Development of pH-responsive carriers for the controlled release of encapsulated acidifying and antibacterial agents.

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With the ever-present specter of drug-resistant microbes and emerging infectious diseases looming large, establishing and maintaining stringent and up-to-date disinfection practices has taken on paramount importance in a growing number of industries. In addition to effectively neutralizing pathogens, novel disinfectant formulations must be, as much as possible, environmentally benign and nontoxic to individuals handling these substances. In the sanitation field, chlorine has long found application as a straightforward broad-spectrum disinfectant. However, certain microbes including Cryptosporidium - the most prevalent causative agent in recreational water illnesses - are resistant to chlorine treatment. Addressing this issue requires either the development of novel disinfectants or refinement of the efficiency of existing approaches. To this end, we propose to develop disinfectant formulations based on pH-sensitive liposomes. Liposomes (lipid bilayer vesicles) are sustainable, inherently biocompatible structures that have found broad application in the delivery of encapsulated compounds, including significantly increased efficiency in the delivery of antimicrobials to bacteria. Our system will comprise liposomes encapsulating quaternary ammonium and peracetic acid disinfectants that will undergo destabilization and fusion with microbial cells following a change in pH. With the ability to be applied in the bulk solution or as a surface treatment, this novel disinfectant delivery system will represent a significant step forward in aligning disinfectant practices in the sanitation industry with contemporary challenges.