Paromomycin-loaded albumin microspheres: efficacy and stability studies

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery
• Parasitology and Tropical Diseases
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains a significant global health challenge requiring effective drug delivery systems.
• Passive targeting of anti-leishmanial drugs to macrophages can improve therapeutic outcomes.
• Albumin microspheres offer a promising platform for encapsulating and delivering therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To formulate paromomycin-loaded albumin microspheres (PM-MS) for enhanced passive targeting to macrophages.
• To evaluate the efficacy and stability of the developed PM-MS formulation for visceral leishmaniasis treatment.

Main Methods:

• Paromomycin-loaded albumin microspheres (PM-MS) were prepared using a spray-drying technique.
• Drug release was controlled using thermal and chemical cross-linking methods.
• In vitro assays included promastigote susceptibility, cytotoxicity, and intracellular amastigote efficacy studies.

Main Results:

• PM-MS exhibited a mean particle size of approximately 3 µm, suitable for passive targeting.
• The encapsulated paromomycin (PM) in microspheres showed significantly enhanced efficacy compared to free PM solution.
• Stability studies confirmed the formulation's robustness under various temperature and humidity conditions, including accelerated testing.

Conclusions:

• The developed paromomycin-loaded albumin microspheres represent an optimized formulation for visceral leishmaniasis treatment.
• The formulation demonstrates improved therapeutic efficacy and excellent stability, suggesting its potential for clinical application.