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Amphotericin B and micafungin duo-loaded nanoemulsion as a potential strategy against Candida auris biofilms

Gabriel Davi Marena1,2, André Luiz Carneiro Soares do Nascimento2, Gabriela Corrêa Carvalho1,2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Biofouling
|September 9, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Controlled-release nanoemulsions loaded with amphotericin B and micafungin show promise against multidrug-resistant Candida auris biofilms. This combination therapy offers a potential new strategy to combat this growing public health threat.

Area of Science:

  • * Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • * Infectious Diseases
  • * Nanotechnology

Background:

  • * Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant yeast with increasing prevalence, particularly noted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • * Novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to combat C. auris infections.
  • * Controlled-release nanomaterials offer a promising avenue for drug delivery against resistant pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To develop and characterize amphotericin B (AmB) and micafungin (MICA)-loaded nanoemulsions (NEMA).
  • * To evaluate the efficacy of NEMA against Candida auris biofilms.
  • * To assess the synergistic potential of combined AmB and MICA in nanoemulsion formulation.

Main Methods:

  • * Development and characterization of nanoemulsions (NEs) using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA).
  • * Determination of encapsulation efficiency, drug release profiles, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90).
  • * Evaluation of anti-biofilm activity using checkerboard assays, metabolic inhibition, and morphological analysis.

Main Results:

  • * NEMA exhibited optimal size (53.7-81.4 nm), good stability, and spherical morphology.
  • * High encapsulation efficiencies for AmB (88.4%) and MICA (99.3%) were achieved.
  • * NEMA demonstrated synergistic activity against C. auris biofilms, with low MIC90 values (0.015 µg/mL for AmB, 0.031 µg/mL for NEMA) and significant metabolic inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • * Co-encapsulation of AmB and MICA into nanoemulsions is a viable and promising strategy.
  • * NEMA effectively inhibits C. auris biofilm formation and viability.
  • * This combination nanoemulsion therapy presents a potent new option for treating Candida auris infections.
Keywords:
BiofilmCandida aurisInfection diseaseNanoemulsionNanotechnology

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