title: Nanospheres encapsulating anti-leishmanial drugs for their specific macrophage targeting, reduced toxicity, and deliberate intracellular release.
abstract: The current work focuses on the study of polymeric, biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) for the encapsulation of doxorubicin and mitomycin C (anti-leishmanial drugs), and their efficient delivery to macrophages, the parasite's home. The biodegradable polymer methoxypoly-(ethylene glycol)-b-poly (lactic acid) (MPEG-PLA) was used to prepare polymeric NPs encapsulating doxorubicin and mitomycin C. The morphology, mean diameter, and surface area of spherical NPs were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and BET surface area analysis. X-ray diffraction was performed to validate drug encapsulation. An in vitro release profile of the drugs suggested a fairly slow release. These polymeric NPs were efficiently capable of releasing drug inside macrophages at a slower pace than the free drug, which was monitored by epi-fluorescence microscopy. Encapsulation of doxorubicin and mitomycin C into NPs also decreases cellular toxicity in mouse macrophages (J774.1A).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Anil Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: Sanjukta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patra
authors.forename: Vikash Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Dubey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C492425:methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactide); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D016685:Mitomycin; D004317:Doxorubicin