Targeted antibacterial and anticancer therapeutics: PEGylated liposomal delivery of turmeric and cinnamon extracts-<i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> efficacy

This study presents the characterization and evaluation of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated liposomal formulations loaded with turmeric (TUR) and cinnamon (CINN) extracts for the treatment of bacterial infections. TUR/CINN-loaded PEGylated liposomes enhance the antibacterial effects of TUR and CINN both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo.</i> PEGylated liposomes loaded with TUR and CINN were synthesized using the reverse-phase evaporation method and characterized by dynamic light scattering and spectrophotometry. The formulations were also evaluated for biocompatibility, permeability, and antibacterial efficacy in both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> environments. The nanoparticles, with dimensions ranging from 155 to 164 nm, exhibited consistent size distribution (polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.219 to 0.23), stable zeta potentials (−20 to −13 mV), and effective drug encapsulation rates (86.8% to 93.6%), suggesting their potential for targeted drug delivery. <i>In vitro</i> experiments demonstrated their biocompatibility (cell viability exceeding 75% at 40 µg/mL), permeability (transfer rates of 20.2% to 21.5%), antibacterial activity (minimum inhibitory concentrations of 8 to 64 µg/mL), and their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (1.2- to 2-fold increase compared to the control). In an <i>in vivo</i> murine model of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> skin infections, significant reductions in viable bacterial counts were observed, with PEG-Lip-TUR/CINN leaving only 10² colony-forming units/mL. Additionally, this formulation displayed anti-metastatic properties, inhibiting cancer cell migration by 99%. This study highlights the potential of PEGylated liposomal formulations loaded with TUR and CINN as versatile therapeutic platforms for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections and cancer metastasis.