In vivo studies of polyacrylate nanoparticle emulsions for topical and systemic applications.

We have recently reported on a new nanomedicine containing antibiotic-conjugated polyacrylate nanoparticles, which has shown activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro and no cytotoxicity toward human dermal cells. The water-based nanoparticle emulsion is capable of solubilizing lipophilic antibiotics for systemic administration, and the nanoparticle drug delivery vehicle has shown protective properties for antibiotics from hydrolytic cleavage by bacterial penicillinases, thus rejuvenating the drug's activity against resistant microbes such as MRSA. Here we report the first in vivo study of this penicillin-conjugated nanoparticle emulsion in determining toxicological responses initiated upon systemic and topical application in a murine model. Favorable results were observed in vivo upon both routes of administration and, when topically applied to a dermal abrasion model, the emulsion enhanced wound healing by an average of 3 to 5 days. This study suggests that polyacrylate nanoparticle-containing emulsions may afford promising opportunities for treating both skin and systemic infections.