Hyaluronan-colistin conjugates: Synthesis, characterization, and prospects for medical applications

The development of nanotechnology-based antibiotic delivery systems (nanoantibiotics) is an important challenge in the effort to combat microbial multidrug resistance. These systems have improved biopharmaceutical characteristics by increasing local bioavailability and reducing systemic toxicity and the number and frequency of drug side effects. Conjugation of low -molecular -weight antibacterial agents with natural polysaccharides is an effective strategy for developing optimal targeted delivery systems with programmed release and reduced cytotoxicity. This study describes the synthesis of conjugates of colistin (CT) and hyaluronic acid (HA) using carbodiimide chemistry to conjugate the amino groups of CT with the carboxyl groups of HA. The obtained polysaccharide carriers had a degree of substitution (DS) with CT molecules of 3–10 %, and the CT content was 129–377 μg/mg. The size of the fabricated particles was 300–600 nm; in addition, there were conjugates in the form of single macromolecules (30–50 nm). The ζ-potential of developed systems was about −20 mV. In vitro release studies at pH 7.4 and pH 5.2 showed slow hydrolysis of amide bonds, with a CT release of 1–5 % after 24 h. The conjugates retained antimicrobial activity depending on the DS: at DS 8 %, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the conjugate corresponded to the MIC of free CT. The resulting systems also reduced CT nephrotoxicity by 20–50 %. These new conjugates of CT with HA are promising for the development of nanodrugs for safe and effective antimicrobial therapy.