Bioactivity of WLBU2 peptide antibiotic in combination with bioerodible polymer

WLBU2 is a peptide antibiotic designed for broad antimicrobial activity, including bacteria associated with periodontal disease. Although periodontitis is associated with various systemic conditions, ranging from cardiovascular disease to preterm birth, local therapy is needed to treat the source of infection. Biodegradable polymers are often used to control locally the amount and rate of delivery of drugs. In the present study, a bioerodible association polymer comprising cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) and Pluronic® F-127 (PF-127) was explored for its interaction with WLBU2. The intrinsic antimicrobial activity of CAP/PF-127 and the combined effects of the polymer and WLBU2 were examined using Streptococcus gordonii, a species involved in early colonisation of tooth surfaces. The polymer blend alone had dose-dependent bacteriostatic properties, resulting in a ≥2 log decrease in colonies at the highest concentrations tested, possibly due to the hydrophobicity of CAP disrupting the surface of bacteria. When WLBU2 was combined with CAP/PF-127, an apparent binding of peptide to polymer significantly decreased the activity compared with free WLBU2, which functions like other cationic peptides by destabilising the bacterial membrane. Formulation with sucrose as an excipient, which reduced the interaction between WLBU2 and polymer, restored the bactericidal activity of the peptide antibiotic as reflected by a >3 log decrease in S. gordonii. WLBU2 can be locally delivered using CAP/PF-127 as a release vehicle, with the peptide's bactericidal activity dominating the polymer's bacteriostatic effect.