Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

The rapid increase in drug-resistant infections presents an acute problem that continues to challenge the healthcare
sector, generating interest in novel antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have a high potential as new
therapeutics against infectious diseases as they are less prone to induce resistance due to their fast and non-specific mechanism
of action. The new peptides included in the study are well-defined AMPs, established to have an antimicrobial effect and an
acceptable safety profile. The aim of this work is to explore the potential of lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) for AMP delivery, and
especially its ability to protect the peptide against degradation while at the same time maintain proper drug activity. The LNCs
are described as an oily core composed of medium chain triglycerides, and surrounded by a surfactant shell made of lecithin
and PEGylated surfactants. Their lipidic cores are not favourable as they stand to encapsulate hydrophilic molecules. To
promote the peptide loading, the incorporation of the cationic peptides in the shell of the LNCs was envisaged. Two strategies
are tested: adsorption of the AMPs on the surface of LNCs by incubation under magnetic stirring or incorporation of charged
linkers to the formulation of LNCs. The incubation performed at different conditions shows a good association of the peptides
to the surface of the LNCs. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the LNC-AMPs were determined for the sensitive
strains. The results show a preservation of the antibacterial activity of the native peptide and in some cases a decrease of the
MIC.

Biography

Matougui Nada is a second year PhD student in biology and health doctorate school at the University of Angers working under the supervision of the professor
Patrick Saulnier. Her research is focused on the development of a Lipid-based nanoformulations of antimicrobial peptides to treat bacterial infectious diseases. She
is pharmacy graduate from the Medicine University of Algiers, followed by a Master degree in “Technologies Innovantes en Formulation” at University of Angers.
She worked as an intern at the “MINT” laboratory on the development of a nanomedicine for glioblastoma therapy.