New technology enables targeted delivery of antibiotics

This breakthrough in targeted medicine is the result of two new studies that tested this drug-delivery system on two bacterial strains that negatively affect millions of people worldwide. Streptococcus pneumoniae causes meningitis, sepsis and bacterial pneumonia, potentially fatal conditions. Gardnerella vaginalis is mainly associated with bacterial vaginosis, causing discomfort and pain.

The team from the School of Pharmacy at Waterloo found that this personalized nanomedicine, which attacks bacteria at the molecular level, results in patients taking the exact amount required to fight the infection while reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. With the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, bacteria strains develop a tolerance, resulting in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global threat.

Source:

University of Waterloo

Journal references:

• Watt, E., et al. (2024). Pneumolysin-responsive liposomal platform for selective treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Drug Delivery and Translational Research. doi.org/10.1007/s13346-024-01708-5.
• Feng, C., et al. (2024). Bacteria-responsive drug release platform for the local treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Nanotechnology. doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/ad7143.