Biomimetic Nanoplatform Restores Antibiotic Efficacy Against Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
A biomimetic nanoplatform combining cerium ions and carbenicillin restores antibiotic activity against drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa by disrupting ATP synthesis and efflux pumps. The system showed efficacy in vitro and in vivo, offering a new metallic adjuvant strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.
A biomimetic metal–drug coordination nanoplatform effectively restores carbenicillin efficacy against drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa by disrupting bacterial energy production, according to a study published on February 15, 2026. The platform, termed Ce-Car@EV NPs, integrates ginger-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and pH-responsive cerium–carbenicillin coordination nanoparticles to target acidic infection sites and release Ce4+ ions and carbenicillin.
The released Ce4+ ions penetrate bacterial cells and disrupt ATP synthesis, impede oxidative phosphorylation, and inhibit efflux pump activity. By depleting ATP and blocking efflux pumps, the Ce4+ ions act as a potent adjuvant that reverses bacterial resistance to carbenicillin. The strategy proved effective both in vitro and in vivo against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa.
The approach establishes a therapeutic strategy leveraging metallic adjuvants to counteract antimicrobial resistance, with potential applications for other multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens.