Tobramycin Nanoparticles are 10,000 fold more effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Novel nanotechnology developed by the University of South Australia could change the lives of thousands of people living with cystic fibrosis   as groundbreaking research shows it can improve the effectiveness of the CF antibiotic Tobramycin, increasing its efficacy by up to 100,000-fold. The new technology uses a biomimetic nanostructured material to augment Tobramycin, the antibiotic prescribed to treat chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in severe cases of CF, eradicating the infection in as little as two doses.

Cystic fibrosis affects one in 2500 babies, or one baby born every four days causing severe impairments to a person’s lungs, airways and digestive system, trapping bacteria and leading to recurrent infections. Lung failure is the major cause of death for people with cystic fibrosis . According to the UniSA research team, which includes Professor Clive Prestidge, Dr Nicky Thomas, and PhD candidate, Chelsea Thorn the discovery could transform the lives of people living with cystic fibrosis .

Cystic fibrosis  is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent, chronic lung infections and limits a person’s ability to breathe. The disease causes thick, sticky mucus to clog a person’s airways, attracting germs and bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which leads to recurring infections and blockages.

Tobramycin is commonly used to treat these infections but increasingly antibiotics are failing to make any significant difference to lung infections, leaving sufferers requiring life-long antibiotic therapy administered every month.

The authors research successfully treats advanced human cell culture lung infections using nano-enhanced Tobramycin and shows how it can eradicate serious and persistent infections after only two doses. This could be a real game-changer for people living with cystic fibrosis .

Researchers enhanced the Tobramycin with a biometric, nanostructured, lipid liquid crystal nanoparticle (LCNP)-based material, testing it on a new lung infection model to showcase its unique ability to penetrate the dense surface of the bacteria and kill the infection. Tobramycin works by inhibiting the synthesis of bacteria and causing cell membrane damage. Yet, as it’s a concentration-dependent antibiotic, achieving a sufficiently high concentration is critical. Our technology improves the performance of Tobramycin without increasing the toxicity of the drug, so what we’re doing is a far more effective and efficient treatment for chronic lung infections. The technology is currently entering pre-clinical trials and hopes to be on the market in the next five years.