Abstract
Opportunistic fungal infections are responsible for over 1.5 million deaths per year. This has created a need for highly effective antifungal medication to be as potent as possible. In this study, we improved the efficacy of a common over the counter (OTC) antifungal skin medication, miconazole, by encapsulating nano-molecules of the drug in cholesterol/sodium oleate nano-vesicles. These nano-vesicles were characterized to optimize their size, zeta potential, polydispersity index and encapsulation efficiency. Furthermore, these nano-vesicles were compared to a conventional miconazole-based commercially available cream to determine potential improvements via permeation through the stratum corneum, cytotoxicity, and antifungal capabilities. Our results found that the vesicle size was within the nano range (~300 nm), with moderate polydispersity and stability. When compared with the commercially available cream, Actavis, as well as free miconazole, the miconazole nano-vesicle formulation displayed enhanced fungal inhibition by a factor of three or more when compared to free miconazole. Furthermore, with smaller nanoparticle (NP) sizes, higher percentages of miconazole may be delivered, further enhancing the efficacy of miconazole’s antifungal capability. Cytotoxicity studies conducted with human dermal fibroblast cells confirm its biosafety and biocompatibility, as cell survival rate was observed to be twofold higher in nano-vesicle formulation than free miconazole. This formulation has the potential to treat fungal infections through increasing the retention time in the skin, improving the treatment approach, and by enhancing the efficacy via the use of nano-vesicles.
Highlights
300 million people are inflicted with a serious fungal infection annually [1]
Fungal infections are the cause of over 1.5 million deaths per year [1]. Most of these deaths are caused by opportunistic infections acting on already immunocompromised individuals, such as those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, influenza, cancer, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, tuberculosis, or those currently taking immunosuppressants for a variety of medical reasons [2]
Tinea Corporis, a dermatophyte commonly known as ringworm, is one of these opportunistic infections that plagues many individuals, especially the immunocompromised [3].This type of disease subsides deep within the skin, using these layers as a barrier to protect itself from external threats, while it manifests and spreads beneath the stratum corneum, wreaking havoc on the body and, if left untreated in an immunocompromised adult, may eventually lead to serious illness or death [4]
Summary
300 million people are inflicted with a serious fungal infection annually [1]. Fungal infections are the cause of over 1.5 million deaths per year [1] Most of these deaths are caused by opportunistic infections acting on already immunocompromised individuals, such as those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, influenza, cancer, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, tuberculosis, or those currently taking immunosuppressants for a variety of medical reasons [2]. These fungal infections prey on the most vulnerable in society and, a high degree of significance must be placed on ensuring that current therapies are achieving maximum efficacy. Tinea Corporis is a pathogenic fungus that is often found on all areas of mammalian skin, and can be seen on the surface layers, often creating a distinctive ring pattern, and is especially prominent on those with weakened immune systems, such as those infected with HIV/AIDS [5]
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