Jéssica Rebouças-Silva1,2, Maraine Catarina Tadini3,4, Danielle Devequi-Nunes1,5, Ana Luíza Mansur3, Paulo S Silveira-Mattos1,2, Camila I de Oliveira2,6, Fábio R Formiga7,8, Andresa A Berretta9, Franciane Marquele-Oliveira3, Valéria M Borges1,2. 1. Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. 2. Postgraduate Program in Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. 3. Eleve Science Research and Development, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. 4. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. 5. Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Formulations, SENAI Institute of Innovation in Advanced Health Systems, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. 6. Laboratory of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. 7. Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. 8. Postgraduate Program in Applied Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. 9. Laboratory of Research, Development and Innovation, Apis Flora Industrial e Comercial Ltda, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease, and the current therapeutic arsenal for its treatment is seriously limited by high cost and toxicity. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) represent a promising approach due to high drug loading capacity, controlled drug release profiles and superior stability. Here, we explore the efficacy of a unique pH-sensitive amphotericin B-loaded NLC (AmB-NLC) in Leishmania braziliensis infection in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: AmB-NLC was assessed by dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy assays. The carrier showed a spherical shape with a nanometric size of 242.0 ± 18.3 nm. Zeta potential was suggestive of high carrier stability (-42.5 ± 1.5 mV), and the NLC showed ~99% drug encapsulation efficiency (EE%). In biological assays, AmB-NLC presented a similar IC50 as free AmB and conventional AmB deoxycholate (AmB-D) (11.7 ± 1.73; 5.3 ± 0.55 and 13 ± 0.57 ng/mL, respectively), while also presenting higher selectivity index and lower toxicity to host cells, with no observed production of nitric oxide or TNF-α by in vitro assay. Confocal microscopy revealed the rapid uptake of AmB-NLC by infected macrophages after 1h, which, in association with more rapid disruption of AmB-NLC at acidic pH levels, may directly affect intracellular parasites. Leishmanicidal effects were evaluated in vivo in BALB/c mice infected in the ear dermis with L. braziliensis and treated with a pentavalent antimonial (Sb5+), liposomal AmB (AmB-L) or AmB-NLC. After 6 weeks of infection, AmB-NLC treatment resulted in smaller ear lesion size in all treated mice, indicating the efficacy of the novel formulation. CONCLUSION: Here, we preliminarily demonstrate the effectiveness of an innovative and cost-effective AmB-NLC formulation in promoting the killing of intracellular L. braziliensis. This novel carrier system could be a promising alternative for the future treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease, and the current therapeutic arsenal for its treatment is seriously limited by high cost and toxicity. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) represent a promising approach due to high drug loading capacity, controlled drug release profiles and superior stability. Here, we explore the efficacy of a unique pH-sensitive amphotericin B-loaded NLC (AmB-NLC) in Leishmania braziliensis infection in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: AmB-NLC was assessed by dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy assays. The carrier showed a spherical shape with a nanometric size of 242.0 ± 18.3 nm. Zeta potential was suggestive of high carrier stability (-42.5 ± 1.5 mV), and the NLC showed ~99% drug encapsulation efficiency (EE%). In biological assays, AmB-NLC presented a similar IC50 as free AmB and conventional AmB deoxycholate (AmB-D) (11.7 ± 1.73; 5.3 ± 0.55 and 13 ± 0.57 ng/mL, respectively), while also presenting higher selectivity index and lower toxicity to host cells, with no observed production of nitric oxide or TNF-α by in vitro assay. Confocal microscopy revealed the rapid uptake of AmB-NLC by infected macrophages after 1h, which, in association with more rapid disruption of AmB-NLC at acidic pH levels, may directly affect intracellular parasites. Leishmanicidal effects were evaluated in vivo in BALB/c mice infected in the ear dermis with L. braziliensis and treated with a pentavalent antimonial (Sb5+), liposomal AmB (AmB-L) or AmB-NLC. After 6 weeks of infection, AmB-NLC treatment resulted in smaller ear lesion size in all treated mice, indicating the efficacy of the novel formulation. CONCLUSION: Here, we preliminarily demonstrate the effectiveness of an innovative and cost-effective AmB-NLC formulation in promoting the killing of intracellular L. braziliensis. This novel carrier system could be a promising alternative for the future treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Authors: Rohit Sharma; Paulo S Silveira-Mattos; Vinicius C Ferreira; Francys A Rangel; Laíse B Oliveira; Fabiana S Celes; Sayonara M Viana; Mary E Wilson; Camila I de Oliveira Journal: Front Cell Infect Microbiol Date: 2020-01-22 Impact factor: 5.293
Authors: Alicia Ponte-Sucre; Francisco Gamarro; Jean-Claude Dujardin; Michael P Barrett; Rogelio López-Vélez; Raquel García-Hernández; Andrew W Pountain; Roy Mwenechanya; Barbara Papadopoulou Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2017-12-14