INTRACELLULAR VISUALIZATION OF AMPICILLIN-LOADED NANOPARTICLES IN PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES INFECTED IN-VITRO WITH SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM

Intracellular targeting of ampicillin by means of polyisohexylcyanoacr ylate (PIHCA) nanoparticles was studied in murine peritoneal macrophag es infected with Salmonella typhimurium. The intracellular distributio n of actively endocytosed nanoparticles was visualized by transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Nanoparticles were eithe r isolated or closely associated with bacteria within phagosomes or ph agolysosomes. Thus the potential of ampicillin-loaded nanoparticles in targeting of intracellular bacteria is demonstrated. Consequently, am picillin, which usually penetrates into cells at a low level, is direc tly carried in, when loaded on nanoparticles, and brought into contact with intracellular bacteria.