Cationic nanoparticles for delivery of amphotericin B: preparation, characterization and activity in vitro

Débora B Vieira and Ana M Carmona-Ribeiro

Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 26077, CEP 05513-970, São Paulo, Brazil

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Nanobiotechnology 2008, 6:6doi:10.1186/1477-3155-6-6


Published:	7 May 2008

Abstract

Background

Particulate systems are well known to be able to deliver drugs with high efficiency and fewer adverse side effects, possibly by endocytosis of the drug carriers. On the other hand, cationic compounds and assemblies exhibit a general antimicrobial action. In this work, cationic nanoparticles built from drug, cationic lipid and polyelectrolytes are shown to be excellent and active carriers of amphotericin B against C. albicans.

Results

Assemblies of amphotericin B and cationic lipid at extreme drug to lipid molar ratios were wrapped by polyelectrolytes forming cationic nanoparticles of high colloid stability and fungicidal activity against Candida albicans. Experimental strategy involved dynamic light scattering for particle sizing, zeta-potential analysis, colloid stability, determination of AmB aggregation state by optical spectra and determination of activity against Candida albicans in vitro from cfu countings.

Conclusion

Novel and effective cationic particles delivered amphotericin B to C. albicans in vitro with optimal efficiency seldom achieved from drug, cationic lipid or cationic polyelectrolyte in separate. The multiple assembly of antibiotic, cationic lipid and cationic polyelctrolyte, consecutively nanostructured in each particle produced a strategical and effective attack against the fungus cells.