Aerosolized nanostructured itraconazole as prophylaxis against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.
OBJECTIVE
Prophylactic strategies against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis are often limited by drug interactions and toxicities. Targeted airway delivery of antifungals to the lungs may avoid these pitfalls. We evaluated the effectiveness of an aerosolized nanostructured formulation of itraconazole produced by spray freezing into liquid (SFL) as prophylaxis against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by A. fumigatus.


METHODS
Immunocompromised Balb/C mice received either itraconazole by oral gavage (Sporanox Oral Liquid [SOL] 30 mg/kg TID) or by aerosolization (SFL 30 mg/kg via 20 min aerosolizations, or control, BID). Dosing began 2 days prior to pulmonary inoculation with A. fumigatus and continued for 7 days post-inoculation. Changes in lung histopathology were also assessed. In the survival arm, mice were monitored over a 5 day period following discontinuation of therapy and survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.


RESULTS
SFL survival (35%) was greater compared to control (10%; p=0.03) and SOL (0%; p=0.02). Histopathology demonstrated severe invasive disease involving vessels and small airways in control and SOL animals. SFL animals demonstrated colonization with some invasion predominately of large airways.


CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic aerosolization of nanostructured SFL significantly improved survival and limited invasive disease of small airways due to A. fumigatus.
Alvarez
Carlos A
CA
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, 1 University Station, A1900, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Wiederhold
Nathan P
NP
McConville
Jason T
JT
Peters
Jay I
JI
Najvar
Laura K
LK
Graybill
John R
JR
Coalson
Jacqueline J
JJ
Talbert
Robert L
RL
Burgess
David S
DS
Bocanegra
Rosie
R
Johnston
Keith P
KP
Williams
Robert O
RO
D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D049329:Nanostructures; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000336:Aerosols; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole