Poly-(lactic-co-glycolic) Acid Nanoparticles Entrapping Pterostilbene for Targeting Aspergillus Section Nigri

Anastasia Orekhova; Cleofe Palocci; Laura Chronopoulou; Giulia De Angelis; Camilla Badiali; Valerio Petruccelli; Simone D’Angeli; Gabriella Pasqua; Giovanna Simonetti

doi:10.3390/molecules27175424

Molecules (Aug 2022)

Poly-(lactic-co-glycolic) Acid Nanoparticles Entrapping Pterostilbene for Targeting Aspergillus Section Nigri

Anastasia Orekhova,
Cleofe Palocci,
Laura Chronopoulou,
Giulia De Angelis,
Camilla Badiali,
Valerio Petruccelli,
Simone D’Angeli,
Gabriella Pasqua,
Giovanna Simonetti

Affiliations

Anastasia Orekhova: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Cleofe Palocci: Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Laura Chronopoulou: Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giulia De Angelis: Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Camilla Badiali: Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Valerio Petruccelli: Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Simone D’Angeli: Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Gabriella Pasqua: Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Giovanna Simonetti: Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27175424
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 27, no. 17
p. 5424

Abstract

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Poly-(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) is a biodegradable, biosafe, and biocompatible copolymer. The Aspergillus section Nigri causes otomycosis localized in the external auditory canal. In this research, Aspergillus brasiliensis, a species belonging to the Nigri section, was tested. Coumarin 6 and pterostilbene loaded in poly-(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticles (PLGA-coumarin6-NPs and PLGA-PTB-NPs) were tested for fungal cell uptake and antifungal ability against A. brasiliensis biofilm, respectively. Moreover, the activity of PLGA-PTB-NPs in inhibiting the A. brasiliensis infection was tested using Galleria mellonella larvae. The results showed a fluorescence signal, after 50 nm PLGA-coumarin6-NPs treatment, inside A. brasiliensis hyphae and along the entire thickness of the biofilm matrix, which was indicative of an efficient NP uptake. Regarding antifungal activity, a reduction in A. brasiliensis biofilm formation and mature biofilm with PLGA-PTB-NPs has been demonstrated. Moreover, in vivo experiments showed a significant reduction in mortality of infected larvae after injection of PLGA-PTB-NPs compared to free PTB at the same concentration. In conclusion, the PLGA-NPs system can increase the bioavailability of PTB in Aspergillus section Nigri biofilm by overcoming the biofilm matrix barrier and delivering PTB to fungal cells.

Published in Molecules

ISSN: 1420-3049 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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