Poly(amidoamine) dendrimer-mediated synthesis and stabilization of silver sulfonamide nanoparticles with increased antibacterial activity

Abstract Silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) is a topical antibiotic with limited aqueous solubility. In this study, it was shown that poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimer complexes with SD (SDZ) and silver (Ag) could be used for a bottom-up approach to synthesize highly-soluble AgSD nanoparticles (NPs). These NPs were stabilized against crystal growth by electrostatic layer-by-layer (LBL) coating with various PAMAM dendrimers. Additionally, AgNPs can be incorporated in the dendrimer shells that augmented AgSD release. NP formulation in a cream base provided a topical drug-delivery platform with enhanced antibacterial properties against burn-wound infections, comprising three nanostructures i.e., nano-AgSD, AgNPs as well as PAMAM dendrimers, in one efficient, elegant nanosystem. From the Clinical Editor In this paper an elegant silver sulfadiazine-based nanoparticle complex is demonstrated with enhanced antibacterial properties and improved solubility for the treatment of burn-wound infections in a topical crème formulation.