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Development and antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in core–shell microparticles for managing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-related post-weaning diarrhea

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Abstract

ZnO is a commonly used antibiotic alternative in managing post-weaning piglet diarrhea. However, a major struggle faced in the industry is in being able to taper the amount of ZnO given to piglets to curb downstream environmental harm when it is excreted. To meet these demands, this research focuses on ZnO encapsulation, which offers an opportunity to increase ZnO targetability and reduce premature loss. In this research, ZnO is also delivered as nanoparticles, which has benefits for improving the antibacterial action against enterotoxigenic E. coli—the most common pathogen of post-weaning piglet diarrhea. ZnO nanoparticles were suspended in an oil-based core encased in a EUDRAGIT® L100 shell (core–shell ZnO microparticles) were fabricated and studied for their ZnO release profile in both simulated conditions and digestive fluid conditions. Digestive fluid release studies demonstrate 30% premature ZnO release compared to simulated conditions that showed over 50% premature ZnO release (p < 0.001) prior to reaching the target location. The digestive studies highlight how the interactions within the piglet digestive fluids make it difficult to reproduce in simulated studies and benefits as a step-up study to better reflect on the complexities of the piglet gut. Finally, we assessed the antibacterial activity of the core–shell ZnO microparticles against enterotoxigenic E. coli for combating post-weaning diarrhea, demonstrating the ability for the microparticles to meet MIC and sustain it within the target location. By the WST-8 assay method, we also report the MIC for ZnO nanoparticles against enterotoxigenic E. coli to be 0.125 mg/mL.

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Funding

University Collaborative Research Program, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant (RGPIN-2019-06094) awarded to Dr. Song Liu, Research Manitoba Master’s Studentship awarded to Lucy Wang.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Lucy L. Wang & Song Liu

  2. Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Chengbo Yang

Authors
  1. Lucy L. Wang
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  2. Chengbo Yang
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  3. Song Liu
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Contributions

Funding acquisition by SL and CY; conceptualization and experimental design by LW, SL, and CY; data collection by LW; manuscript preparation and editing by LW, SL, and CY.

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Correspondence to Lucy L. Wang or Song Liu.

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Wang, L.L., Yang, C. & Liu, S. Development and antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in core–shell microparticles for managing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-related post-weaning diarrhea. Appl Nanosci 12, 1449–1458 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-021-02303-7

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