Investigating preparation and characterisation of diphtheria toxoid-loaded on sodium alginate nanoparticles.

This paper aims to investigate the preparation and characterisation of the alginate nanoparticles (NPs) as antigen delivery system loaded by diphtheria toxoid (DT). For this purpose, both the loading capacity (LC) and Loading efficiency (LE) of the alginate NPs burdened by DT are evaluated. Moreover, the effects of different concentrations of sodium alginate and calcium chloride on the NPs physicochemical characteristics are surveyed in addition to other physical conditions such as homogenization time and rate. To do so, the NPs are characterised using particle size and distribution, zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release study and FT-IR spectroscopy. Subsequently, the effects of homogenization time and rate on the NPs are assessed. At the meantime, the NPs LC and efficiency in several DT concentrations are estimated. The average size of the NPs was 400.7 and 276.6 nm for unloaded and DT loaded, respectively. According to the obtained results, the zeta potential of the blank and DT loaded NPs are estimated as -23.7 mV and -21.2 mV, respectively. Whereas, the LC and LE were >80% and >90%, in that order. Furthermore, 95% of the releasing DT loaded NPs occurs at 140 h in the sustained mode without any bursting release. It can be concluded that the features of NPs such as morphology and particle size are strongly depended on the calcium chloride, sodium alginate concentrations and physicochemical conditions in the NPs formation process. In addition, appropriate concentrations of the sodium alginate and calcium ions would lead to obtaining the desirable NPs formation associated with the advantageous LE, LC (over 80%) and sustained in vitro release profile. Ultimately, the proposed NPs can be employed in vaccine formulation for the targeted delivery, controlled and slow antigen release associated with the improved antigen stability.

Antibiotic Resistance Patterns and a Survey of Metallo-ß-Lactamase Genes Including bla-IMP and bla-VIM Types in Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from Hospital Patients in Tehran.

BACKGROUND: Metallo-ß-lactamases (MBLs) producing strains of Acinetobacter baumannii are serious etiological agents of hospital infections worldwide. Among the ß- lactams, carbapenems are the most effective antibiotics used against A. baumannii. However, resistance to these drugs among clinical strains of A. baumannii has been increasing in recent years. In this study, the antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of A. baumannii strains isolated from eleven different hospitals in Tehran, Iran, and the prevalence of MBL genes (bla-VIM and bla-IMP) were determined. METHOD: During a period of 5 months, 176 isolates of A. baumannii were collected from different clinical specimens from hospitalized patients in Tehran. All isolates were confirmed by biochemical methods. The isolates were tested for antibiotic sensitivity by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Following minimum inhibitory concentration determination, imipenem-resistant isolates were further tested for MBL production by the double disk synergy test (DDST) method. PCR assays were performed for the detection of the MBL genes bla-IMP and bla-VIM. RESULTS: The DDST phenotypic method indicated that among the 169 imipenem-resistant isolates, 165 strains were MBL positive. The PCR assays revealed that 63 of the overall isolates (36%) carried the bla-VIM gene and 70 strains (40%) harbored bla-IMP. CONCLUSIONS: It is obvious that nosocomial infections associated with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter spp. are on the rise. Therefore, the determination of antibiotic sensitivity patterns and screening for MBL production among A. baumannii isolates is important for controlling clinical Acinetobacter infections.

Antibiotic Resistance Pattern and Evaluation of Metallo-Beta Lactamase Genes Including bla- IMP and bla- VIM Types in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Patients in Tehran Hospitals.

Beta-lactamase producing strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are important etiological agents of hospital infections. Carbapenems are among the most effective antibiotics used against Pseudomonas infections, but they can be rendered infective by group B ß -lactamase, commonly called metallo-beta lactamase. In this study, the antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from 9 different hospitals in Tehran, Iran, as well as the prevalence of MBLs genes (bla- VIM and bla- IMP ) were determined. A total of 212 strains of P. aeruginosa recovered from patients in hospitals in Tehran were confirmed by both biochemical methods and PCR. Their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns were determined by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Following MIC determination, imipenem resistant strains were selected by DDST method which was followed by PCR tests for determination of MBLs genes: bla- IMP and bla- VIM . The results indicated that, in the DDST phenotypic method, among the 100 imipenem resistant isolates, 75 strains were MBLs positive. The PCR test indicated that 70 strains (33%) carried bla- VIM gene and 20 strains (9%) harbored bla- IMP . The results indicated that the extent of antibiotic resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa is on the rise. This may be due to production of MBLs enzymes. Therefore, determination of antibiotic sensitivity patterns and MBLs production by these bacteria, can be important in control of clinical Pseudomonas infection.