Paper accepted:” Chitosan/cyclodextrin/TPP nanoparticles loaded with quercetin as novel bacterial quorum sensing Inhibitors”

Also today, Hao Thanh Nguyen’s paper on quercetin-loaded chitosan/cyclodextrin nanoparticles as a quorum sensing inhibitor was accepted for publication, by coincidence also in the journal “Molecules”. Hao is continuing the interesting work that Francisco Goycoolea’s group has performed on trying to develop inhibitors of bacterial quorum sensing as safe alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bacteria, thus exerting strong evolutionary pressure to develop resistance. And multiresistant bacteria which can survive even our most precious reserve antibiotics are an increasing problem e.g. in hospitals, particularly in Germany. Interfering with quorum sensing would be a promising alternative. Many pathogenic bacteria switch on their pathogenicity programs only once they have reached a sufficient number to successfully attack their host’s cells. Quorum sensing is the communication means by which bacteria know when this is the case. If we succeed to inhibit this communication, the bacteria are not killed - leading to lower pressure to develop resistance - but failure to activate their pathogenicity programs may give our immune system enough time to deal with the attack successfully. Using chitosan/cyclodextrin nanoparticles as muco-adhesive, sustained release drug carriers, Hao was able to show good efficacies of the hydrophobic, water-insoluble plant phenolic compound quercetin, boosting its anti-quorum sensing efficiency at very low doses.