Antifungal

Biotechnology

Biology

Chitosan

Biochemistry

Immunology

In vivo

Candida albicans

In vitro

Microbiology

Pharmacology

Medicine

Chemistry

Amphotericin B

Candida glabrata

Platelet

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

This study reports design and evaluation of chitosan-based microparticle activity against Candida glabrata in vitro and in vivo in immunocompetent mice model artificially maintained in oestrus state. Because their flattened shape, chitosan microparticles are called here micro-platelets. They were obtained by self-association of oleoyl chitosan and α-cyclodextrin in water. A mixture of amphotericin B-deoxycholate (Fungizone®, AmB-DOC) and chitosan micro-platelets gelified with pluronic® F127 (20 wt%) completely cured C. glabrata vaginal infection. Colony factor unit counting and mycological analysis of mice vaginal mucosa after Grocott-Gomori methenamine-silver staining confirmed the absence of C. glabrata. Furthermore, in vitro evaluations revealed that IC50 and MIC90 of AmB-DOC were decreased 1.8 and 1.4-times respectively when associated with chitosan micro-platelets. Neither native chitosan nor oleoyl chitosan allowed improvement in AmB-DOC anti-C. glabrata activity. This work demonstrates for the first time that a simple mixing of chitosan micro-platelets with AmB-DOC enhanced its anti-C. glabrata activity.

Cyclodextrin-mediated self-associating chitosan micro-platelets act as a drug booster against Candida glabrata mucosal infection in immunocompetent mice