Evaluating the potential of ethyl cellulose/eudragit-based griseofulvin loaded nanosponge matrix for topical antifungal drug delivery in a sustained release pattern.

Fungal infections are very alarming nowadays and are common throughout the world. Severe fungal infections may lead to a significant risk of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Sustained delivery of antifungal agents is needed to mitigate this problem. In the current study, an attempt has been made to formulate griseofulvin-loaded nanosponges using the quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion technique. For characterization, griseofulvin loaded nanosponges were tested by different instrumental techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antifungal activity of the nanosponges was assessed against Candida albican strain using the agar well-diffusion method. Finally, the drug-loaded nanosponges' in vitro sustained release activity was evaluated. FTIR spectra showed no chemical interference between the drug and polymers. Some of the peaks of the drug are not visible in the FTIR spectrum, which suggests drug entrapment. PXRD data showed that the drug lost its high crystallinity when entrapped in the nanosponge matrix. From the morphological studies via SEM and TEM, a brief idea of the surface morphology of the nanosponges was obtained. The small pores throughout the structure proved its high porosity. The antifungal sensitivity assay was successful, and a zone of inhibition was observed in all the formulations. The in-vitro drug release study showed sustained behaviour. The sustaining effect was due to the polymer and cross-linker used, which gave rise to a porous scaffold matrix. From the results, it can be concluded that griseofulvin-loaded nanosponges can be used for antifungal drug delivery against various topical skin infections.

Cholesterol nanoarchaeosomes for alendronate targeted delivery as an anti-endothelial dysfunction agent.

Sodium alendronate (ALN) is a very hydrosoluble and poorly permeable molecule used as an antiresorptive agent and with vascular anticalcifying capacity. Loaded into targeted nanovesicles, its anti-inflammatory activity may be amplified towards extra-osseous and noncalcified target cells, such as severely irritated vascular endothelium. Here cytotoxicity, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP content, and membrane fluidity of human endothelial venous cells (HUVECs) were determined after endocytosis of ALN-loaded nanoarchaeosomes (nanoARC-Chol(ALN), made of polar lipids from Halorubrum tebenquichense: cholesterol 7:3 w/w, 166 ± 5 nm, 0.16 ± 0.02 PDI, -40.8 ± 5.4 mV potential, 84.7 ± 21 µg/mg ALN/total lipids, TL). The effect of nanoARC-Chol(ALN) was further assessed on severely inflamed HUVECs. To that aim, HUVECs were grown on a porous barrier on top of a basal compartment seeded either with macrophages or human foam cells. One lighter and one more pronounced inflammatory context was modelled by adding lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the apical or the apical and basal compartments. The endocytosis of nanoARC-Chol(ALN), was observed to partly reduce the endothelial-mesenchymal transition of HUVECs. Besides, while 10 mg/mL dexamethasone, 7.6 mM free ALN and ALN-loaded liposomes failed, 50 µg/mL TL + 2.5 µg/mL ALN (i.e., nanoARC-Chol(ALN)) reduced the IL-6 and IL-8 levels by, respectively, 75% and 65% in the mild and by, respectively, 60% and 40% in the pronounced inflammation model. This is the first report showing that the endocytosis of nanoARC-Chol(ALN) by HUVECs magnifies the anti-inflammatory activity of ALN even under conditions of intense irritation, not only surpassing that of free ALN but also that of dexamethasone.

Nanomedicines against Chagas disease: a critical review.

Chagas disease (CD) is the most important endemic parasitosis in South America and represents a great socioeconomic burden for the chronically ill and their families. The only currently available treatment against CD is based on the oral administration of benznidazole, an agent, developed in 1971, of controversial effectiveness on chronically ill patients and toxic to adults. So far, conventional pharmacological approaches have failed to offer more effective and less toxic alternatives to benznidazole. Nanomedicines reduce toxicity and increase the effectiveness of current oncological therapies. Could nanomedicines improve the treatment of the neglected CD? This question will be addressed in this review, first by critically discussing selected reports on the performance of benznidazole and other molecules formulated as nanomedicines in in vitro and in vivo CD models. Taking into consideration the developmental barriers for nanomedicines and the degree of current technical preclinical efforts, a prospect of developing nanomedicines against CD will be provided. Not surprisingly, we conclude that structurally simpler formulations with minimal production cost, such as oral nanocrystals and/or parenteral nano-immunostimulants, have the highest chances of making it to the market to treat CD. Nonetheless, substantive political and economic decisions, key to facing technological challenges, are still required regarding a realistic use of nanomedicines effective against CD.

More Than Pigments: The Potential of Astaxanthin and Bacterioruberin-Based Nanomedicines.

Carotenoids are natural products regulated by the food sector, currently used as feed dyes and as antioxidants in dietary supplements and composing functional foods for human consumption. Of the nearly one thousand carotenoids described to date, only retinoids, derived from beta carotene, have the status of a drug and are regulated by the pharmaceutical sector. In this review, we address a novel field: the transformation of xanthophylls, particularly the highly marketed astaxanthin and the practically unknown bacterioruberin, in therapeutic agents by altering their pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and pharmacodynamics through their formulation as nanomedicines. The antioxidant activity of xanthophylls is mediated by routes different from those of the classical oral anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): remarkably, xanthophylls lack therapeutic activity but also lack toxicity. Formulated as nanomedicines, xanthophylls gain therapeutic activity by mechanisms other than increased bioavailability. Loaded into ad hoc tailored nanoparticles to protect their structure throughout storage and during gastrointestinal transit or skin penetration, xanthophylls can be targeted and delivered to selected inflamed cell groups, achieving a massive intracellular concentration after endocytosis of small doses of formulation. Most first reports showing the activities of oral and topical anti-inflammatory xanthophyll-based nanomedicines against chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and dry eye disease emerged between 2020 and 2023. Here we discuss in detail their preclinical performance, mostly targeted vesicular and polymeric nanoparticles, on cellular models and in vivo. The results, although preliminary, are auspicious enough to speculate upon their potential use for oral or topical administration in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Cationic starch: A functionalized polysaccharide based polymer for advancement of drug delivery and health care system - A review.

Research and development in health care industry is in persistence progression. To make it more patient-friendly or to get maximum benefits from it, special attention to different advanced drug delivery system (ADDS) is employed that delivers the drug at the target site and will be able to sustain/control release of drugs. ADDS should be non-toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible along with desirable showing physicochemical and functional properties. These drug delivery systems can be totally based on polymers, either with natural or synthetic polymers. The molecular weight of polymer can be tuned and different groups of polymers can be modified or substituted with other functional groups. Degree of substitution is also tailored. Cationic starch in recent years is exploited in drug delivery, tissue engineering and biomedicine. Due to their abundant availability, low cost, easy chemical modification, low toxicity, biodegradability and biocompatibility, extensive research is now being carried out. Our present discussion will shed light on the usage of cationic starch in health care system.

Inhaled lipid nanocarriers for pulmonary delivery of glucocorticoids: Previous strategies, recent advances and key factors description.

In view of the strong anti-inflammatory activity of glucocorticoids (GC) they are used in the treatment of almost all inflammatory lung diseases. In particular, inhaled GC (IGC) allow high drug concentrations to be deposited in the lung and may reduce the incidence of adverse effects associated with systemic administration. However, rapid absorption through the highly absorbent surface of the lung epithelium may limit the success of localized therapy. Therefore, inhalation of GC incorporated into nanocarriers is a possible approach to overcome this drawback. In particular, lipid nanocarriers, which showed high pulmonary biocompatibility and are well known in the pharmaceutical industry, have the best prospects for pulmonary delivery of GC by inhalation. This review provides an overview of the pre-clinical applications of inhaled GC-lipid nanocarriers based on several key factors that will determine the efficiency of local pulmonary GC delivery: 1) stability to nebulization, 2) deposition profile in the lungs, 3) mucociliary clearance, 4) selective accumulation in target cells, 5) residence time in the lung and systemic absorption and 6) biocompatibility. Finally, novel preclinical pulmonary models for inflammatory lung diseases are also discussed.

Ether lipids from archaeas in nano-drug delivery and vaccination.

Archaea are microorganisms more closely related to eukaryotes than bacteria. Almost 50 years after being defined as a new domain of life on earth, new species continue to be discovered and their phylogeny organized. The study of the relationship between their genetics and metabolism and some of their extreme habitats has even positioned them as a model of extraterrestrial life forms. Archaea, however, are deeply connected to the life of our planet: they can be found in arid, acidic, warm areas; on most of the earth's surface, which is cold (below 5 °C), playing a prominent role in the cycles of organic materials on a global scale and they are even part of our microbiota. The constituent materials of these microorganisms differ radically from those produced by eukaryotes and bacteria, and the nanoparticles that can be manufactured using their ether lipids as building blocks exhibit unique properties that are of interest in nanomedicine. Here, we present for the first time a complete overview of the pre-clinical applications of nanomedicines based on ether archaea lipids, focused on drug delivery and adjuvancy over the last 25 years, along with a discussion on their pros, cons and their future industrial implementation.

Photodynamic Therapy with Nebulized Nanocurcumin on A549 Cells, Model Vessels, Macrophages and Beyond.

This study aimed to determine the damage mechanisms caused by naturally targeted nanoarchaeosomes made of diether lipids from Halorubrum tebenquichense loaded with curcumin (CUR, nATC), which mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on A549 cells and on THP-1-macrophages, two cell types found in airway cancers. The effect of nATC- PDT on vessels modeled with a chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), after dropping the formulations on its surface covered with mucins, was also determined. nATCs are known to efficiently trap CUR for at least six months, constituting easy-to-prepare, stable formulations suitable for nebulization. CUR instead, is easily released from carriers such as liposomes made of ordinary phospholipids and cholesterol after a few weeks. Irradiated at 9 J/cm2, nATC (made of archaeolipids: Tween 80: CUR at 1:0.4:0.04 w:w, size 180 ± 40 nm, ζ potential -24 mV, 150 µg CUR/15 mg lipids/mL) was phototoxic (3.7 ± 0.5 µM IC50), on A549 cells after 24 h. The irradiation reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), ATP levels and lysosomal functionalism, and caused early apoptotic death and late necrosis of A549 cells upon 24 h. nATC induced higher extra and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) than free CUR. nATC-PDT impaired the migration of A549 cells in a wound healing assay, reduced the expression of CD204 in THP-1 macrophages, and induced the highest levels of IL-6 and IL-8, suggesting a switch of macrophage phenotype from pro-tumoral M2 to antitumoral M1. Moreover, nATC reduced the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), -2 and -9 secretion, by A549 cells with independence of irradiation. Finally, remarkably, upon irradiation at 9 J/cm2 on the superficial vasculature of a CAM covered with mucins, nATC caused the vessels to collapse after 8 h, with no harm on non-irradiated zones. Overall, these results suggest that nebulized nATC blue light-mediated PDT may be selectively deleterious on superficial tumors submerged under a thick mucin layer.

In vitro anti-melanoma activity of imiquimod in ultradeformable nanovesicles.

BACKGROUND: The wide spectrum of antitumoral mechanisms of imiquimod (IMQ), made it a good candidate for topical therapy of melanoma. However, physicochemical properties make IMQ formulation a difficult task. Solubility and skin penetration of IMQ are increased when loaded into ultradeformable nanovesicles. OBJECTIVE: Survey the in vitro anti-melanoma activity of IMQ loaded into two types of ultradeformable nanovesicles: archaeosomes (UDA-IMQ) (containing sn-2,3 ether-linked phytanyl saturated archaeolipids extracted from Halorubrum tebenquichense) and liposomes lacking archaeolipids (UDL-IMQ). METHODS: We prepared and structurally characterized UDA-IMQ and UDL-IMQ. Cytotoxicity was determined on human melanoma cells (SK-Mel-28) and keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) by MTT assay and LDH release. The cellular uptake was determined by flow cytometry. Apoptosis/necrosis induction was determined by fluorescence microscopy after double staining with YO-PRO-1® and propidium iodide. RESULTS: Neither IMQ nor IMQ-nanovesicles reduced the viability of HaCaT cells; but UDL-IMQ (371 nm, -24 mV ζ potential, 31 µg IMQ/mg lipids) and UDA-IMQ (216 nm, -32 mV ζ potential, 61 µg IMQ/mg lipids) showed time and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity on SK-Mel-28 that resulted between 4 and 33 folds higher than free IMQ, respectively. While both UDA-IMQ and UDL-IMQ retained 60% of IMQ against dilution, UDA-IMQ uptaken by SK-Mel-28 cells was nine-fold higher than UDL-IMQ. UDL-IMQ induced early apoptosis, but UDA-IMQ induced both apoptosis and necrosis on SK-Mel-28 cells. CONCLUSIONS: UDA-IMQ was innocuous to keratinocytes but was highly uptaken and induced apoptosis and necrosis on melanoma cells, being a candidate for future investigations as adjuvant topical anti-melanoma therapy.

Thymus vulgaris essential oil + tobramycin within nanostructured archaeolipid carriers: A new approach against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in the respiratory tract of patients with an excessive inflammatory context are difficult to eradicate. New medicines that simultaneously target biofilms and inflammation should be developed. HYPOTHESIS: Co-delivery of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (EOT) and tobramycin (TB) by nanostructured archaeolipids carriers (NAC) could support nebulization as well as improve EOT and TB antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibiofilm activity. METHODS: NAC(EOT+TB) were prepared by loading EOT and TB in NAC having a compritol and miglyol core, covered with a shell of archaeolipids, extracted from the hyperhalophylic archaebacteria Halorubrum tebenquichense, and Tween 80. NAC(EOT+TB) were structurally characterized, including DSC thermograms, Raman spectra, TB release profile, EOT volatilization and in vitro antioxidant activity. In addition, stability upon nebulization, autoclaving and storage were assessed. The antibiofilm activity on P. aeruginosa PAO1 established biofilm of NAC(EOT+TB) and the cytotoxicity on human lung epithelial cells and macrophage were determined, as well as intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cytokines release on LPS stimulated cells. RESULTS: NAC(EOT+TB) showed a size of 197 ± 16 nm with PdI of 0.3 ± 0.1 and ζ Potential of -38 ± 3 mV. Structural characterization suggested that EOT was trapped in the compritol-miglyol core and TB was distributed between the surface of nanoparticles and free in solution. NAC(EOT+TB) displayed a dual release profile of TB, a delayed release of EOT and improved EOTs in vitro antioxidant activity. While NAC(EOT+TB) preserved its structural features after nebulization, autoclaving and 18 months of storage, carriers without archaeolipids gelled at room temperature and showed a significant increase of size after the same storage time. Below cytotoxic concentration, NAC(EOT+TB) decreased bacteria viability and enhanced the disruption of established PAO1 biofilms compared to free TB and EOT. Also, the strong entrapment of EOT in NAC(EOT+TB) delayed its volatilization, decreased intracellular ROS production and maintained its anti-inflammatory activity in LPS stimulated cells. CONCLUSION: Combination of EOT + TB within NAC(EOT+TB) result in a stable and nebulizable formulation that enhanced the antioxidant and anti-biofilm activity of free ingredients, improved their ability to decrease intracellular ROS and provided anti-inflammatory activity, at non-cytotoxic concentrations on eukaryotic cells.

The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Nanoarchaeosomes on Human Endothelial Cells.

Archaebacterias are considered a unique source of novel biomaterials of interest for nanomedicine. In this perspective, the effects of nanoarchaeosomes (ARC), which are nanovesicles prepared from polar lipids extracted from the extreme halophilic Halorubrum tebenquinchense, on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were investigated in physiological and under inflammatory static conditions. Upon incubation, ARC (170 nm mean size, -41 mV ζ) did not affect viability, cell proliferation, and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin under basal conditions, but reduced expression of both molecules and secretion of IL-6 induced by lypopolysaccharide (LPS), Pam3CSK4 or Escherichia coli. Such effects were not observed with TNF-α or IL-1ß stimulation. Interestingly, ARC significantly decreased basal levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and levels induced by all stimuli. None of these parameters was altered by liposomes of hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol of comparable size and concentration. Only ARC were endocytosed by HUVEC and reduced mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and vWF via NF-ĸB and ERK1/2 in LPS-stimulated cells. This is the first report of the anti-inflammatory effect of ARC on endothelial cells and our data suggest that its future use in vascular disease may hopefully be of particular interest.

Reparation of an Inflamed Air-Liquid Interface Cultured A549 Cells with Nebulized Nanocurcumin.

The anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic and antimicrobial activities of curcumin (CUR) are missed because of its low solubility in aqueous media, low bioavailability, and structural lability upon oral intake. Soft nanoparticles such as nanoliposomes are not efficient as CUR carriers, since crystalline CUR is expelled from them to physiological media. Nanostructures to efficiently trap and increase the aqueous solubility of CUR are needed to improve both oral or nebulized delivery of CUR. Here we showed that SRA1 targeted nanoarchaeosomes (nATC) [1:0.4 w:w:0.04] archaeolipids, tween 80 and CUR, 155 ± 16 nm sized of -20.7 ± 3.3 z potential, retained 0.22 mg CUR ± 0.09 per 12.9 mg lipids ± 4.0 (~600 µM CUR) in front to dilution, storage, and nebulization. Raman and fluorescence spectra and SAXS patterns were compatible with a mixture of enol and keto CUR tautomers trapped within the depths of nATC bilayer. Between 20 and 5 µg CUR/mL, nATC was endocytosed by THP1 and A549 liquid-liquid monolayers without noticeable cytotoxicity. Five micrograms of CUR/mL nATC nebulized on an inflamed air-liquid interface of A549 cells increased TEER, normalized the permeation of LY, and decreased il6, tnfα, and il8 levels. Overall, these results suggest the modified pharmacodynamics of CUR in nATC is useful for epithelia repair upon inflammatory damage, deserving further deeper exploration, particularly related to its targeting ability.

Preclinical autophagy modulatory nanomedicines: big challenges, slow advances.

INTRODUCTION: Autophagy is a critical housekeeping pathway to remove toxic protein aggregates, damaged organelles, providing cells with bioenergetic substrates needed to survive under adverse conditions. Since altered autophagy is associated with diverse diseases, its pharmacological modulation is considered of therapeutic interest. Nanomedicines may reduce the toxicity and improve the activity of toxic autophagy modulatory drugs (amd). AREAS COVERED: The status of the most relevant anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-infectious treatments mediated by autophagy modulatory nanomedicines (amN) published in the last 5 years is discussed. EXPERT OPINION: Antitumor and anti-inflammatory treatments may be improved by administering amN for selective, massive, and targeted delivery of amd to diseased tissues. The use of amN as antimicrobial agent remains almost underexploited. Assessing the effect of amN on the complex autophagy machinery operating under different basal diseases, however, is not a trivial task. Besides structural reproducibility, nanomedicines must grant higher efficiency, and lower adverse effects than conventional medication. Simplicity of design, carefully chosen (scalable) preparation techniques, and rigorous monitoring of preclinical efficacy and nanotoxicity will improve the chances of clinical success. Currently, available data are not sufficient to envisage a fast-succeeding translation. Application of quality by design criteria would help to reach such milestones.

Macrophage apoptosis using alendronate in targeted nanoarchaeosomes.

Nanoarchaeosomes are non-hydrolysable nanovesicles made of archaeolipids, naturally functionalised with ligand for scavenger receptor class 1. We hypothesized that nitrogenate bisphosphonate alendronate (ALN) loaded nanoarchaeosomes (nanoarchaeosomes(ALN)) may constitute more efficient macrophage targeted apoptotic inducers than ALN loaded nanoliposomes (nanoliposomes (ALN)). To that aim, ALN was loaded in cholesterol containing (nanoARC-chol(ALN)) or not (nanoARC(ALN)) nanoarchaeosomes. Nanoarchaeosomes(ALN) (220-320 nm sized, ~ -40 mV ξ potential, 38-50 µg ALN/mg lipid ratio) displayed higher structural stability than nanoliposomes(ALN) of matching size and ξ potential, retaining most of ALN against a 1/200 folds dilution. The cytotoxicity of nanoARC(ALN) on J774A.1 cells, resulted > 30 folds higher than free ALN and nanoliposomes(ALN) and was reduced by cholesterol in nanoARC-chol(ALN). Devoid of ALN, nanoARC-chol was non-cytotoxic, exhibited pronounced anti-inflammatory activity on J774.1 cells, strongly reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and IL-6 induced by LPS. Nanoarchaeosomes bilayer extensively interacted with serum proteins but resulted refractory to phospholipases. Upon J774A.1 cells uptake, nanoarchaeosomes induced cytoplasmic acid vesicles, reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential by 20-40 % without consuming ATP neither damaging lysosomes and increasing pERK. Refractory to chemoenzymatic attacks, either void or drug loaded, nanoarchaeosomes induced either anti-inflammation or macrophages apoptosis, constituting promising targeted nanovesicles for multiple therapeutic purposes.

Bacterioruberin from Haloarchaea plus dexamethasone in ultra-small macrophage-targeted nanoparticles as potential intestinal repairing agent.

Oral administration of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs have the potential to improve the current therapy of inflammatory bowel disease. Success of oral treatments, however, depends on the capacity of drugs to remain structurally stable along the gastrointestinal tract, and on the feasibility of accessing the target cells. Delivering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drugs to macrophages using targeted nanoparticles, could make treatments more efficient. In this work structural features and in vitro activity of macrophage-targeted nanostructured archaeolipid carriers (NAC) containing the high antioxidant dipolar C50 carotenoid bacterioruberin (BR) plus dexamethasone (Dex): NAC-Dex, are described. Ultra-small (66 nm), -32 mV ζ potential, 1200 µg Dex /ml NAC-Dex, consisted of a compritol and BR core, covered by a shell of sn 2,3 ether linked archaeolipids and Tween 80 (2: 2: 1.2: 3 % w/w) were obtained. NAC-Dex were extensively captured by macrophages and Caco-2 cells and displayed high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities on a gut inflammation model made of Caco-2 cells and lipopolysaccharide stimulated THP-1 derived macrophages reducing 65 % and 55 % TNF-α and IL-8 release, respectively and 60 % reactive oxygen species production. NAC-Dex also reversed the morphological changes induced by inflammation and increased the transepithelial electrical resistance, partly reconstituting the barrier function. Activity of BR and Dex in NAC-Dex was partially protected after simulated gastrointestinal digestion, improving the chances of BR-Dex joint activity. Results suggest that oral NAC-Dex deserve further exploration as intestinal barrier repairing agent.

Fast Biofilm Penetration and Anti-PAO1 Activity of Nebulized Azithromycin in Nanoarchaeosomes.

Azithromycin (AZ) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic with anti-inflammatory and antiquorum sensing activity against biofilm forming bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. AZ administered by oral or parenteral routes, however, neither efficiently accesses nor remains in therapeutic doses inside pulmonary biofilm depths. Instead, inhaled nanocarriers loaded with AZ may revert the problem of low accessibility and permanence of AZ into biofilms, enhancing its antimicrobial activity. The first inhalable nanovesicle formulation of AZ, nanoarchaeosome-AZ (nanoARC-AZ), is here presented. NanoARC prepared with total polar archaeolipids (TPAs), rich in 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phospho-(3'-sn-glycerol-1'-methylphosphate) (PGP-Me) from Halorubrum tebenquichense archaebacteria, consisted of ∼180 nm-diameter nanovesicles, loaded with 0.28 w/w AZ/TPA. NanoARC-AZ displayed lower minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration, higher preformed biofilm disruptive, and anti-PAO1 activity in biofilms than AZ. NanoARC penetrated and disrupted the structure of the PAO1 biofilm within only 1 h. Two milliliters of 15 µg/mL AZ nanoARC-AZ nebulized for 5 min rendered AZ doses compatible with in vitro antibacterial activity. The strong association between AZ and the nanoARC bilayer, combined with electrostatic attraction and trapping into perpendicular methyl groups of archaeolipids, as determined by Laurdan fluorescence anisotropy, generalized polarization, and small-angle X-ray scattering, was critical to stabilize during storage and endure shear forces of nebulization. NanoARC-AZ was noncytotoxic on A549 cells and human THP-1-derived macrophages, deserving further preclinical exploration as enhancers of AZ anti-PAO1 activity.

Superoxide dismutase in nanoarchaeosomes for targeted delivery to inflammatory macrophages.

Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the pathogenesis and progression of inflammatory bowel disease. Co-administration of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory drugs has shown clinical benefits. Due to its significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability, great interest has been focused on superoxide dismutase (SOD) for therapeutic use. However, oral SOD is exposed to biochemical degradation along gastrointestinal transit. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of SOD must be achieved intracellularly, therefore its cell entry requires endocytic mediating mechanisms. In this work, SOD was loaded into nanoarchaeosomes (ARC-SOD), nanovesicles fully made of sn 2,3 ether linked phytanyl saturated archaeolipids to protect and target SOD to inflammatory macrophages upon oral administration. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ARC-SOD, non-digested and digested in simulated gastrointestinal fluids, on macrophages stimulated with H2O2 and lipopolysaccharide were determined and compared with those of free SOD and SOD encapsulated into highly stable liposomes (LIPO-SOD). Compared to SOD and LIPO-SOD, ARC-SOD (170 ± 14 nm, -30 ± 4 mV zeta potential, 122 mg protein/g phospholipids) showed the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity: it reversed the cytotoxic effect of H2O2, decreased intracellular ROS and completely suppressed the production of IL-6 and TNF-α on stimulated J774 A.1 cells. Moreover, while the activity of LIPO-SOD was lost upon preparation, gastrointestinal digestion and storage, ARC-SOD was easy to prepare and retained its antioxidant capacity upon digestion in simulated gastrointestinal fluids and after 5 months of storage. Because of their structural and pharmacodynamic features, ARC-SOD may be suitable for oral targeted delivery of SOD to inflamed mucosa.

The anti MRSA biofilm activity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil in nanovesicles.

BACKGROUND: Thymus vulgaris essential oil (T) could be an alternative to classical antibiotics against bacterial biofilms, which show increased tolerance to antibiotics and host defence systems and contribute to the persistence of chronic bacterial infections. HYPOTHESIS: A nanovesicular formulation of T may chemically protect the structure and relative composition of its multiple components, potentially improving its antibacterial and antibiofilm activity. STUDY DESIGN: We prepared and structurally characterized T in two types of nanovesicles: nanoliposomes (L80-T) made of Soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) and Polysorbate 80 (P80) [SPC:P80:T 1:0.75:0.3 w:w], and nanoarchaeosomes (A80-T) made of SPC, P80 and total polar archaeolipids (TPA) extracted from archaebacteria Halorubrum tebenquichense [SPC:TPA:P80:T 0.5:0.50.75:0.7 w:w]. We determined the macrophage cytotoxicity and the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25,923 and four MRSA clinical strains. RESULTS: L80-T (Z potential -4.1 ±â€¯0.6 mV, ∼ 115 nm, ∼ 22 mg/ml T) and A80-T (Z potential -6.6 ±â€¯1.5 mV, ∼ 130 nm, ∼ 42 mg/ml T) were colloidally and chemically stable, maintaining size, PDI, Z potential and T concentration for at least 90 days. While MIC90 of L80-T was > 4 mg/ml T, MIC90 of A80-T was 2 mg/ml T for all S. aureus strains. The antibiofilm formation activity was maximal for A80-T, while L80-T did not inhibit biofilm formation compared to untreated control. A80-T significantly decreased the biomass of preformed biofilms of S. aureus ATCC 25,923 strain and of 3 of the 4 clinical MRSA isolates at 4 mg/ml T. It was found that the viability of J774A.1 macrophages was decreased significantly upon 24 h incubation with A80-T, L80-T and T emulsion at 0.4 mg/ml T. These results show that from 0.4 mg/ml T, a value lower than MIC90 and the one displaying antibiofilm activity, with independence of its formulation, T significantly decreased the macrophages viability. CONCLUSION: Overall, because of its lower MIC90 against planktonic bacteria, higher antibiofilm formation capacity and stability during storage, A80-T resulted better antibacterial agent than T emulsion and L80-T. These results open new avenues to explode the A80-T antimicrobial intracellular activity.

Novel imiquimod nanovesicles for topical vaccination.

Development of needle and pain free noninvasive immunization procedures is a top priority for public health agencies. In this work the topical adjuvant activity of the immunomodulator imiquimod (IMQ) carried by ultradeformable archaeosomes (UDA2) (nanovesicles containing sn-2,3 ether linked phytanyl saturated archaeolipids) was surveyed and compared with that of ultradeformable liposomes lacking archaeolipids (UDL2) and free IMQ, using the model antigen ovalbumin and a seasonal influenza vaccine in Balb/c mice. UDA2 (250 ± 94 nm, -26 ± 4 mV Z potential) induced higher IMQ accumulation in human skin and higher production of TNF-α and IL-6 by macrophages and keratinocytes than free IMQ and UDL2. Mixed with ovalbumin, UDA2 was more efficient at generating cellular response, as measured by an increase in serum IgG2a and INF-γ production by splenocytes, compared with free IMQ and UDL2. Moreover, mixed with a seasonal influenza vaccine UDA2 produced same IgG titers and IgG2a/IgG1 isotypes ratio (≈1) than the subcutaneously administered influenza vaccine. Topical UDA2 however, induced highest stimulation index and INF-γ levels by splenocytes. UDA2 might be a promising adjuvant for topical immunization, since it produced cell-biased systemic response with ≈ 13-fold lower IMQ dose than the delivered as the commercial IMQ cream, Aldara.