Developing Cutaneous Applications of Paromomycin Entrapped in Stimuli-Sensitive Block Copolymer Nanogel Dispersions

Abstract

Aim: A new paromomycin micellar nanogel based on poloxamer 407 was developed. Materials & methods: In vitro release and ex vivo permeation/retention studies were conducted. In vivo tolerance was assayed by transepidermal water loss. Ex vivo cytotoxicity on RAW and VERO cells and antileishmanial activity on Leishmania promastigotes was tested. Results: The particle size was 9.19 nm (99% loading efficiency) exhibiting Newtonian behavior at 4°C and was pseudoplastic at 25 and 40°C. Drug release followed a Weibull model and the drug remaining in the skin was 31.652 µg/g/cm². In vivo tolerance achieved excellent results with negligible cellular toxicity and the best antileishmanial efficiency. Conclusion: The nanogel provided controlled, effective and safe delivery of paromomycin for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Keywords::

• cutaneous leishmaniasis
• nanogel
• paromomycin
• poloxamer 407
• polymeric micelles

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Dr C Humet from Hospital Barcelona-SCIAS (Spain) for providing the skin samples.

Financial & competing interest disclosure

This study has received funding from the Project of the Granada University Research Plan 2012, Special Actions (18th program). 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.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Additional information

Funding

This study has received funding from the Project of the Granada University Research Plan 2012, Special Actions (18th program). 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.