Drug-Free Enzyme-Based Bactericidal Nanomotors against Pathogenic Bacteria

The low efficacy of current conventional treatments for bacterial infections increases mortality rates worldwide. To alleviate this global health problem, we propose drug-free enzymebased nanomotors for the treatment of bacterial urinary-tract infections. We develop nanomotors consisting of mesoporo...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Vilela García, Diana, Blanco Cabra, Nuria, Eguskiza, Ander, Hortelao, Ana C., Torrents, Eduard, Sánchez, Samuel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/6745
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/6745
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:543
Enzymatic nanomotors
Biofilms
E.Coli
Infections
Nanomachines
Self-propulsion
Química analítica (Química)
2301 Química Analítica
Descripción
Sumario:The low efficacy of current conventional treatments for bacterial infections increases mortality rates worldwide. To alleviate this global health problem, we propose drug-free enzymebased nanomotors for the treatment of bacterial urinary-tract infections. We develop nanomotors consisting of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) that were functionalized with either urease (U-MSNPs), lysozyme (L-MSNPs), or urease and lysozyme (MMSNPs), and use them against nonpathogenic planktonic Escherichia coli. U-MSNPs exhibited the highest bactericidal activity due to biocatalysis of urea into NaHCO3 and NH3, which also propels U-MSNPs. In addition, U-MSNPs in concentrations above 200 μg/mL were capable of successfully reducing 60% of the biofilm biomass of a uropathogenic E. coli strain. This study thus provides a proof-of-concept, demonstrating that enzyme-based nanomotors are capable of fighting infectious diseases. This approach could potentially be extended to other kinds of diseases by selecting appropriate biomolecules.