Evaluation of alginate nanoparticles co-loaded with ascorbic acid and rifampicin as therapeutic treatment of intracellular pulmonary infections

SCOLARI, IVANA R.; VOLPINI, XIMENA; FANANI, MARÍA L.; DE LA CRUZ-THEA, BENJAMÍN; NATALI, LAUTARO; MUSRI, MELINA M.; GRANERO, GLADYS E.

Congreso; 6ta Reunión Internacional de Ciencias Farmacéuticas. RICiFa 2020+1; 2021

RICiFa

Nanotechnology is a very promising technological tool to combat health problems associated with theloss of effectiveness of currently used antibiotics. Previously, we developed a formulation consistingof a chitosan and tween 80-decorated alginate nanocarrier co-loaded with rifampicin and theantioxidant ascorbic acid (RIF/ASC NPs), intended for the treatment of respiratory intracellularinfections. Here, we investigated the effects of RIF/ASC-loaded NPs on the respiratory mucus and thepulmonary surfactant. In addition, we explored their in vitro cytotoxicity for lung cells, and theirbiodistribution on rat lungs after intratracheal administration. Findings found herein demonstrated thatRIF/ASC-loaded NPs display a favorable lung biocompatibility profile and a uniform distributionthroughout lung lobules. RIF/ASC-loaded NPs were mainly uptaken by lung macrophages, theirprimary target. Insummary, results show that our novel designed RIF/ASC NPs could be a suitablesystem for antibiotic lung administration with promising perspectives for the treatment of pulmonaryintracellular infections.