Co-assembled nanocomplexes comprising epigallocatechin gallate and berberine for enhanced antibacterial activity against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 163; p. 114856
• Main Authors: Zheng, Tingting, Cui, Mengyao, Chen, Huan, Wang, Jinrui, Ye, Hanyi, Zhang, Qianqian, Sun, Shuhui, Feng, Yifan, Zhang, Yinghua, Liu, Wei, Chen, Renping, Li, Ying, Dong, Zhengqi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.07.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibacterial activity; BBR; Berberine - chemistry; Berberine - pharmacology; Catechin - pharmacology; Catechin - therapeutic use; Co-assembly; EGCG; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Mice; Nanocomposites; Staphylococcal Infections - drug therapy; Staphylococcus aureus; Antibacterial activity; BBR; Nanocomposites; EGCG; Co-assembly
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114856

Berberine (BBR), a major alkaloid in Coptis chinensis, and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major catechin in green tea, are two common phytochemicals with numerous health benefits, including antibacterial efficacy. However, the limited bioavailability restricts their application. Advancement in the co-assembly technology to form nanocomposite nanoparticles precisely controls the morphology, electrical charge, and functionalities of the nanomaterials. Here, we have reported a simple one-step method for preparing a novel nanocomposite BBR-EGCG nanoparticles (BBR-EGCG NPs). These BBR-EGCG NPs exhibit improved biocompatibility and greater antibacterial effects both in vitro and in vivo relative to free-BBR and first-line antibiotics (i.e., benzylpenicillin potassium and ciprofloxacin). Furthermore, we demonstrated a synergistic bactericidal effect for BBR when combined with EGCG. We also evaluated the antibacterial activity of BBR and the possible synergism with EGCG in MRSA-infected wounds. A potential mechanism for synergism between S. aureus and MRSA was also explored through ATP determination, the interaction between nanoparticles and bacteria, and, then, transcription analysis. Furthermore, our experiments on S. aureus and MRSA confirmed the biofilm-scavenging effect of BBR-EGCG NPs. More importantly, toxicity analysis revealed that the BBR-EGCG NPs had no toxic effects on the major organs of mice. Finally, we proposed a green method for the fabrication of BBR-EGCG combinations, which may provide an alternative approach to treating infections with MRSA without using antibiotics. [Display omitted] •Berberine (BBR) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) can co-assembled into nanoparticles via π-π stacking.•The S. aureus and MRSA killing effect of BBR-EGCG NPs is better than that of Benzylpenicillin Potassium and ciprofloxacin.•BBR-EGCG NPs can effectively heal the wounds of mice infected by MRSA.•BBR-EGCG NPs has low toxicity and has no adverse effect on mouse organs.