Peripheral Nerve Targeting By procaine-conjugated ribavirin-loaded Dual Drug Nanovesicle

Abstract

Aim: Procaine that is able to reach the peripheral nervous system (PNS) was conjugated as a ligand with lipid nanovesicle and loaded with ribavirin (a broad spectrum antiviral drug incapable of entering the PNS on its own) to target the PNS with a dual-drug effect. Materials & methods: Different physicochemical characterizations, γ-scintigraphy and electromyography of the developed nanovesicle were conducted. Results: Marked capability of the optimized radiolabeled formulation to target PNS was observed in rats. Electromyography signals were reduced after treatment with the formulation on conscious rats. Conclusion: The developed nanocarrier can deliver drug successfully at the PNS and reduce excitation of the nerve and thus give a better therapeutic option for treatment of various diseases and disorders of the PNS.

Keywords:

• antiviral
• central nervous system targeting
• electromyography
• nanovesicle
• peripheral nerve targeting
• radioimaging
• ribavirin

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at:www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2217/epi-2016-0184

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to S Banerjee for the electromyography study at Jadavpur University, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Kolkata. The authors would also like to thank J Sengupta and C Biswas for cryo-TEM analysis at CSIR-IICB, Kolkata.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India, under grant [sanction number: F.15-1/2014-15/PDFWM-2014-15-GE-WES-25260 (SA-II) dated 30.01.2015]. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

This formulation development process has been already filed for Indian patent (application number: 201731033454 dated 21.09.2107).

Ethical conduct

The experimental protocol of the study was subjected to direct approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of the University. Animal care was in accordance with CPCSEA guidelines.