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Physiochemical Characterization of Lipidic Nanoformulations Encapsulating the Antifungal Drug Natamycin

Luigi Talarico1,2,3, Ilaria Clemente1,3, Alessandro Gennari1

  • 1Department of Biotechnology Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.

Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 26, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Natamycin, a potent antifungal, faces delivery challenges in eye infections. New lipid nanoformulations, including transethosomes and lipid nanoparticles, show promise for improved topical ocular delivery of natamycin.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pharmaceutics
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Natamycin is a powerful tetraene polyene antifungal agent.
  • Its efficacy is limited by poor ocular membrane permeability for topical treatments.
  • Frequent application is needed, hindering its clinical use despite potent antifungal properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop novel lipid nanoformulations for topical ocular natamycin delivery.
  • To overcome the low ocular permeation limitation of natamycin.
  • To enhance the delivery of natamycin for treating fungal eye infections.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of lipid nanoparticles and transethosomes encapsulating natamycin.
  • Characterization of size, stability, and zeta potential using dynamic light scattering.
  • Investigation of supramolecular structure via X-ray scattering and 1H-NMR.
  • Determination of encapsulation efficiencies using HPLC-DAD.

Main Results:

  • Successfully developed four distinct lipid nanoformulations for natamycin.
  • Characterized physical and structural properties of the nanoformulations.
  • Quantified encapsulation efficiencies, indicating successful drug loading.

Conclusions:

  • Lipid nanoformulations offer a viable strategy for topical ocular delivery of natamycin.
  • These formulations have the potential to improve natamycin's therapeutic efficacy.
  • Further studies are warranted to evaluate in vivo performance and clinical utility.
Keywords:
NMRSAXSencapsulationlipid nanoparticlesnatamycinsupramolecular

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