A new approach for targeting to Cryptosporidium parvum using mucoadhesive nanosuspensions: research and applications.

A new strategy to deliver antibiotics to the Cryptosporidium-infected gastrointestinal tract is presented. In an effort to augment the anticryptosporidial effect of clinically used drugs, mucoadhesive nanosuspensions were prepared. They have the ability to reside in the gastrointestinal tract for an extended period. The hydrogel contained bupravaquone nanosuspensions and an adhesive polymer (chitosan) powder dispersed in water. By the development of mucoadhesive nanosuspensions, a potential drug delivery system for poorly soluble drugs has been investigated to overcome bioavailability problems caused by the pathophysiological diarrhoeic situation in patients suffering from cryptosporidiosis. Adapting drug delivery systems to the situation of Cryptosporidium parvum infections in man allows increased retention times with a prolonged action at reduced elimination in the gastrointestinal tract. In this communication, in vivo data are presented to document the efficiency of bupravaquone formulated as mucoadhesive polymers to improve its activity against C. parvum.