Carbon dots loaded suppository containing D-mannose as a strategy against E. coli mediated vaginosis: An in vitro feasibility analysis

Effective treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) remains a staggering task till today. This study proposes a novel strategy using nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N@CDs) embedded in a Dmannose suppository. N@CDs were synthesized via a onepot hydrothermal method, characterized using HR-TEM, particle size (5.2 nm), zeta potential (–16.23 mV), XRD, photoluminescence intensity and Raman spectroscopy. The suppository, optimized through central composite design, was evaluated for hardness, melting point (35–40 °C), disintegration, mucoadhesion (4.9 ± 0.20 dyne/cm2×102), liquefaction (10.5 min), and reasonable antibacterial activity. FTIR confirmed no major excipient interactions. Further in vivo studies on BV induced animal model are underway for the future clinical viability of experimental N@CDs.