Publications

@article{Osborne2025-gb,

title = {Alpha-linolenic acid-modified liposomes associate with and  modulate antibiotic activity against Helicobacter pylori},

author = {Nicola C Osborne and Rosa Catania and Snow Stolnik and Karen Robinson},

doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001562},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-05-01},

urldate = {2025-05-01},

journal = {Microbiology},

volume = {171},

number = {5},

abstract = {Fatty acids have antimicrobial activity against a wide range of 

 bacteria. We therefore aimed to incorporate omega-3 unsaturated 

 alpha-linolenic acid (αLA) into the membrane of 

 antibiotic-loaded liposomes to create a system with dual 

 antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori. Liposomes 

 containing 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 

 cholesterol, sphingomyelin and the far-red fluorescent DiD label, 

 with varying content of αLA (mol% to total lipid), were 

 fabricated using the thin film evaporation method and hydrated 

 with PBS or amoxicillin solution. The liposomes were 

 characterized for αLA and amoxicillin content, particle 

 size, membrane fluidity and permeability, prior to their addition 

 to cultures of H. pylori strains and clinical isolates. 

 αLA-modified liposomes enhanced the antibacterial action 

 of amoxicillin against H. pylori, as determined using a viable 

 count method. The liposomal formulation achieved a 3-log 

 reduction in bacterial density, compared to a 1.5- to 2-log 

 reduction by amoxicillin in solution. The application of imaging 

 cytometry revealed a significantly increased association of 

 αLA-modified liposomes with H. pylori cells, compared to 

 non-αLA control liposomes. In conclusion, this study 

 demonstrated, for the first time, that the incorporation of 

 αLA increased the attraction of the liposomes to H. pylori 

 and increased antibiotic potency. This suggests that αLA 

 incorporation into liposomes may not only act as an 

 antimicrobial, but also as a potential in vivo targeting 

 strategy.},

keywords = {antibiotics, fatty acids, Helicobacter pylori, linolenic acid, liposomes},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}