Enhanced cellular uptake by "pharmaceutically oriented devices" of new simplified analogs of Linezolid with antimicrobial activity.

The aim of the present study was to enhance cellular uptake of simplified analogs of Linezolid by their incorporation into suitable delivery devices in order to improve the antimicrobial activity of these novel synthesized oxazolidin-2-one derivatives. The oxazolidin-2-one derivatives were synthesized by developing a rather simple one-pot reaction starting from oxiranylmethanol and several primary amines. Three delivery devices were prepared by following different synthetic approaches, such as single-step free radical grafting, precipitation polymerization and nano-emulsion. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of the novel synthesized compounds, without any vehicle and after their incorporation into the delivery devices, was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae by performing time-kill analyses. The synthesized oxazolidinones exhibited modest antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. cerevisiae (MIC 16 μg/mL). A good activity was, instead, highlighted after their incorporation into the prepared delivery devices (lecithin-based nano-emulsion, poly(N-vinyl-pyrrolidone)-methacrylic acid grafted copolymer and spherical polymeric nanoparticles) (MIC≤4 μg/mL). The incorporation into suitable vehicles, indeed, reduced by 4 times the normal MICs of the newly synthesized oxazolilidin-2-ones and represents an effective strategy to overcome cellular penetration constraints.