Bioactive chitosan-coated cefminox nanogel as a pH-responsive drug delivery system of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus leading to rhinitis and nursing care, an in vitro assessment

Rhinitis is a widespread immune disorder that affects over 40% of the global population. It is typically managed with noninvasive inhaled antihistamine medications. However, frequent use of these drugs can cause significant irritation, making the development of targeted drug delivery systems a major challenge. Recent advancements in Chitosan (CS) biopolymer-based nanogels present a safer and more effective method for controlling rhinitis caused by MRSA. In this study, the antibiotic cefminox was encapsulated within a chitosan nanogel to achieve pH-responsive drug release aimed at eradicating Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This CEF@CS nanogel effectively delivers cefminox under acidic conditions. The cleavage of the chitosan polymer outer layer within the CEF@CS nanogel facilitates the release of cefminox at the sites of bacterial infection. The chitosan coating enhanced MRSA growth reduction and improved the nanogel’s biocompatibility in L929 cells. Results from antibacterial assays indicated that cefminox’s pH-responsive and sustainable release effectively eradicated MRSA bacterial growth, even at low doses. The nanoscale antibiotic molecules can easily penetrate the bacterial cell wall, leading to ROS-mediated cell death. Additionally, the antibiofilm assay suggested that CEF@CS nanogel treatment could potentially prevent the formation of MRSA biofilms. The findings from the L929 cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that CEF@CS nanogel is a highly biocompatible therapeutic material for managing rhinitis. Overall, this research highlights the CEF@CS nanogel as an effective pH-responsive drug delivery system for controlling MRSA-related rhinitis and for nursing care applications.