Nitric Oxide-Releasing Liposomes for Treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus Infections

. Liposomal MD3 and MD3 had similar reductions in intracellular bacterial load, achieving at least a three-log reduction at relevant concentrations. Fluorescence spectroscopy over 24 h demonstrated that liposomal encapsulation increased the intracellular concentration of a membrane-impermeable fluorophore by 3.4-fold. Confocal microscopy was used to visualize the increase in the number of cells containing intracellular NO and the sustained presence of NO within the cell, confirming that liposomal MD3 increases small-molecule internalization.