Harnessing chitosan for zinc and hydroxychloroquine delivery, interactions with fibronectin, and antibacterial activity

Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide derived from chitin, has gained attention for its dual role as an effective delivery method and as an antibacterial agent. Chitosan was selected as an efficient carrier for zinc (Zn) and hydroxychloroquine (HC) due to its ability to mitigate their adverse effects....

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Main Authors: Anju Manuja, Juhi Nagra, Dharvi Chhabra, Kanish Manuja, Monika Sihag, Minakshi Prasad, Balvinder Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893924002275
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author Anju Manuja
Juhi Nagra
Dharvi Chhabra
Kanish Manuja
Monika Sihag
Minakshi Prasad
Balvinder Kumar
author_facet Anju Manuja
Juhi Nagra
Dharvi Chhabra
Kanish Manuja
Monika Sihag
Minakshi Prasad
Balvinder Kumar
author_sort Anju Manuja
collection DOAJ
description Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide derived from chitin, has gained attention for its dual role as an effective delivery method and as an antibacterial agent. Chitosan was selected as an efficient carrier for zinc (Zn) and hydroxychloroquine (HC) due to its ability to mitigate their adverse effects. The nanocarrier helps prevent harmful impacts on the host, with chitosan's biocompatible and biodegradable nature making it an ideal choice. Fibronectin, a glycoprotein extensively found in extracellular fluids and matrices of various tissues, serves as a common target for many microorganisms. Molecular docking studies revealed that the Zn, HC and Chitosan inhibit the fibronectin protein of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. We developed a novel formulation combining chitosan, zinc oxide, and hydroxychloroquine to enhance the delivery of Zn and HC. The formulation was characterized using TEM, elemental analysis, particle size analyzer and FTIR. Fluorescent microscopy using FluoZin-3 on bacterial cultures confirmed the presence of zinc on the surface of the organisms. Further, we investigated successfully its antibacterial effects against Streptococcus equi. ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) excel in bacterial inhibition but are limited by cytotoxicity. In contrast, the Ch-ZnHC Complex, slightly less potent, offers a safer profile for host cells. Despite containing trace zinc, it effectively inhibits bacterial growth, likely due to a synergistic interaction between chitosan, zinc, and HC. This balance of antimicrobial efficacy and low toxicity makes the Ch-ZnHC Complex ideal for applications demanding prolonged exposure or higher safety standards. This study is the first to explore the inhibitory activity of this complex against S. equi, emphasizing its potential as a safe and effective alternative to traditional antibiotics.
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spelling doaj-art-22bf9d4b47c94539b4eaf4f6fa5f05892025-08-20T02:06:35ZengElsevierCarbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications2666-89392025-03-01910064710.1016/j.carpta.2024.100647Harnessing chitosan for zinc and hydroxychloroquine delivery, interactions with fibronectin, and antibacterial activityAnju Manuja0Juhi Nagra1Dharvi Chhabra2Kanish Manuja3Monika Sihag4Minakshi Prasad5Balvinder Kumar6Correspondence authors.; ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001, Haryana, IndiaICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001, Haryana, IndiaICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001, Haryana, IndiaICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001, Haryana, IndiaICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001, Haryana, IndiaCorrespondence authors.; ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001, Haryana, IndiaCorrespondence authors.; ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001, Haryana, IndiaChitosan, a natural polysaccharide derived from chitin, has gained attention for its dual role as an effective delivery method and as an antibacterial agent. Chitosan was selected as an efficient carrier for zinc (Zn) and hydroxychloroquine (HC) due to its ability to mitigate their adverse effects. The nanocarrier helps prevent harmful impacts on the host, with chitosan's biocompatible and biodegradable nature making it an ideal choice. Fibronectin, a glycoprotein extensively found in extracellular fluids and matrices of various tissues, serves as a common target for many microorganisms. Molecular docking studies revealed that the Zn, HC and Chitosan inhibit the fibronectin protein of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. We developed a novel formulation combining chitosan, zinc oxide, and hydroxychloroquine to enhance the delivery of Zn and HC. The formulation was characterized using TEM, elemental analysis, particle size analyzer and FTIR. Fluorescent microscopy using FluoZin-3 on bacterial cultures confirmed the presence of zinc on the surface of the organisms. Further, we investigated successfully its antibacterial effects against Streptococcus equi. ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) excel in bacterial inhibition but are limited by cytotoxicity. In contrast, the Ch-ZnHC Complex, slightly less potent, offers a safer profile for host cells. Despite containing trace zinc, it effectively inhibits bacterial growth, likely due to a synergistic interaction between chitosan, zinc, and HC. This balance of antimicrobial efficacy and low toxicity makes the Ch-ZnHC Complex ideal for applications demanding prolonged exposure or higher safety standards. This study is the first to explore the inhibitory activity of this complex against S. equi, emphasizing its potential as a safe and effective alternative to traditional antibiotics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893924002275ChitosanZincHydroxychloroquineNanoparticlesAntibacterial
spellingShingle Anju Manuja
Juhi Nagra
Dharvi Chhabra
Kanish Manuja
Monika Sihag
Minakshi Prasad
Balvinder Kumar
Harnessing chitosan for zinc and hydroxychloroquine delivery, interactions with fibronectin, and antibacterial activity
Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
Chitosan
Zinc
Hydroxychloroquine
Nanoparticles
Antibacterial
title Harnessing chitosan for zinc and hydroxychloroquine delivery, interactions with fibronectin, and antibacterial activity
title_full Harnessing chitosan for zinc and hydroxychloroquine delivery, interactions with fibronectin, and antibacterial activity
title_fullStr Harnessing chitosan for zinc and hydroxychloroquine delivery, interactions with fibronectin, and antibacterial activity
title_full_unstemmed Harnessing chitosan for zinc and hydroxychloroquine delivery, interactions with fibronectin, and antibacterial activity
title_short Harnessing chitosan for zinc and hydroxychloroquine delivery, interactions with fibronectin, and antibacterial activity
title_sort harnessing chitosan for zinc and hydroxychloroquine delivery interactions with fibronectin and antibacterial activity
topic Chitosan
Zinc
Hydroxychloroquine
Nanoparticles
Antibacterial
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893924002275
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