Biohybrid Microswimmers for Antibiotic Drug Delivery Based on a Thiol‐Sensitive Release Platform

Abstract

AbstractThis study reports on the design and engineering of biohybrid microswimmers exploiting a thiol‐mediated self‐immolative antibiotic release strategy. The design features a covalent attachment of a vancomycin conjugate via a disulfide‐based linker to the surface of the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The antibiotic release from the surface of these biohybrids was triggered by the addition of a thiol‐based reducing agent, and, subsequently, the inhibition of bacterial growth was observed for Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. These engineered microbots represent the first example of a microalgae‐based drug delivery system with a thiol‐mediated, reductive release of an antibiotic drug.