Synthesis of rifaximin-loaded ZnO@ZIF-8 nanocomposites for Staphylococcal biofilm eradication and related infection therapy

Abstract

Bacterial biofilm related infectious diseases are a fatal threat to human health. The synthesis and application of novel nanocomposites with effective anti-biofilm activity has attracted great attention. Herein, using small-size ZnO nanoparticles as half-sacrificial templates, a general method for the synthesis of drug-loaded ZnO@ZIF-8 nanocomposites with pH-responsive targeting, self-antibacterial activity and high drug loading has been developed. Rifaximin was then loaded to form rifaximin-loaded ZnO@ZIF-8 (R-ZnO-ZIF) nanocomposites for Staphylococcal biofilm eradication and related infection therapy. The average size and the zeta potential of R-ZnO-ZIF are 60 nm and +25.7 mV, respectively. Anti-biofilm experiments demonstrated that the anti-biofilm activity of R-ZnO-ZIF was much better than that of rifaximin and rifaximin-loaded ZIF-8 nanocomposites. Furthermore, a mouse wound infection model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of R-ZnO-ZIF for bacterial infection. The results showed that R-ZnO-ZIF is a promising material for bacterial biofilm related infection therapy.