Lipid Liquid Crystal Nanoparticles: Promising Photosensitizer Carriers for the Treatment of Infected Cutaneous Wounds

Cutaneous chronic wounds impose a silent pandemic that affects the lives of millions worldwide. The delayed healing process is usually complicated by opportunistic bacteria that infect wounds. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most prevalent bacteria in infected cutaneous wounds, with the ability to form antibiotic-resistant biofilms. Recently, we have demonstrated the potential of gallium protoporphyrin lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles (GaPP-LCNP) as a photosensitizer against S. aureus biofilms in vitro. Herein, we investigate the potential of GaPP-LCNP using a pre-clinical model of infected cutaneous wounds. GaPP-LCNP showed superior antibacterial activity compared to unformulated GaPP, reducing biofilm bacterial viability by 5.5 log(10) compared to 2.5 log(10) in an ex vivo model, and reducing bacterial viability by 1 log(10) in vivo, while unformulated GaPP failed to reduce bacterial burden. Furthermore, GaPP-LCNP significantly promoted wound healing through reduction in the bacterial burden and improved early collagen deposition. These findings pave the way for future pre-clinical investigation and treatment optimizations to translate GaPP-LCNP towards clinical application.

Automated summary

Cutaneous chronic wounds are a global problem affecting millions of people, often complicated by bacterial infections. Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacteria in infected wounds, capable of forming antibiotic-resistant biofilms. Gallium protoporphyrin lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles (GaPP-LCNP) have shown potential as a photosensitizer against S. aureus biofilms. In this study, GaPP-LCNP demonstrated superior antibacterial activity, reducing biofilm viability and promoting wound healing in pre-clinical models. These findings open doors for further research and optimization of GaPP-LCNP for clinical applications.