title: Antifungal activity of a liposomal itraconazole formulation in experimental Aspergillus flavus keratitis with endophthalmitis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of topical application of a liposomal formulation of itraconazole for the treatment of experimental keratitis with endophthalmitis caused by Aspergillus flavus. The liposomes were obtained by the lipid film hydration method followed by sonication. Adult female Wistar rats (weighing 200-220 g) were immunosuppressed by intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide 3 days before infection by exposure to the fungus A. flavus (10(7) spores/ml). Forty-eight hours later, the animals were treated with the liposomal formulation. For comparison, one group of animals (n = 6) was treated with the same drug not encapsulated. At the end of the experiment, the animals were evaluated for clinical signs and number of colony forming units (CFU/g), along with direct microscopic examination. The results indicated that the liposomal formulation of itraconazole has better antifungal activity than the unencapsulated drug in the treatment of fungal keratitis with endophthalmitis caused experimentally by A. flavus in Wistar rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mycology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. da Engenharia, s/n - Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, CEP: 50740-550, Brazil, andreferrazleal@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: André Ferraz Goiana
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Melyna Chaves
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Caroline Sanuzi Quirino
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Isabella Macário Ferro
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: Almir Gonçalves
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wanderley
authors.forename: Nereide Stela Santos
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Rejane Pereira
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Neves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D007634:Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D008081:Liposomes; D017964:Itraconazole