Assessment of antibiofilm activity of magnesium fluoride nanoparticles-stabilized oil-in-water nanosized emulsion.

CONTEXT: Magnesium fluoride (MgF(2)) nanoparticles-stabilized oil-in-water nanosized emulsion was prepared and assessed for its antiadherent and antibiofilm activities over glass coupons against pathogenic microorganisms like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. OBJECTIVE: The major objectives of this paper are to synthesis MgF(2) nanoparticles, to prepare MgF(2) nanoparticles-stabilized nanosized emulsion, to coat glass coupons with MgF(2) nanoparticles and nanoparticles-stabilized emulsion, to challenge the emulsion or nanoparticles-coated and uncoated glass surfaces with fresh bacterial cultures over 18 h for biofilm formation, and to evaluate the extended antibiofilm activity of the coupons coated with either nanoparticles or emulsion in restricting the bacterial growth and biofilm formation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Uncoated surfaces supported a massive biofilm formation (12.6 × 10(11) and 11.6 × 10(11) CFU cm(-2) for E. coli and S. aureus respectively for the 3rd day) while emulsion-coated surfaces dramatically restricted bacterial colonization (9.3 and 8.0 CFU cm(-2) for E. coli and S. aureus respectively). These results suggested that MgF(2) nanoparticles-stabilized emulsion is effective in restraining bacterial colonization on glass surfaces. CONCLUSION: Although the glass coupons are selected as a model biomaterial surface, similar or increased antibiofilm action would be expected when this 'hybrid' nanoparticulate system is coated on other types of biomaterial surfaces such as intraocular lenses, catheters, etc.

Solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) formulations as a potential tool for the reduction of cytotoxicity of saponins.

The present pilot study explored the potential of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) to entrap saponins and reduce the membrane toxicity of these compounds. SLN composed of different types of solid lipid were prepared by the cold homogenisation technique. Combinations of anionic, cationic and non-ionic stabilisers were selected in order to obtain negatively, positively and neutrally charged SLN. Mean particle size and zeta potential of blank and saponin-loaded formulations were measured by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Electrophoretic Light Scattering (ELS) and in vitro cytotoxicity on MRC-5 SV2 and J774 cells was assessed using a resazurin-based assay. The type of solid lipid used for the formulation influenced the mean particle size, while the zeta potential mainly depended on the kind of surfactant utilised. Blank SLN composed of hard fat and anionic or non-ionic surfactants did not result in cytotoxicity. After loading with saponin, the anionic hard fat SLN was found to be the optimal formulation.