Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected swine skin burn wounds

ABSTRACT Burns are one of the most common injuries in both civilian and combat settings and are difficult to treat. This is particularly true when the wounds are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A new generation of safe, broadly...

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Main Authors: Zhengyi Cao, Jesse Chen, Jayme Cannon, Zachary Meyer, Yongqing Li, Wenlu Ouyang, James Baker, Su He Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2024-11-01
Series:Microbiology Spectrum
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Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01378-24
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author Zhengyi Cao
Jesse Chen
Jayme Cannon
Zachary Meyer
Yongqing Li
Wenlu Ouyang
James Baker
Su He Wang
author_facet Zhengyi Cao
Jesse Chen
Jayme Cannon
Zachary Meyer
Yongqing Li
Wenlu Ouyang
James Baker
Su He Wang
author_sort Zhengyi Cao
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Burns are one of the most common injuries in both civilian and combat settings and are difficult to treat. This is particularly true when the wounds are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A new generation of safe, broadly effective, and easily applied anti-infection agents is needed to successfully prevent and treat infections. Nanoemulsions (NEs) are nanometer-sized particles with a positively charged surfactant at their oil-water interface. In the current study, we further investigated antimicrobial NEs as a treatment to address burn wounds infected by MRSA. Specifically, using a porcine skin model, we infected partial thickness thermal burn wounds with MRSA and then treated it with the nanoemulsion formulation (NB-201) or placebo controls. Bacterial viability after treatment was determined, and inflammation indexes in wounds were scored by histopathology. Topical treatment of infected wounds with NB-201 resulted in reduced colony-forming units (CFUs) compared to placebo treatment. In addition, NB-201 was effective in significantly alleviating inflammation in the treated wounds and promoting wound healing. These results indicate that NB-201 is a promising new agent to treat skin burn wounds infected with MRSA.IMPORTANCEThe findings of this study are focused on therapeutic applications of nanotechnology. In the current study, we demonstrated that a nanoemulsion formulation could effectively kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in porcine skin burn wounds. Infection of MRSA in burn wound is a common threat to public health and is usually difficult to treat due to limited therapies available. NB-201 was effective in significantly alleviating inflammation in the treated wounds and promoting wound healing. Therefore, the finding of this study has a great potential to make this formulation a novel antimicrobial agent against MRSA.
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spelling doaj-art-08784b4fc2d74e4ab79dcdcfc2e17e4d2025-08-20T02:26:20ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972024-11-01121110.1128/spectrum.01378-24Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected swine skin burn woundsZhengyi Cao0Jesse Chen1Jayme Cannon2Zachary Meyer3Yongqing Li4Wenlu Ouyang5James Baker6Su He Wang7Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USAMichigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USAMichigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USAMichigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USADepartment of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USADepartment of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USAMichigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USAMichigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USAABSTRACT Burns are one of the most common injuries in both civilian and combat settings and are difficult to treat. This is particularly true when the wounds are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A new generation of safe, broadly effective, and easily applied anti-infection agents is needed to successfully prevent and treat infections. Nanoemulsions (NEs) are nanometer-sized particles with a positively charged surfactant at their oil-water interface. In the current study, we further investigated antimicrobial NEs as a treatment to address burn wounds infected by MRSA. Specifically, using a porcine skin model, we infected partial thickness thermal burn wounds with MRSA and then treated it with the nanoemulsion formulation (NB-201) or placebo controls. Bacterial viability after treatment was determined, and inflammation indexes in wounds were scored by histopathology. Topical treatment of infected wounds with NB-201 resulted in reduced colony-forming units (CFUs) compared to placebo treatment. In addition, NB-201 was effective in significantly alleviating inflammation in the treated wounds and promoting wound healing. These results indicate that NB-201 is a promising new agent to treat skin burn wounds infected with MRSA.IMPORTANCEThe findings of this study are focused on therapeutic applications of nanotechnology. In the current study, we demonstrated that a nanoemulsion formulation could effectively kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in porcine skin burn wounds. Infection of MRSA in burn wound is a common threat to public health and is usually difficult to treat due to limited therapies available. NB-201 was effective in significantly alleviating inflammation in the treated wounds and promoting wound healing. Therefore, the finding of this study has a great potential to make this formulation a novel antimicrobial agent against MRSA.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01378-24thermal injuryporcine infection modelnanomaterialsantimicrobial agents
spellingShingle Zhengyi Cao
Jesse Chen
Jayme Cannon
Zachary Meyer
Yongqing Li
Wenlu Ouyang
James Baker
Su He Wang
Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected swine skin burn wounds
Microbiology Spectrum
thermal injury
porcine infection model
nanomaterials
antimicrobial agents
title Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected swine skin burn wounds
title_full Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected swine skin burn wounds
title_fullStr Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected swine skin burn wounds
title_full_unstemmed Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected swine skin burn wounds
title_short Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected swine skin burn wounds
title_sort nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus in infected swine skin burn wounds
topic thermal injury
porcine infection model
nanomaterials
antimicrobial agents
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01378-24
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