Encapsulation of Amphotericin B in Biocompatible Nanoparticles via Flash NanoPrecipitation

Abstract

Fungal and protozoal infections are as deadly and significant as bacterial infections. It isestimated that around 1.3 million people die of fungal infections every year, whileleishmaniasis takes away 0.5 million lives. Amphotericin B, the lone drug that can cureotherwise-untreatable fungal and protozoal infections, can only be given intravenously,which can damage other organs since Amphotericin B’s toxicity is high. The onlyformulation possible to produce Amphotericin B nanoparticles that can be injected directlyto the body at the moment is too costly. We aimed to tackle this problem by encapsulatingAmphotericin B in biocompatible nanoparticles, which can reduce the cost of treatment,increase local concentrations and treat fungal and protozoal infections.To accomplish these goals, we have successfully encapsulated Amphotericin Bwith PCL-PEG or with lecithin using the Flash NanoPrecipitation technique and producedstable nanoparticles in the size range of 80 – 100 nm, the appropriate size to prevent rapidclearance and enable long circulation times. Although Amphotericin B is crystalline,Amphotericin B nanoparticles are amorphous, which increases the drug’s solubility andenhances its ability to be taken up by cells. The formulations seemed to exhibit drug todrug interactions, and the drug release and rate still need to be confirmed and quantified infurther future studies.