; nanodroplets; skin and wound infections.