Antimicrobial drugs encapsulated in fibrin nanoparticles for treating microbial infested wounds
Authors: K P Chennazhi
B Maria Alphonsa
G Praveen
Raja Biswas
R Jayakumar
P T Sudheesh Kumar
Journal: Pharmaceutical Research (2014)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Antibacterial; Antifungal; Fibrin nanoparticles; Drug encapsulation; Ciprofloxacin
Affiliations: Amrita Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kochi, 682041, India.

Abstract:  Purpose: In vitro evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal drugs encapsulated fibrin nanoparticles to prove their potential prospect of using these nanocomponent for effective treatment of microbial infested wounds. Methods: Surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsification-diffusion method was adopted to encapsulate 1 mg/ml each of antimicrobial drugs (Ciprofloxacin and Fluconazole) in 4 ml of aqueous fibrinogen suspension and subsequent thrombin mediated cross linking to synthesize drug loaded fibrin nanoparticles. Results: Ciprofloxacin loaded fibrin nanoparticles (CFNPs) showed size range of 253 ± 6 nm whereas that of Fluconazole loaded fibrin nanoparticles (FFNPs) was 260 ± 10 nm. Physico chemical characterizations revealed the firm integration of antimicrobial drugs within fibrin nanoparticles. Drug release studies performed at physiological pH 7.4 showed a release of 16% ciprofloxacin and 8% of fluconazole while as the release of ciprofloxacin at alkaline pH 8.5, was 48% and that of fluconazole was 37%. The antimicrobial activity evaluations of both drug loaded systems independently showed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E.coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and antifungal activity against Candida albicans (C. albicans). The in vitro toxicity of the prepared drug loaded nanoparticles were further analyzed using Human dermal fibroblast cells (HDF) and showed adequate cell viability. Conclusion: The efficacies of both CFNPs and FFNPs for sustained delivery of encapsulated anti microbial drugs were evaluated in vitro suggesting its potential use for treating microbial infested wounds (diabetic foot ulcer). 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Three figures in this paper have been corrected. The authors state in the correction:  These changes in the figures would not affect the overall conclusion of the whole manuscript.  Here are the errors that were corrected. Text between quotes reflects phrasing in the correction. Figure 2: two panels were  inadvertently repeated . ![file] , 
 Figure 10: three panels were  inadvertently repeated . Shown with green boxes. ![file] , 
 Figure 11: two panels were  inadvertently repeated . Shown with orange boxes. ![file] , 
 However, some additional potential inadvertently repeated issues remain after these 3 corrections. Figure 4 appears to show some similar looking test tubes, even though they represent different concentrations of ciprofloxacin. Shown with orange and aqua boxes. ![file] , 
 Figure 5 appears to show some similar looking test tubes, even though they represent different concentrations of ciprofloxacin. Shown with yellow and pink boxes. ![file] , 
 Figure 6 (C. albicans) appears to show some similar looking test tubes within the figure and similar to tubes in Figure 4 (S. aureus) and 5 (E. coli), even though they represent different concentrations of ciprofloxacin or branches of life. Shown with yellow, pink, purple, and green boxes. I also now note additional similarities between Figure 4(ii) I, which looks like the yellow box, and Figure 5(i) G which looks like the green box. ![file] , 
 Here is a recap of similarities between Figures 4, 5, and 6 (since I cannot correct figures in previous posts). ![file] ,