Experimental Investigation into the Design, Optimization, Toxicity, and Anti-Viral Efficacy of Proliposomes Loaded...

Background: Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes a significant illness in birds, making it a leading source of financial loss in the poultry business. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of proliposomes (PLs) containing ivermectin (IVM) against IBV using embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). Methods: A three-factor, two-level (2³) full factorial design was employed; carrier/lipid phase ratio (A), stearyl glycyrrhetinate amount (B), and phospholipid type (C) were studied as independent variables, while product yield (PY), entrapment efficiency (EE), particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), and cumulative percentage of drug released after 6 h (Q6h) were characterized. The selected formulations (PL2 and PL6) were subjected to further characterizations, including IVM toxicity and anti-viral activity. Results: The PY% ranged from 88.6 ± 2.19% to 98.8 ± 0.45%, EE% was from 71.8 ± 2.01% to 96.1 ± 0.51%, PS was from 330.1 ± 55.65 nm to 1801.6 ± 45.61 nm, PDI was from 0.205 ± 0.06 to 0.603 ± 0.03, ZP was from -18.2 ± 0.60 mV to -50.1 ± 1.80 mV, and Q6h was from 80.95 ± 1.36% to 88.79 ± 2.03%. IVM-loaded PLs had lower toxicity in ECEs than pure IVM; the mortality rate was substantially reduced in IBV-infected ECEs injected with PL2 rather than pure IVM. As further evidence of IVM's anti-viral action against IBV, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that the PL2-treated group exhibited further reduction in IBV's copies in comparison with the pure IVM-treated group. Conclusions: PLs loaded with IVM are an innovative and potentially effective way to inhibit IBV.