Modulating liposomal nanoparticles to enhance uptake and targeting of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus .

To explore the role of modifying the phospholipid composition of liposomal nanoparticles (LNPs) on their uptake. Different LNPs were labeled with a fluorescent marker and their uptake by human lung fibroblast (WI-38) cells was evaluated using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Linezolid was loaded in LNPs showing enhanced uptake, and their ability to reduce intracellular methicillin-resistant (MRSA) was investigated by infection. Liposomes with disaturated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine-phosphatidylglycerol-phosphatidylethanolamine at a molar ratio of 60:10:10, mimicking that of WI-38 cells, were more effectively uptaken. Linezolid-loaded LNPs significantly reduced intracellular MRSA viable count. Modified LNPs could be promising antibiotic nanocarriers for targeting intracellular MRSA, which are usually resistant to conventional antibiotics.