Facile Biofilm Penetration of Cationic Liposomes Loaded with DNase I/Proteinase K to Eradicate Cutibacterium acnes for Treating Cutaneous and Catheter Infections

Jia-You Fang,1– 3 Wei-Ling Chou,4 Chwan-Fwu Lin,2,3,5 Calvin T Sung,6 Ahmed Alalaiwe,7 Shih-Chun Yang1,8 1Pharmaceutics Laboratory, Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 2Research Center for Food and Cosmetic Safety and Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 3Department of Anesthesiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 4Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan; 5Department of Cosmetic Science, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan; 6Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; 7Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Cosmetic Science, Providence University, Taichung, TaiwanCorrespondence: Shih-Chun YangPharmaceutics Laboratory, Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Kweishan, Taoyuan, TaiwanEmail phageyang@gmail.comBackground: The biofilm produced by Cutibacterium acnes is a major infection threat for skin and implanted catheters. Nanoparticles provide a new approach to eradicate biofilms. The present study evaluated the capability of cationic liposomes loaded with DNase I (DNS) and proteinase K (PK) to remove preformed C. acnes biofilms.Methods: DNS and PK were able to target and disassemble the biofilm by degrading extracellular polymer substances (EPS). Soyaethyl morpholinium ethosulfate (SME) was used to render a positive charge and enhance the antibacterial activity of the liposomes.Results: The cationic liposomes containing enzymes yielded monodisperse nanovesicles ranging between 95 and 150 nm. The entrapment efficiency of the enzymes in the liposomes achieved a value of 67– 83%. All liposomal formulations suppressed planktonic C. acnes growth at a minimum inhibitory concentrati