Abstract
The emergence and widespread distribution of multi-drug resistant bacteria are considered as a major public health concern. The inabilities to curb severe infections due to antibiotic resistance have increased healthcare costs as well as patient morbidity and mortality. Bacterial biofilms formed by drug-resistant bacteria add additional challenges to treatment. This study describes a solgel based nanoparticle system loaded with garlic extract (GE-np) that exhibits: i) slow and sustained release of garlic components; ii) stabilization of the active components; and iii) significant enhancement of antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity relative to the free garlic extract. Also, GE-np were efficient in penetrating and disrupting the well-established methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms. Overall, the study suggests that GE-np might be a promising candidate for the treatment of chronic infections due to biofilm forming drug-resistant bacteria.