PRIN: PROGETTI DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE – Bando 2022 PNRR Prot. P2022X2X3K
Bacterial keratitis (BK) is an infection of the cornea that can lead to loss of vision if not carefully managed. Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most common causative agents and are known to colonize the corneal surface and contact lenses as biofilm populations. Chronic and recalcitrant keratitis are frequently associated with the formation of biofilm. The resistance to antibiotic agents such as fluoroquinolones, beta-lactams, macrolides and aminoglycosides or the high molecular weight of others, such as vancomycin or teicoplanin, limit the portfolio of antibiotics available to treat bacterial ocular infections. Developing new antibiotics is a difficult and expensive process which cannot keep up with the growing rate of drug resistance. To meet this challenge clinicians are seeking new treatment options. This project is aimed at exploring and validating new strategies for the ocular delivery of single antibiotics (teicoplanin and levofloxacin) or their combinations with antibiotic
non-antibiotic compounds of herbal origin (quercetin and lutein), in order to fight recalcitrant infectious keratitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and P. aeruginosa.
The project will deal with the encapsulation of model antibiotics, also associated with naturally occurring synergistic active compounds, in two nanotechnological platforms, namely fusogenic liposomes and nanoemulsions (also in the dry form of the self-emulsifying SNEEDS), whose physico-chemical properties are expected to improve the penetration of the drugs through the surface biofilm and also inside the bacterial cells to be targeted.
In vitro and in vivo experiments are planned to demonstrate the efficacy of these medicated nanocarriers on infectious keratitis models and to assess the pharmacokinetics of encapsulated drugs in the relevant eye tissues.
Progetto Finanziato dall’Unione europea – Next Generation EU
Research Unit
prof. PIGNATELLO Rosario, Università degli Studi di CATANIA, Principal Investigator
prof.ssa MARINO Andreana, Università degli Studi di MESSINA
prof. PEPE Giacomo, Università degli Studi di SALERNO
Actions aimed at informing and disseminating the results of the project
Dissemination activities aimed at promoting the project to stakeholders, students and a broader audience were conducted during the following events and conferences:
1) "Conoscersi e farsi conoscere". Stakeholder’s meeting held at the University of Messina, CHIBIOFARAM Department; December 21, 2023
2) “PhenolAcTwin Technical Visit-Zoom Meeting” between University of Messina, CHIBIOFARAM Department, and Tubitak Mam, Marmara Research Center, Turkey, to start new collaborations; May 8, 2024
3) “Giornata della Ricerca del DSFS”, University of Catania; February 22, 2024
4) Controlled Release Society (CRS) Annual Meeting & Exposition; Bologna, Italy, July 8-12, 2024
- Pignatello, G. Greco, E. Zingale, C. Cimino, C. Carbone, T. Musumeci, C. Puglia, M.G. Sarpietro (poster communication): "Encapsulation of antibacterial drugs in fusogenic liposomes for ophthalmic application".
5) NanoBalkan International Conference (NB2024); Tirana (Albania), Oct 28-Nov 1, 2024
- Pignatello (oral communication): "Optimization by response surface methodology of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) as a new tool for the topical treatment of ocular diseases".
6) Congresso Nazionale della Nuova Società Italiana di Microbiologia Farmaceutica; Messina, Italy; June 13-14, 2025
- M. Pastorello, E. Zingale, F. Davì, N. Miceli, R. Pignatello, A. Marino (poster communication): "Ocular formulation of Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System (Snedds) improved activity of teicoplanin against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa".
- R. Pignatello (oral communication): "Recenti approcci nanotecnologici per il trattamento delle infezioni oculari".
7) 53rd SIM National Congress; 19-22 September 2025, Catania, Italy
- Pastorello, S.A. Scuderi, E. Zingale, N. Miceli, R. Pignatello, A. Marino (poster communication): "Synergistic interactions of levofloxacin with quercetin against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm".
8) 5th-Conference on Innovation in Drug Delivery; Turin, October 1-3, 2025
- Zingale E., Pastorello M., Marino A., Pepe G., Pignatello R. (poster communication): "Development of teicoplanin loaded self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) for bacterial keratitis".
9) SITELF–EUFEPS symposium on “Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences”, Naples, Italy, May 27-29, 2026
- Zingale E., Pastorello M., Marino A., Pepe G., Carbone C., Pignatello R. (poster communication): "Co-delivery of Quercetin and Teicoplanin via Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (SNEDDS) for the Management of Bacterial Keratitis".
Pubblication date: 02-09-2026
