Effect of antimicrobial peptides HNP‐1 and hBD‐1 on Staphylococcus aureus strains in vitro and in vivo

The aims of this study were: (i) To investigate the activity of recombinant AMPs HNP‐1 and hBD‐1 in combination with cefotaxime against Staphylococcus aureus strains (MSSA and MRSA) in vitro using checkerboard method; (ii) To investigate the activity of HNP‐1 and hBD‐1 encapsulated in silicon nanoparticles (niosomes) in the treatment of MRSA‐infected wound in rats. For this S. aureus strains (MSSA and MRSA) were isolated from patients with diabetic foot infection. Cefotaxime, recombinant HNP‐1 and hBD‐1 (in all possible combinations with each other) were used for testing by the checkerboard method. Two niosomal topical gels with HNP‐1/hBD‐1 were prepared to treat MRSA‐infected wounds in rats. Gels were administered once a day, the control group–without treatment. Wound healing rate was calculated on the 4th, 9th and 16th days of the experiment and compared using one‐way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction. MIC of HNP‐1 for MSSA and MRSA was the same–1 mg/L. MIC of hBD‐1 for MSSA and MRSA was also the same–0.5 mg/L. Topical gels with niosomal HNP‐1 (or hBD‐1) showed a significantly faster wound healing in comparison with the control. The data obtained open up prospects for use of AMPs encapsulated in silica nanoparticles for the development of new antibiotics.