Int J Biol Sci 2009; 5(2):153-160. doi:10.7150/ijbs.5.153 This issue Cite
Research Paper
1. Biomedical Engineering Research Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
2. Advanced Design and Modeling Lab, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
3. OmicsVista, Singapore
Chitosan and its derivative water soluble Chitosan oligosaccharide are used in a variety of applications in pharmaceutical preparations. In this study, 2 wild (ATCC 15729 and PAO1) and 2 mutant strains (PT121 and PT149) of P. aeruginosa are investigated for drug-drug interactions in vitro. 10 antimicrobial agents (antibiotics) are combined with different degree of deacetylated Chitosans and Chitosan oligosaccharide. All the chitosans show synergistic activity with sulfamethoxazole, a sulfonamide antimicrobial agent. It is interesting to observe that the MIC value for the MexEF-OprN overexpressing mutant strain of P. aeruginosa is 5 fold higher than the other strains under investigation suggesting a possible role of this efflux pump in Sulfamethoxazole efflux. The findings suggest on the use of chitosans as enhancing agent in combination with antibiotics in pharmaceutical preparations.
Keywords: Synergy, additive, combination therapy, Chitosan, chitin, drug resistance.