lactoferrin and efavirenz

Multiple prevention therapy has gained importance for the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS. Antiretroviral drugs encapsulated in nanoparticles have been developed for efficient delivery of the drugs to the vaginal surface. Lactoferrin nanoparticles (LFNPs) encapsulating anticancer or antiretroviral drugs are found to be promising agents to specifically deliver drugs at the target sites. Recent studies indicate that the bioavailability is higher for antiretroviral drugs delivered by LFNPs than when the drugs are administered alone. Although LFNP-mediated drug delivery via the oral or vaginal route for the treatment of HIV/AIDS is promising, the effect of such administrations is not well studied. Drug-loaded LFNPs when administered to rats by the vaginal route did not show any effect on the reproductive performance, fertility, and postnatal development. Oral administration of drug-loaded LFNPs caused a significant decrease in litter size, whereas the reproductive performance and postnatal development remained normal. In our model system, the results indicate that vaginal administration of drug-loaded LFNPs appears safer and can be projected for the delivery of antiretroviral agents via the vaginal route.

Topics: Administration, Intravaginal; Alkynes; Animals; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Benzoxazines; Curcumin; Cyclopropanes; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Female; Lactoferrin; Nanoparticles; Pregnancy; Rats; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral

To enhance efficacy, bioavailability and reduce toxicity of first-line highly active anti-retroviral regimen, zidovudine + efavirenz + lamivudine loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles were prepared (FLART-NP) and characterized for physicochemical properties, bioactivity and pharmacokinetic profile.. Nanoparticles were prepared using sol-oil protocol and characterized using different sources such as FE-SEM, AFM, NanoSight, and FT-IR. In-vitro and in-vivo studies have been done to access the encapsulation-efficiency, cellular localization, release kinetics, safety analysis, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics.. FLART-NP with a mean diameter of 67 nm (FE-SEM) and an encapsulation efficiency of >58% for each drug were prepared. In-vitro studies suggest that FLART-NP deliver the maximum of its payload at pH5 with a minimum burst release throughout the study period with negligible toxicity to the erythrocytes plus improved in-vitro anti-HIV activity. FLART-NP has improved the in-vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) profiles over the free drugs; an average of >4fold increase in AUC and AUMC, 30% increase in the C

Topics: Alkynes; Animals; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Benzoxazines; Cell Line, Tumor; Cyclopropanes; Drug Combinations; Female; Half-Life; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Lactoferrin; Lamivudine; Male; Nanoparticles; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Tissue Distribution; Zidovudine

Efavirenz (EFV), a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, is a drug that is frequently included in highly active antiretroviral therapy for treatment of HIV infection. Decreased bioavailability and increased toxicity limit its use. We report a formulation of efavirenz-loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles (lacto-EFV-nano) for oral delivery which exhibited significantly improved pharmacological properties coupled with reduced toxicity compared with its free form.. Lacto-EFV-nano was prepared using the Sol-oil protocol and characterized using various sources of characterization. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to test the stability, safety, efficacy, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of lacto-EFV-nano.. The nanoparticles prepared for the present study had an average size of 45-60 nm as revealed by field emission scanning electron microscope measurements. Further, dynamic light scattering data showed a hydrodynamic radius of 103 ± 5.3 nm, a zeta potential of -23 ± 1.2 mV and a polydispersity index of < 0.341. Lacto-EFV-nano was found to be stable as assessed using differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Cell viability studies showed that lacto-EFV-nano was at least 2-fold less toxic to peripheral blood mononuclear cells, Jurkat T cell and B16-F10 cell lines than free EFV. Furthermore, lacto-EFV-nano [50% inhibitory concentration (IC. Compared with free EFV, lacto-EFV-nano is a promising oral nanoformulation with enhanced bioavailability and efficacy of EFV and improved safety.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Alkynes; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Benzoxazines; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Cyclopropanes; Drug Carriers; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Nanoparticles; Rats, Wistar

We report that a combination of anti-HIV-1 drug efavirenz (EFV), anti-microbial-spermicidal curcumin (Cur) and lactoferrin nanoparticles (ECNPs) act as MPT formulation. These nanoparticles are of well dispersed spherical shape with 40-70 nm size, with encapsulation efficiency of 63 ± 1.9% of Cur &61.5% ± 1.6 of EFV, significantly higher than that of single drug nanoparticles (Cur, 59 ± 1.34%; EFV: 58.4 ± 1.79). ECNPs were found to be sensitive at pH 5 and 6 and have not effected viability of vaginal micro-flora, Lactobacillus. Studies in rats showed that ECNPs delivers 88-124% more drugs in vaginal lavage as compared to its soluble form, either as single or combination of EFV and Cur. The ECNPs also shows 1.39-4.73 fold lower concentration of absorption in vaginal tissue and plasma compared to soluble EFV + Cur. Furthermore, ECNPs show significant reduction in inflammatory responses by 1.6-3.0 fold in terms of IL-6 and TNF-α in vaginal tissue and plasma compared to soluble EFV + Cur. ECNPs showed improved pharmacokinetics profiles in vaginal lavage with more than 50% of enhancement in AUC, AUMC, Cmax and t1/2 suggesting longer exposure of Cur and EFV in vaginal lavage compared to soluble EFV + Cur. Histopathological analysis of vaginal tissue shows remarkably lower toxicity of ECNPs compared to soluble EFV + Cur. In conclusion, ECNPs are significantly safe and exhibit higher bioavailability thus constitute an effective MPT against HIV.

Topics: Administration, Intravaginal; Alkynes; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Benzoxazines; Chemoprevention; Curcumin; Cyclopropanes; Female; Lactobacillus; Lactoferrin; Microbial Viability; Nanoparticles; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis; Rats; Vaginitis