Rhamnolipid Nano-Micelles versus Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer: A Comparative Study for Antibacterial Activity against Hospital-Acquired Infections and Toxicity Concerns

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are considered to be a major global healthcare challenge, in large part because of the development of microbial resistance to currently approved antimicrobial drugs. HAIs are frequently preventable through infection prevention and control measures, with hand hygiene as a key activity. Improving hand hygiene was reported to reduce the transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens and HAIs. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are commonly used due to their rapid action and broad spectrum of microbicidal activity, offering protection against bacteria and viruses. However, their frequent administration has been reported to be associated with many side effects, such as skin sensitivity, skin drying, and cracks, which promote further skin infections. Thus, there is an essential need to find alternative approaches to hand sanitation. Rhamnolipids are glycolipids produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and were shown to have broad antimicrobial activity as biosurfactants. We have previously demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of rhamnolipid nano-micelles against selected drug-resistant Gram-negative (Salmonella Montevideo and Salmonella Typhimurium) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae). To the best of our knowledge, the antimicrobial activity of rhamnolipid nano-micelles in comparison to alcohol-based hand sanitizers against microorganisms commonly causing HAIs in Egypt—such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus—has not yet been studied. In the present work, a comparative study of the antibacterial activity of rhamnolipid nano-micelles versus alcohol-based hand sanitizers was performed, and their safety profiles were also assessed. It was demonstrated that rhamnolipid nano-micelles had a comparable antibacterial activity to alcohol-based hand sanitizer, with a better safety profile, i.e., rhamnolipid nano-micelles are unlikely to cause any harmful effects on the skin. Thus, rhamnolipid nano-micelles could be recommended to replace alcohol-based hand sanitizers; however, they must still be tested by healthcare workers in healthcare settings to ascertain their antimicrobial activity and safety.

Rhamnolipid Nano-Micelles Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Have No Dermal or Eye Toxic Effects in Rabbits

“…In addition, an in-vitro study confirmed the superior safety of rhamnolipids nano-micelles against human dermal fibroblast cells over alcohol-based hand sanitizer [ 23 ]. Thus, we previously recommended rhamnolipids nano-micelles to replace alcohol-based hand sanitizer for hand sanitization [ 23 ].…”

“…Rhamnolipids are biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and could be produced efficiently and economically at industrial scale [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. We previously reported the antibacterial activity of rhamnolipids nano-micelles against selected resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and a docking study showed rhamnolipids nano-micelles to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 [ 6 , 23 ]. In addition, an in-vitro study confirmed the superior safety of rhamnolipids nano-micelles against human dermal fibroblast cells over alcohol-based hand sanitizer [ 23 ].…”

“…We previously reported the antibacterial activity of rhamnolipids nano-micelles against selected resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and a docking study showed rhamnolipids nano-micelles to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 [ 6 , 23 ]. In addition, an in-vitro study confirmed the superior safety of rhamnolipids nano-micelles against human dermal fibroblast cells over alcohol-based hand sanitizer [ 23 ]. Thus, we previously recommended rhamnolipids nano-micelles to replace alcohol-based hand sanitizer for hand sanitization [ 23 ].…”

Antimicrobial Activity of Azithromycin Encapsulated into PLGA NPs: A Potential Strategy to Overcome Efflux Resistance

“…Therefore, finding a selective delivery system that could deliver antibiotics to the infected sites while decreasing or avoiding their accumulation at off-target tissues and being able to overcome efflux-mediated resistance mechanisms could result in a dramatic improvement of the antibacterial activity of antibiotics. Nanoparticles (NPs) are an advanced delivery system, and interest in their clinical development for different diseases, including combating infections, has been growing over the last few years [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. This is mainly attributed to their unique physicochemical properties, such as small particle size ranging from 1 to 1000 nm and a high surface area [ 32 ], being able to control/sustain drug release [ 33 , 34 ], deliver the antibiotics selectively at high concentrations into the infected sites, and thus, there is less possibility of bacteria developing resistance [ 15 , 35 , 36 ]; moreover, a lower possibility of drug accumulation at off-target sites [ 14 , 37 ].…”

Phytochemical and Pharmacological Values of Two Major Constituents of Asparagus Species and their Nano formulations: A Review

“…This made nanomedicines to be able to overcome the limitations of conventional therapy 24 such as high frequency of drug administration 20 improve the delivery of a hydrophilic drug into cells 25 improve the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, control/sustain drug release 26,27 and aid crossing the blood-brain barrier 28,29 . Nanoparticles (NPs) have been applied previously for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of several diseases such as viral infections with promising results 27,[30][31][32][33] , and and also, they demonstrated a good antibacterial activity against multidrug resistant bacteria, 17,[34][35][36][37][38][39] and for treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's, tuberculosis, wound healing repairing damaged tissue [40][41][42] , and inflammation 43 .…”