Preparation and Characterization of Niosomes for Bacteriophage Delivery

TL;DR

This paper explores using niosomes to deliver bacteriophages, showing that adding stearylamine improves phage encapsulation and activity for potential antibacterial treatments.

Contribution

The study introduces a method to enhance phage encapsulation in niosomes by modifying the bilayer with stearylamine.

Findings

Optimal stearylamine concentration improves phage encapsulation efficiency and vesicle stability.

Encapsulated phages retain activity and stability under pH and kinetic tests.

Cryo-electron microscopy confirms successful phage encapsulation within niosomes.

Abstract

Vesicular nanocarriers, such as niosomes, are versatile systems for delivering therapeutic agents, including small molecules, proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, and other biologics. Herein, the encapsulation of bacteriophages within niosomes is investigated, expanding the conventional application of these carriers. Formulations are prepared with varying concentrations of stearylamine, a cationic cosurfactant, to assess the interactions between phages and vesicular membranes. They are characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential analysis, and viral titration, providing insights into vesicle stability and phage encapsulation efficiency. Based on the characterization analysis, an optimal concentration of stearylamine is determined for successful phage encapsulation, as confirmed by cryo‐electron microscopy. The stability and activity of encapsulated phages are further evaluated through pH stability tests and in vitro kinetic assays. These findings demonstrate the potential of niosomes as effective carriers for bacteriophage delivery and highlight their broader applicability for encapsulating other unconventional or sensitive therapeutic agents, offering a promising strategy for antibacterial applications.

Incorporation of stearylamine into the niosome bilayer imparts a positive surface charge that promotes electrostatic interactions with negatively charged bacteriophages. This modification facilitates efficient phage encapsulation while preserving phage activity, demonstrating a simple strategy to enhance niosome‐based delivery systems for phage therapy.© 2026 WILEY‐VCH GmbH

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