Physicochemical characterization and antimicrobial evaluation of gentamicin-loaded CaCO3 nanoparticles prepared via microemulsion method

Gentamicin sulfate (GS)-loaded calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles were studied as efficient delivery system against staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), the most common bacteria in the bone infections. Nanoparticles were prepared via microemulsion method and characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and drug release profiles. The antibacterial effect against S. aureus was also investigated to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the nanoparticles. The mean diameter of the drug-loaded nanoparticles and loading efficiency were found to be 113.0 nm and 38.6%, respectively. Based on PXRD and FTIR studies, both vaterite and calcite polymorphs of CaCO3 were formed during the preparation process. In vitro release profiles of the nanoparticles showed slow release pattern for 12 h. The nanoparticles revealed a similar antimicrobial effect against S. aureus compared to untreated GS. However, after 2 days of incubation, an increase in the growth diameter of streak cultures on the agar medium was observed in the plates containing drug solution, while no increase in the initial growth line was detected for GS-loaded CaCO3 nanoparticles. So therefore, GS-loaded CaCO3 nanoparticles exhibited appropriate physicochemical properties as well das a preserved antimicrobial effect against S. aureus.

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