Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria; Department of Basic Sciences (Biology Programme), Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo 121103, Nigeria; Product Development Cell, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
zootund@yahoo.com, oyeyemio@babcock.edu.ng
Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to formulate polymer-based artesunate nanoparticles for malaria treatment. Methods: Artesunate was loaded with poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) by solvent evaporation from an oil-in-water single emulsion. Nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. In vivo antimalarial studies at 4 mg/kg were performed on Swiss male albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Hematological and hepatic toxicity assays were performed. In vitro cytotoxicity of free and encapsulated artesunate (Art-PLGA) to cell line RAW 264.7 was determined at concentrations of 7.8–1000 µg/ml. Results: The particle size of the formulated drug was (329.3±21.7) nm and the entrapment efficiency was (38.4±10.1)%. Art-PLGA nanoparticles showed higher parasite suppression (62.6%) compared to free artesunate (58.2%, P<0.05). Platelet counts were significantly higher in controls (305 000.00±148 492.40) than in mice treated with free artesunate (139 500.00±20 506.10) or Art-PLGA (163 500.00±3535.53) (P<0.05). There was no sign of hepatic toxicity following use of the tested drugs. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Art-PLGA (468.0 µg/ml) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of free artesunate (7.3 µg/ml) in the in vitro cytotoxicity assay. Conclusions: A simple treatment of PLGA-entrapped artesunate nanoparticles with dual advantages of low toxicity and better antiplasmodial efficacy has been developed.