Systematic investigation of catechin/cyclodextrin encapsulated polymeric nanospheres for the treatment and nursing care of pediatric pneumonia-causing human pathogens.

Pediatric pneumonia is a leading life-threatening condition affecting children worldwide, particularly those under the age of five, and is primarily caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The virulence factors of streptococcal species pose significant challenges to managing child health, often rendering current antibiotic treatments ineffective. This research highlights the anti-virulence potential of catechin and cyclodextrin combined with PLGA polymer against strains of S. pneumoniae and MRSA, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 130 μg/mL and 128 μg/mL. The CA/CD@PLGA nanoparticles have demonstrated the ability to prevent these infectious pathogens from developing antibiotic resistance. Results from antibiofilm activity studies suggest that incorporating phytocompounds and polymers enhances the sustained release of targeted molecules onto bacterial cells, achieving an 83 % reduction in biofilm formation. Growth inhibition studies confirm that the CA/CD@PLGA nanospheres effectively suppress bacterial multiplication through a mechanism involving reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cytotoxicity. The agar well diffusion assay concluded that CA/CD@PLGA significantly enhanced the release of catechin and cyclodextrin against both S. pneumoniae and MRSA. Furthermore, antifungal activity tests revealed that the interaction between catechin and cyclodextrin disrupts protein synthesis mechanisms in fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. In vitro cytotoxicity results showed that 93 % of cells remained healthy, confirming that CA/CD@PLGA nanospheres are non-toxic to fibroblast cells. Overall, this research indicates that CA/CD@PLGA nanospheres could be an effective therapeutic option for controlling pediatric pneumonia. Looking ahead, this approach has the potential to become a promising and low-cost therapy for pneumonia management in nursing care applications.