Biodegradable therapeutic nanoparticles containing an antimicrobial agent

The composition of claim 3, wherein the biodegradable delivery vehicle comprises poly(lactic acid), poly(lactide-co-glycolide), polyanhydride, poly(1, 3-bis-(carboxyphenoxypropane):sebacic acid, or a combination thereof.

An article of manufacture comprising a biodegradable delivery vehicle comprising an antimicrobial agent, packaged in a hermetically sealed, sterile container, the container having a label affixed thereto, the label bearing printed material identifying the antimicrobial agent and providing information useful to an individual administering the biodegradable delivery vehicle to a subject in need thereof, wherein the biodegradable delivery vehicle is adapted to enter infected cells to thereby kill intracellular microbes present therein.

A method for treating a microbial infection at a pre-determined site in a subject, or the possibility of a microbial infection, wherein the microbial infection is characterized by intracellular presence of a microbe in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject at the pre-determined site a composition comprising an antimicrobial agent complexed to and/or within a biodegradable delivery vehicle, and further wherein the biodegradable delivery vehicle is adapted to enter a cell and release the antimicrobial agent in the cell as it biodegrades to thereby kill intracellular microbes if present in the cells.

The method of claim 24, wherein the cell is a bone cell, optionally an osteoblast.

A composition comprising a first delivery vehicle comprising a first antimicrobial agent and a second delivery vehicle comprising a second antimicrobial agent, wherein the first delivery vehicle is adapted to release the first antimicrobial agent at a rate that differs from that at which the second delivery vehicle releases the second antimicrobial agent.

An article of manufacture comprising a first delivery vehicle comprising a first antimicrobial agent and a second delivery vehicle comprising a second antimicrobial agent, packaged in a hermetically sealed, sterile container, the container having a label affixed thereto, the label bearing printed material identifying the first antimicrobial agent and/or the second antimicrobial agent and providing information useful to an individual administering the first and second delivery vehicles to a subject in need thereof, wherein the first delivery vehicle is adapted to degrade rapidly in vivo in order to kill extracellular microbes, if any, present at a site on and/or in the subject, and the second delivery vehicle is adapted to enter infected cells present at the site, to thereby kill intracellular microbes.

A method for treating a pre-determined site in a subject for a microbial infection, or the possibility of a microbial infection, the method comprising administering to the subject at the predetermined site a composition comprising an antimicrobial agent complexed to and/or within a nanoparticle.