Electrosprayed chitosan microcapsules as delivery vehicles for vaginal phytoformulations

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Materials Science
• Mycology

Background:

• Vaginal fungal infections necessitate novel drug delivery systems.
• Chitosan offers antimicrobial and mucoadhesive properties, ideal for drug matrices.
• Argentinean medicinal plants possess proven biological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate chitosan microcapsules containing Argentinean medicinal plant extracts for vaginal delivery.
• To compare the performance of chitosan microcapsules with conventional tablets.
• To assess the impact of encapsulation on bioactive compound integrity and release.

Main Methods:

• Electrospraying technique for chitosan microcapsule fabrication.
• Characterization of microcapsules: physical properties, morphology, particle size, molecular organization, and water sorption.
• Assessment of total phenolics, loading efficacy, and release kinetics of bioactive compounds.
• Evaluation of antioxidant and antifungal activities, and stability in simulated vaginal fluid.

Main Results:

• Chitosan microcapsules maintained the integrity and bioactivity of plant extracts.
• Faster release of phenolic compounds from microcapsules compared to tablets.
• Enhanced solubility and potential for increased bioavailability in simulated vaginal fluid.
• Microcapsules demonstrated stability in slightly acidic conditions due to chitosan interactions.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan microcapsules are a viable delivery system for phytomedicines with antifungal and antioxidant properties.
• This system shows potential for treating vulvovaginal candidiasis.
• The study highlights the advantages of chitosan-based systems for enhancing phytomedicine efficacy.