Carbon nanotubes as novel smart nano-carriers to augment ciprofloxacin and meropenem activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa: In-vitro and In-vivo studies

Antimicrobial resistance poses a critical challenge to global health, necessitating innovative drug delivery strategies to enhance antibiotic efficacy. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as nanocarriers for ciprofloxacin (CIP) and meropenem (MEM) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in broiler chicks. The experimental material and methods involved in-vitro preparation of carbon nanotubes, loading of ciprofloxacin and meropenem and characterization of the prepared nanoformulation followed by in-vivo studies which include infection and treatment protocol. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the successful loading of antibiotics onto CNTs, with significant increases in particle size and surface charge, indicating improved colloidal stability. In-vitro release studies revealed a biphasic and sustained drug release profile, supporting the role of CNTs as controlled-release carriers. The antibacterial activity of CNTs-loaded antibiotics surpassed that of free drugs, particularly in the case of CNTs-CIP. In-vivo studies demonstrated CNTs-CIP and CNTs-MEM significantly reduced clinical symptoms and improved growth performance, with recovery rates reaching 72.4 % and 69.6 %, respectively. Biochemical and gene expression analyses showed marked down-regulation of pro-inflammatory TNF-α and up-regulation of antioxidant SOD enzyme, with CNTs-CIP achieving the most pronounced effect (−55.8 % TNF-α and +400 % SOD in ileum). Histopathological findings further confirmed tissue restoration, especially in hepatic and intestinal architecture. These results demonstrate that CNTs-based nanodrug delivery enhances antibiotic efficacy, modulates inflammatory and oxidative responses, and promotes recovery, highlighting CNTs-CIP as a promising candidate for managing multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in poultry.