Dual-targeting tigecycline nanoparticles for treating intracranial infections caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii ( A. baumannii ) is a formidable pathogen responsible for severe intracranial infections post-craniotomy, exhibiting a mortality rate as high as 71%. Tigecycline (TGC), a broad-spectrum antibiotic, emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for MDR A. baumannii infections. Nonetheless, its clinical application was hindered by a short in vivo half-life and limited permeability through the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In this study, we prepared a novel core–shell nanoparticle encapsulating water-soluble tigecycline using a blend of mPEG-PLGA and PLGA materials. This nanoparticle, modified with a dual-targeting peptide Aβ11 and Tween 80 (Aβ11/T80@CSs), was specifically designed to enhance the delivery of tigecycline to the brain for treating A. baumannii -induced intracranial infections. Our findings demonstrated that Aβ11/T80@CSs nanocarriers successfully traversed the BBB and effectively delivered TGC into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), leading to a significant therapeutic response in a model of MDR A. baumannii intracranial infection. This study offers initial evidence and a platform for the application of brain-targeted nanocarrier delivery systems, showcasing their potential in administering water-soluble anti-infection drugs for intracranial infection treatments, and suggesting promising avenues for clinical translation. Graphical abstract