Harnessing intracellular bacteria in bladder by intravesical delivery of antibiotics-loaded nanodiamonds to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infection

Carmen Oi Kwan Law; Hoi Man Leung; Meijun Wang; Qichang Nie; Quynh Hoa Pham; Kam Chu Han; Tak Siu Wong; Kwan Ting Chow; Pik Kwan Lo; Terrence Chi Kong Lau

doi:10.1186/s12951-025-03459-y

Harnessing intracellular bacteria in bladder by intravesical delivery of antibiotics-loaded nanodiamonds to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infection

Carmen Oi Kwan Law (Co-first Author)
, Hoi Man Leung (Co-first Author)
, Meijun Wang (Co-first Author)
, Qichang Nie
, Quynh Hoa Pham
, Kam Chu Han
, Tak Siu Wong
, Kwan Ting Chow^*
, Pik Kwan Lo^*
, Terrence Chi Kong Lau^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

29 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) effectively is a difficult task due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and limited antibiotic access to intracellular bacteria within the bladder lining. Numerous studies of the antibiotics-nanodiamonds (NDs) synthesis and their inhibitory effect on bacteria have been performed previously. However, their effectiveness and toxicity in cell-based and animal infection models remain unclear. In this study, we presented the utilization of biopolymer-coated nanodiamonds for the delivery of tetracycline (TET) to the intracellular bacterial communities within the bladder cells using an intravesical delivery approach, aiming to effectively treat UTIs. Compared with antibiotics alone, the TET-loaded ND-based carrier system significantly improved the clearance of intracellular bacteria in the infected cell and animal models. Moreover, the intravesical delivery avoids the potential toxic effects from NDs accumulation in the organs, and minimizes the loss of the drugs during delivery. These results offer a promising strategy to treat chronic infections and prevent the recurrence of urinary tract infections (rUTIs). © The Author(s) 2025.

Original language	English
Article number	367
Journal	Journal of Nanobiotechnology
Volume	23
Online published	21 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03459-y
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

Funding

Financial support was provided by Health and Medical Research Fund (TCKL: 20190932 and 22211142) and (PKL: 07181396, and 05160336), Hong Kong Research Grants Council (TCKL: 11102122) and (PKL: 11307421, 11301220, and 11304719), SKLMP Seed Collaborative Research Fund (PKL: SCRF/0040), The Science and Technology Innovation Committee of Shenzhen Municipality (PKL: JCYJ20190812160203619) and (KTC: JCYJ20210324133813036), City University of Hong Kong (TCKL: 7006039, 7020052 and 7005743), (PKL: 7005832, 9680104, and 7004911) and (KTC: 7005313, 7005518), the Croucher Foundation (KTC: 9509002 and 9500032) and Tung’s Biomedical Sciences Centre (TCKL: 9609322 and 9609308) and (KTC: 9609306).

Research Keywords

Urinary Tract Infections/drug therapy
Nanodiamonds/chemistry
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
Urinary Bladder/microbiology
Animals
Humans
Mice
Tetracycline/pharmacology
Female
Administration, Intravesical
Drug Carriers/chemistry
Recurrence
Drug Delivery Systems

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1186/s12951-025-03459-y

282142139.pdfFinal Published version, 2.69 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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Cite this

Law, C. O. K., Leung, H. M., Wang, M., Nie, Q., Pham, Q. H., Han, K. C., Wong, T. S., Chow, K. T., Lo, P. K., & Lau, T. C. K. (2025). Harnessing intracellular bacteria in bladder by intravesical delivery of antibiotics-loaded nanodiamonds to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infection. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 23, Article 367. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03459-y

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title = "Harnessing intracellular bacteria in bladder by intravesical delivery of antibiotics-loaded nanodiamonds to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infection",

abstract = "Treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) effectively is a difficult task due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and limited antibiotic access to intracellular bacteria within the bladder lining. Numerous studies of the antibiotics-nanodiamonds (NDs) synthesis and their inhibitory effect on bacteria have been performed previously. However, their effectiveness and toxicity in cell-based and animal infection models remain unclear. In this study, we presented the utilization of biopolymer-coated nanodiamonds for the delivery of tetracycline (TET) to the intracellular bacterial communities within the bladder cells using an intravesical delivery approach, aiming to effectively treat UTIs. Compared with antibiotics alone, the TET-loaded ND-based carrier system significantly improved the clearance of intracellular bacteria in the infected cell and animal models. Moreover, the intravesical delivery avoids the potential toxic effects from NDs accumulation in the organs, and minimizes the loss of the drugs during delivery. These results offer a promising strategy to treat chronic infections and prevent the recurrence of urinary tract infections (rUTIs). {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

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author = "Law, \{Carmen Oi Kwan\} and Leung, \{Hoi Man\} and Meijun Wang and Qichang Nie and Pham, \{Quynh Hoa\} and Han, \{Kam Chu\} and Wong, \{Tak Siu\} and Chow, \{Kwan Ting\} and Lo, \{Pik Kwan\} and Lau, \{Terrence Chi Kong\}",

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doi = "10.1186/s12951-025-03459-y",

language = "English",

volume = "23",

journal = "Journal of Nanobiotechnology",

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Harnessing intracellular bacteria in bladder by intravesical delivery of antibiotics-loaded nanodiamonds to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infection. / Law, Carmen Oi Kwan (Co-first Author); Leung, Hoi Man (Co-first Author); Wang, Meijun (Co-first Author) et al.
In: Journal of Nanobiotechnology, Vol. 23, 367, 2025.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Harnessing intracellular bacteria in bladder by intravesical delivery of antibiotics-loaded nanodiamonds to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infection

AU - Law, Carmen Oi Kwan

AU - Leung, Hoi Man

AU - Wang, Meijun

AU - Nie, Qichang

AU - Pham, Quynh Hoa

AU - Han, Kam Chu

AU - Wong, Tak Siu

AU - Chow, Kwan Ting

AU - Lo, Pik Kwan

AU - Lau, Terrence Chi Kong

N1 - Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) effectively is a difficult task due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and limited antibiotic access to intracellular bacteria within the bladder lining. Numerous studies of the antibiotics-nanodiamonds (NDs) synthesis and their inhibitory effect on bacteria have been performed previously. However, their effectiveness and toxicity in cell-based and animal infection models remain unclear. In this study, we presented the utilization of biopolymer-coated nanodiamonds for the delivery of tetracycline (TET) to the intracellular bacterial communities within the bladder cells using an intravesical delivery approach, aiming to effectively treat UTIs. Compared with antibiotics alone, the TET-loaded ND-based carrier system significantly improved the clearance of intracellular bacteria in the infected cell and animal models. Moreover, the intravesical delivery avoids the potential toxic effects from NDs accumulation in the organs, and minimizes the loss of the drugs during delivery. These results offer a promising strategy to treat chronic infections and prevent the recurrence of urinary tract infections (rUTIs). © The Author(s) 2025.

AB - Treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) effectively is a difficult task due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and limited antibiotic access to intracellular bacteria within the bladder lining. Numerous studies of the antibiotics-nanodiamonds (NDs) synthesis and their inhibitory effect on bacteria have been performed previously. However, their effectiveness and toxicity in cell-based and animal infection models remain unclear. In this study, we presented the utilization of biopolymer-coated nanodiamonds for the delivery of tetracycline (TET) to the intracellular bacterial communities within the bladder cells using an intravesical delivery approach, aiming to effectively treat UTIs. Compared with antibiotics alone, the TET-loaded ND-based carrier system significantly improved the clearance of intracellular bacteria in the infected cell and animal models. Moreover, the intravesical delivery avoids the potential toxic effects from NDs accumulation in the organs, and minimizes the loss of the drugs during delivery. These results offer a promising strategy to treat chronic infections and prevent the recurrence of urinary tract infections (rUTIs). © The Author(s) 2025.

KW - Urinary Tract Infections/drug therapy

KW - Nanodiamonds/chemistry

KW - Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology

KW - Urinary Bladder/microbiology

KW - Animals

KW - Humans

KW - Mice

KW - Tetracycline/pharmacology

KW - Female

KW - Administration, Intravesical

KW - Drug Carriers/chemistry

KW - Recurrence

KW - Drug Delivery Systems

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105005507200

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105005507200&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1186/s12951-025-03459-y

DO - 10.1186/s12951-025-03459-y

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 40394627

SN - 1477-3155

VL - 23

JO - Journal of Nanobiotechnology

JF - Journal of Nanobiotechnology

M1 - 367

ER -

Harnessing intracellular bacteria in bladder by intravesical delivery of antibiotics-loaded nanodiamonds to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infection

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

ASDC_Sub: Futian Research Project: Development of Outer Membrane Vesicles as Delivery Carriers for Cancer Treatment

HMRF: Investigation and Development of the Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting Plasmid-encoded RNA Binding Protein as the Adjuvant to Reduce the Fitness of Drug Resistant Bacteria

GRF: Unraveling the Functional Roles of yafB in Metabolic Adaptation of Bacteria during Infection

Targeted Protein Degradation of β-Lactamases and DHX36: Developing Bioconjugate Strategies Using BacPROTACs and rG4-PROTACs

Cite this

Harnessing intracellular bacteria in bladder by intravesical delivery of antibiotics-loaded nanodiamonds to reduce the recurrence of urinary tract infection

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

ASDC_Sub: Futian Research Project: Development of Outer Membrane Vesicles as Delivery Carriers for Cancer Treatment

HMRF: Investigation and Development of the Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting Plasmid-encoded RNA Binding Protein as the Adjuvant to Reduce the Fitness of Drug Resistant Bacteria

GRF: Unraveling the Functional Roles of yafB in Metabolic Adaptation of Bacteria during Infection

Student theses

Targeted Protein Degradation of β-Lactamases and DHX36: Developing Bioconjugate Strategies Using BacPROTACs and rG4-PROTACs

Cite this