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 importancein a growing number of industries. In addition to effectively neutralizing pathogens, novel disinfectantformulations must be, as much as possible, environmentally benign and nontoxic to individuals handling thesesubstances. In the sanitation field, chlorine has long found application as a straightforward broad-spectrumdisinfectant. However, certain microbes including Cryptosporidium - the most prevalent causative agent inrecreational water illnesses - are resistant to chlorine treatment. Addressing this issue requires either thedevelopment of novel disinfectants or refinement of the efficiency of existing approaches. To this end, wepropose to develop disinfectant formulations based on pH-sensitive liposomes. Liposomes (lipid bilayervesicles) are sustainable, inherently biocompatible structures that have found broad application in the deliveryof encapsulated compounds, including significantly increased efficiency in the delivery of antimicrobials tobacteria. Our system will comprise liposomes encapsulating quaternary ammonium and peracetic aciddisinfectants that will undergo destabilization and fusion with microbial cells following a change in pH. Withthe ability to be applied in the bulk solution or as a surface treatment, this novel disinfectant delivery systemwill represent a significant step forward in aligning disinfectant practices in the sanitation industry withcontemporary challenges.