In vitro trafficking and efficacy of core-shell nanostructures for treating intracellular Salmonella infections

Nanostructures encapsulating gentamicin and having either amphiphilic (N1) or hydrophilic (N2) surfaces were designed. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy studies demonstrated a higher rate of uptake for amphiphilic surfaces. A majority of N1 were localized in the cytoplasm, whereas N2 colocalized with the endosomes/lysosomes. Colocalization was not observed between nanostructures and intracellular Salmonella bacteria. However, significant in vitro reductions in bacterial counts (0.44 log10) were observed after incubation with N1, suggesting that the surface property of the nanostructure influences intracellular bacterial clearance.