4.6 Article

Efficacy of topical Miltefosine formulations in an experimental model of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Journal

DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
Volume 12, Issue 1, Pages 180-196

Publisher

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
DOI: 10.1007/s13346-021-00896-8

Keywords

Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Miltefosine; Liposomes; Penetration enhancers; Topical treatment

Funding

  1. Fundacion Bunge y Born
  2. Secretaria de Ciencia y Tecnologia -Universidad Nacional de Cordoba [SeCyT 2014/2015, Res. 203/2014, SeCyT 2016/2017, Res. 313/2016]
  3. CONICET [PIP 2012-2014, PIP 2014-2016]

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Topical treatment with dispersions containing miltefosine and different liposome compositions has shown to be effective in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis. Fluid liposomes can accelerate lesion healing and reduce the time needed to eliminate viable parasites from the lesion site.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease endemic in similar to 90 countries, with an increasing incidence. Presently available pharmacotherapy implies the systemic administration of moderately/very toxic drugs. Miltefosine (Milt) is the only FDA-approved drug to treat CL via the oral route (Impavido (R)). It produces side effects; in particular, teratogenic effects are of concern. A topical treatment would have the great advantage of minimising the systemic circulation of the drug, preventing side effects. We prepared dispersions containing Milt and liposomes of different compositions to enhance/modulate trans-epidermal penetration and evaluated in vitro and in vivo efficacy and toxicity, in vitro release rate of the drug and particles size stability with time. Treatments were topically administered to BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. The dispersions containing 0.5% Milt eliminated 99% of the parasites and cured the lesions with a complete re-epithelisation, no visible scar and re-growth of hair. Fluid liposomes decreased the time to heal the lesion and the time needed to eliminate viable amastigotes from the lesion site. Relapse of the infection was not found 1 month after treatment in any case. Ultraflexible liposomes on the other hand had no significant in vitro effect but decreased in vivo efficacy. A topical Milt formulation including fluid liposomes seems a promising treatment against CL.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.6
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available