Leishmaniasis is a human and animal disease endemic in tropical and subtropical areas treated by means of pentavalent antimony as first-line approach. Unfortunately, the formulations available on the market are characterized by significant side effects and a total remission of the disease is difficult to be obtained. The aim of this investigation is to describe the development and characterization of aqueous-core poly-l-lactide (PLA) nanocapsules containing glucantime (meglumine antimoniate, MA) with the aim of increasing the pharmacological efficacy of the active compound. The polymeric systems characterized by a mean diameter of ≈300 nm exert a great interaction with murine macrophages. MA-loaded PLA nanocapsules show a great antileishmanial activity on mice infected with Leishmania infantum with respect to the free drug, favoring a decrease of the administration times. The biodistribution profiles demonstrate a lower renal accumulation of MA after its nanoencapsulation and a significant increase of its plasmatic half-life. The parasite load evaluated by immunohistochemistry shows a significant decrease in liver, spleen, and kidneys when mice are treated with MA-loaded PLA nanocapsules especially after 45 days. The obtained results demonstrate the potential application of MA-loaded PLA nanocapsules as novel nanomedicine for the treatment of leishmaniasis.
Meglumine Antimoniate-Loaded Aqueous-Core PLA Nanocapsules: Old Drug, New Formulation against Leishmania-Related Diseases
Cosco D.;Bonacci S.;Procopio A.;Britti D.;Fresta M.;Paolino D.
2021-01-01
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a human and animal disease endemic in tropical and subtropical areas treated by means of pentavalent antimony as first-line approach. Unfortunately, the formulations available on the market are characterized by significant side effects and a total remission of the disease is difficult to be obtained. The aim of this investigation is to describe the development and characterization of aqueous-core poly-l-lactide (PLA) nanocapsules containing glucantime (meglumine antimoniate, MA) with the aim of increasing the pharmacological efficacy of the active compound. The polymeric systems characterized by a mean diameter of ≈300 nm exert a great interaction with murine macrophages. MA-loaded PLA nanocapsules show a great antileishmanial activity on mice infected with Leishmania infantum with respect to the free drug, favoring a decrease of the administration times. The biodistribution profiles demonstrate a lower renal accumulation of MA after its nanoencapsulation and a significant increase of its plasmatic half-life. The parasite load evaluated by immunohistochemistry shows a significant decrease in liver, spleen, and kidneys when mice are treated with MA-loaded PLA nanocapsules especially after 45 days. The obtained results demonstrate the potential application of MA-loaded PLA nanocapsules as novel nanomedicine for the treatment of leishmaniasis.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.