Prospects for Liposome-Encapsulated Nisin in the Prevention of Dental Caries

Abstract

Dental caries is a common oral bacterial infectious disease. Its prevention requires the control of the causative pathogens, such as Streptococcus mutans, that exist within dental plaque. Nisin is a proteinaceous bacteriocin produced by Lactococcus lactis that is used to suppress bacterial infections. It has an inhibitory mode of action on a wide range of gram-positive bacteria. Improvements in the medical benefits of antibacterial agents can be achieved if they can be retained in liposomes for a long period after administration. Liposome systems can increase the ability of the encapsulated compounds, which have been widely used to encapsulate many kinds of compounds in various scientific settings. Liposomes can release labile molecules at a moderate rate. Liposome technologies that effectively protect the encapsulated molecules from decomposition have the potential to improve their preventive and therapeutic effects. Therefore, the use of liposomes to administer antimicrobial agents has spurred research into their utility in preventive medicine. The encapsulation of nisin in liposomes can provide means of improving the stability of nisin and its antibacterial effect against S. mutans. The present chapter will review the prospects for liposome-encapsulated nisin for the prevention of oral infectious diseases.

Effects of free and nano-encapsulated bovine lactoferrin on the viability and acid production by Streptococcus mutans biofilms

“…2002; Tsumori et al . 2015). Liposomes that can adhere to the dental surface may prevent caries by sustained release of antimicrobial agents (Yamakami et al .…”

“…Liposomal systems have been widely used to encapsulate many different substances. Liposomes can retain and control the release of sensitive molecules at a moderate rate and have the potential to improve their therapeutic effects (Trif et al 2001;Benech et al 2002;Tsumori et al 2015). Liposomes that can adhere to the dental surface may prevent caries by sustained release of antimicrobial agents (Yamakami et al 2013).…”

Potential Novel Food-Related and Biomedical Applications of Nanomaterials Combined with Bacteriocins

“…Nano-sized liposomes—called nano-liposomes—are promising vehicles for the encapsulation and delivery of different bioactive compounds such as enzymes, vitamins, and food additives, as well as the delivery of therapeutic bacteriocins to target cells [ 16 ]. Liposome encapsulation protects bacteriocins ( Figure 2 ) from degradation caused by physicochemical environment or protease action [ 45 ], susceptibility to which is a major limitation of bacteriocins. Various studies addressing the protection of bacteriocins from protease degradation have been reported [ 46 , 47 ].…”

“…Malheiros et al [ 85 ] showed excellent stability and antibacterial activity of liposome-encapsulated bacteriocins against the growth of L. monocytogenes . Prevention of dental caries is also possible using liposome-encapsulated nisin [ 45 ]. Similarly, García-Toledo et al [ 86 ] investigated the anti-listerial activity of pediocin encapsulated with liposome with excellent synergistic activity.…”

Impact of Dental Plaque Biofilms in Periodontal Disease: Management and Future Therapy

“…Drug delivery by liposomes with different encapsulated bioactive molecules (such as bacteriocins, enzymes, antiseptics, antibiotics, and vegetal compounds) can assure a controlled delivery of some antimicrobial substances at infection's situs, with a great efficiency in dental caries and every other biofilm-associated infection [152]. Encapsulation technologies, which may shield substances such as nisin from degradation by digestive enzymes and effectively deliver the encapsulated contents at the same time, represent new direction in the field of preventive medicine [153].…”