Pulmonary delivery of synergistic combination of fluoroquinolone antibiotic complemented with proteolytic enzyme: A novel antimicrobial and antibiofilm strategy

This research work investigates the synergistic combination of Levofloxacin (LFX) and Serratiopeptidase (SRP) for eradicating bacterial biofilm in vitro and in vivo. Liposomal LFX co-spray dried with SRP had good pulmonary deposition properties. Intra-tracheal administration of LFX liposome in combination with SRP delivers locally acting antibiotic directly to the lungs wherein SRP is hypothesized to play a vital role in disrupting the biofilm layer thereby enabling influx of LFX in the bacterial cell. This novel combination was safe, non-toxic and exhibited good in-vitro lung deposition, reduction in inflammatory markers, cytokine levels and microbial load in-vivo suggesting enhanced efficacy in treating respiratory infection.262