Campanharo, S.C., et al. Novel erythromycin lipid nanoformulations for aquaculture applications. J Appl Microbiol, 2025 Oct 6, 136(10):lxaf249.

Campanharo, S.C., et al. Novel erythromycin lipid nanoformulations for aquaculture applications. J Appl Microbiol,  2025 Oct 6, 136(10):lxaf249. PMID: 41051220

• The growing global demand for sustainable protein sources has heightened the importance of aquaculture, which faces significant challenges from bacterial infections that threaten fish health and productivity. Conventional antimicrobial treatments like erythromycin often suffer from issues such as poor solubility, low bioavailability, and environmental degradation, limiting their effectiveness and raising concerns about resistance. This study aims to develop and characterize novel lipid-based nanoformulations of erythromycin that can enhance its antimicrobial efficacy, stability, and potential for practical application in aquaculture, thereby offering a more effective and environmentally responsible strategy for managing bacterial diseases in fish farming.
• One nanoemulsion demonstrated superior performance by maintaining higher erythromycin content at early time points and exhibiting antimicrobial activity comparable to or better than free erythromycin against key fish pathogens, including Aeromonas spp. The formulations showed appropriate physicochemical characteristics, such as particle sizes ranging from 228 to 500 nm, negative zeta potentials, and stability over time. Notably, the nanoemulsion achieved MIC values of 25 μg/mL against certain Aeromonas strains and demonstrated high ERY retention and antimicrobial efficacy, suggesting its potential as an effective delivery system for bacterial control in aquaculture applications.
• In the study, quillaja saponins, including QS-21, served as natural surfactants used in the formulation of lipid nanoformulations of erythromycin. Their role was to stabilize the nanoemulsions and nanostructured lipid carriers by reducing interfacial tension and promoting the formation of stable nanodispersions. The inclusion of saponins aimed to leverage their natural surfactant properties and potential bioactivity, contributing to the overall stability of the nanoformulations and possibly enhancing antimicrobial interactions with pathogens.

Click here to access the full scientific paper.