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  • Anidulafungin liposome nanoparticles exhibit antifungal activity against planktonic and biofilm Candida albicans.

Anidulafungin liposome nanoparticles exhibit antifungal activity against planktonic and biofilm Candida albicans.

Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A (2020-05-05)
Noel Vera-González, Christina M Bailey-Hytholt, Luc Langlois, Felipe de Camargo Ribeiro, Evelyn Luzia de Souza Santos, Juliana Campos Junqueira, Anita Shukla
ABSTRACT

Fungal infections can cause significant patient morbidity and mortality. Nanoparticle therapeutics have the potential to improve treatment of these infections. Here we report the development of liposomal nanoparticles incorporating anidulafungin, a potent antifungal, with the goal of increasing its solubility and aiding in localization to fungi. Liposomes were fabricated with three concentrations of anidulafungin yielding monodisperse ~100 nm unilamellar vesicles. All three formulations inhibited planktonic Candida albicans growth at a minimum inhibitory concentration equivalent to free drug. All three formulations also disrupted preformed C. albicans biofilms, reducing fungal burden by as much as 99%, exhibiting superior biofilm disruption compared with free drug. Liposome formulations tested in vivo in C. albicans infected Galleria mellonella wax moth larvae demonstrated increased survival compared to free drug equivalents, leading to a survival of 33 to 67% of larvae over 7 days depending on the liposome utilized compared with only 25% survival of larvae administered free drug. Liposomal formulations along with free anidulafungin did not cause red blood cell lysis. Ultimately, the liposome formulations reported here increased anidulafungin solubility, displayed promising efficacy against planktonic and biofilm C. albicans, and improved the survival of C. albicans-infected G. mellonella compared to free anidulafungin.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Triton X-100, laboratory grade
Avanti
14:0 Liss Rhod PE, Avanti Research - A Croda Brand 810157P, powder
Avanti
Hydro Soy PC, Avanti Research - A Croda Brand
Avanti
18:0 PG, Avanti Research - A Croda Brand
Sigma-Aldrich
Anidulafungin, ≥97% (HPLC)
Avanti
Cholesterol (ovine), Avanti Research - A Croda Brand