Drug Loaded Cyanobacterial Nano-formulation: Preparation, Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic, but it poorly treats intracellular infections. This problem can be overcome by preparing and using the drug with eco-friendly bio-nano-formulations, which directly act on a target (intracellular) site. Drug loaded Bio-Nano-formulations have antibacterial effect better than the drug alone. Also, low dose of the drug is more effective than its higher dose. In the current study, the bio-nano-formulation was prepared using silver nitrate and alginate by polyelectrolyte method. The biological source Cyanobacteria acts as a carrier between drug and silver nano-particle. Particle size analysis depicted the size of the nano-capsule which was further characterized using different techniques UV-VIS spectroscopy, XRD, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Spherical shape of the particle was analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Drug release at controlled rate (in-vitro) at different time intervals was also studied. Small size and high surface area of these nanoformulation (s) help them to act on a definite target site. Bioactivity evaluation of the bio-nano-formulations against microbial pathogens and the comparative evaluation study (zone of inhibition ranging from 1.2-5.4 cm) helped in characterizing these particles / bio-formulations as effective antimicrobial agents. These nano-formulations prepared in-vitro may serve the purpose to meet the challenge of acting directly on the target site and acting as a good medicinal agent to treat intracellular infections.