Aerosolized drug-loaded nanoparticles targeting migration inhibitory factors inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa -induced inflammation and biofilm formation

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, which has been shown to promote disease severity in cystic fibrosis. : In this study, aerosolized drug-loaded nanoparticles containing SCD-19, an inhibitor of MIF's tautomerase enzymatic activity, were developed and characterized. The aerosolized nanoparticles had an optimal droplet size distribution for deep lung deposition, with a high degree of biocompatibility and significant cellular uptake. For the first time, we have developed an aerosolized nano-formulation against MIF's enzymatic activity that achieved a significant reduction in the inflammatory response of macrophages, and inhibited biofilm formation on airway epithelial cells. This represents a potential novel adjunctive therapy for the treatment of infection in cystic fibrosis.