A novel surfactant nanoemulsion with broad-spectrum sporicidal activity against Bacillus species

J Infect Dis. 1999 Dec;180(6):1939-49. doi: 10.1086/315124.

Abstract

Two nontoxic, antimicrobial nanoemulsions, BCTP and BCTP 401, have been developed. These emulsions are composed of detergents and oils in 80% water. BCTP diluted up to 1:1000 inactivated>90% of Bacillus anthracis spores in 4 h and was also sporicidal against three other Bacillus species. This sporicidal activity is due to disruption of the spore coat after initiation of germination without complete outgrowth. BCTP 401 diluted 1:1000 had greater activity than BCTP against Bacillus spores and had an onset of action of <30 min. Mixing BCTP or BCTP 401 with Bacillus cereus prior to subcutaneous injection in mice reduced the resulting skin lesion by 99%. Wound irrigation with BCTP 1 h after spore inoculation yielded a 98% reduction in skin lesion size, and mortality was reduced 3-fold. These nanoemulsion formulas are stable, easily dispersed, nonirritant, and nontoxic compared with other available sporicidal agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / toxicity
  • Bacillaceae Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacillus / drug effects*
  • Bacillus / physiology
  • Bacillus cereus / drug effects
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Emulsions
  • Glycerides / pharmacology*
  • Glycerides / therapeutic use
  • Glycerides / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Octoxynol / pharmacology*
  • Octoxynol / therapeutic use
  • Octoxynol / toxicity
  • Organophosphates / pharmacology*
  • Organophosphates / therapeutic use
  • Organophosphates / toxicity
  • Polysorbates / pharmacology*
  • Polysorbates / therapeutic use
  • Polysorbates / toxicity
  • Soybean Oil / pharmacology*
  • Soybean Oil / therapeutic use
  • Soybean Oil / toxicity
  • Spores, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Surface-Active Agents / pharmacology*
  • Surface-Active Agents / therapeutic use
  • Surface-Active Agents / toxicity
  • Wound Infection / drug therapy
  • Wound Infection / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • BCTP 401 nanoemulsion
  • BCTP nanoemulsion
  • Emulsions
  • Glycerides
  • Organophosphates
  • Polysorbates
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Soybean Oil
  • Octoxynol