Mesoporous silica SBA-15 composite for the delivery of amoxicillin against S. aureus skin infection

Abstract

Currently, frequent and extensive usage of antibiotics is a common treatment for skin infections, which might increase the risk of bacterial resistance. With the emergence of local administration, much attention has been focused on developing a drug carrier for sustained drug release at the infected site. In this study, we synthesized ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 and amino group-decorated SBA-15 (NH₂-SBA-15) for the delivery of the antibiotic amoxicillin. Both nanocomposites had a high drug loading content, showed continuous drug release, and presented an evident anti-bacterial effect against E. coli and S. aureus. By local subcutaneous injection of amoxicillin-loaded nanocomposites, the S. aureus skin infection of mice was well alleviated, and wound recovery was improved. The SBA-15-based drug carrier reduced the frequency of administration and thereby provided a promising prospect for the controlled and sustained release of antibiotics for skin infections.