Succinylated casein-coated peptide-mesoporous silica nanoparticles as an antibiotic against intestinal bacterial infection

Biomater Sci. 2019 May 28;7(6):2440-2451. doi: 10.1039/c9bm00003h.

Abstract

Increasing drug resistance necessitates the discovery of novel bactericides. Human defensin (HD) peptides can eliminate resistant bacteria and are promising candidates for next-generation antibiotics. T7E21R-HD5 is a potent bactericide designed by site mutations at enteric HD5. To facilitate the development of T7E21R-HD5 into an intestinal antibiotic, we employed a mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) as the peptide carrier. Despite its ineffectiveness at killing bacteria, the MSN intensified the outer membrane penetration and inner membrane permeabilization abilities of T7E21R-HD5 and thus enhanced its antibacterial action against multidrug resistant (MDR) E. coli, which broadened the role of MSNs in drug delivery. For the reduction in T7E21R-HD5 losses in the stomach, we further modified MSN@T7E21R-HD5 with succinylated casein (SCN), a milk protein that can be specifically degraded by intestinal protease. SCN coating decreased T7E21R-HD5 release from the MSNs, especially in a highly acidic environment. The controlled release of MSN@T7E21R-HD5 from SCN encapsulation was confirmed in the presence of trypsin. MSN@T7E21R-HD5@SCN was nontoxic to host cells, and it was capable of inactivating MDR E. coli in vivo and alleviating intestinal inflammation by suppressing the production of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and MMP-9. This study provides a peptide-based nanobiotic with efficacy to combat intestinal infection, especially against drug-resistant bacteria. The biocompatible and readily prepared MSN/SCN delivery system may benefit further intestinal antibiotic design and promote the drug transformation of additional enterogenic functional molecules.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / toxicity
  • Caseins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Defensins / chemistry
  • Defensins / metabolism*
  • Defensins / pharmacology*
  • Defensins / toxicity
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple / drug effects*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / physiology
  • Intestines / microbiology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Porosity
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Rats
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Succinic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Caseins
  • Defensins
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Succinic Acid