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

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.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.In the recent years, much work has been devoted to characterize nanoparticles and their biological effects and applications. These include bottom-up and molecular self-assembly, biological effects of naked nanoparticles and nano-safety, drug encapsulation and nanotherapeutics, and novel nanoparticles for use in microscopy, imaging and diagnostics [1]. Particulate drug delivery systems such as polymeric microspheres [2], nanoparticles [3,4], liposomes [5,6], and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) [7] offer great promise to achieve the goal of improving drug accumulation inside cancer cells without causing side effects. Particulate systems are well known to be able to deliver drugs with higher efficiency with fewer adverse side effects [6,8]. A possible mechanism is increase of cellular drug uptake by endocytosis of the drug carriers [9-11]. The emergence of the newer forms of SLN such as polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and long-circulating SLN may further expand the role of this versatile drug carrier aiming at chemotherapy with cancer drugs [12]. Recently, new nanoparticul