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Liposomes loaded with Cymbopogon nardus L. Rendle essential oil: Characterization and potential in vitro and in vivo
Gabriel Davi Marena1, Laura Caminitti de Lima2, André Luiz Carneiro Soares do Nascimento2
1Department of Biological Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Araraquara, São Paulo State, Brazil; Department of Drug and Medicines, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Araraquara, São Paulo State, Brazil.
Background:
The rapid dissemination of Candidozyma auris (previously known as Candida auris) and its multidrug resistance profile poses a significant challenge in therapy once it contributes to a mortality of 30-60% of infected patients.
Aims:
This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle essential oil and citral oil, both free and incorporated into liposomes, against C. auris.
Methods:
The liposomes were composed of a lipid phase containing soy phosphatidylcholine, ergosterol, cholesterol and oleylamine, along with an aqueous phase consisting of PBS. The liposome was characterized by measuring the following features: hydrodynamic size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy, infrared vibrational spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, and transmission electron microscopy. The antifungal activity of the C. nardus essential oil, the citral oil and liposome-loaded compounds was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), biofilm assay and by a Galleria mellonella infection model. G. mellonella was also used to assess acute in vivo toxicity.
Results:
The liposomes exhibited sizes ranging from 218.8 to 261.7nm, polydispersity index <0.5, and a positive zeta potential. Furthermore, the liposomes showed good stability and a lipid layer in the outer region. Citral showed the best antifungal activity, with MIC 62.5μg/mL, being the compound selected for its incorporation into liposomes, which further improved its antifungal potential. Citral and citral-liposomes showed important metabolic inhibition in mature biofilms (20%). No acute toxicity was observed for either sample in G. mellonella, and citral-liposomes showed promising antifungal action in the G. mellonella infection model.
Conclusions:
Liposomes represent a promising strategy for the safe and effective delivery of citral to control C. auris infection.