A novel ophthalmic delivery system utilizing levofloxacin-loaded, preservative-free, nanofiber-based inserts was investigated. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Poloxamer 407 (Polox)were employed as matrix materials, while hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was a solubilizer. The formulations were prepared via electrospinning and characterized for fiber morphology, drug dissolution, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial activity. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed uniform fibrous structures. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses demonstrated the amorphous state of levofloxacin within the fibers. In vitro dissolution studies revealed a rapid (within 2 min) and complete drug release, with higher HP-β-CD levels slightly delaying the release. Cytotoxicity tests showed increased HP-β-CD concentrations induced irritation, that was mitigated by sodium hyaluronate. The antimicrobial efficacy of the nanofibers was comparable to conventional eye drops, with lower minimum inhibitory concentrations for most tested strains. The nanofibrous formulation prepared from a PVA–Polox-based viscous solution of the drug:CD 1:1 mol ratio, containing 0.4% (w/w) sodium hyaluronate) was identified as a particularly promising alternative formulation due to its rapid and complete dissolution, good biocompatibility, and effective antimicrobial properties. Its gelling properties indicate that the residence time on the eye surface can be increased, potentially reducing discomfort and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. The nanofibrous formulations enhanced antimicrobial efficacy, providing a preservative-free alternative that minimizes the potential eye irritation that might occur because of the preservative agent and reduces the administrated dose frequency by extending the drug’s retention time on the eye’s surface. Subsequently, it improves patients’ adherence, which would reflect positively on the bioavailability. The levofloxacin-HP-β-CD nanofibers demonstrate promise as an alternative to traditional eye drops, offering advantages in solubility, stability, and patient compliance for ocular infection treatment.

Previous research confirmed gut dysbiosis and translocation of selected intestinal bacteria into the vessel wall in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients. We studied the stool, blood, thrombus and aneurysm microbiomes of 21 abdominal aortic aneurysm patients using 16S rRNA sequencing. Our goals were to determine: 1. whether the microbiome characteristic of an aneurysm differs from that of a healthy vessel, 2. whether bacteria detectable in the aneurysm are translocated from the gut through the bloodstream, 3. whether the enzymatic activity of the aneurysm microbiome can contribute to the destruction of the vessel wall. The abundance of Acinetobacter, Burkholderia, Escherichia, and Sphingobium in the aneurysm samples was significantly higher than that in the microbiome of healthy vessels, but only a part of these bacteria can come from the intestine via the blood. Environmental bacteria due to the oral cavity or skin penetration route, such as Acinetobacter, Sphingobium, Enhydrobacter, and Aquabacterium, were present in the thrombus and aneurysm with a significantly higher abundance compared to the blood. Among the enzymes of the microbiome associated with the healthy vessel wall, Iron-chelate-transporting ATPase and Polar-amino-acid-transporting ATPase have protective effects. In addition, bacterial Peptidylprolyl isomerase activity found in the aneurysm has an aggravating effect on the formation of aneurysm.