Miconazole-loaded nanoparticles coated with hyaluronic acid to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis
Open accessAbstract
Miconazole-loaded nanoparticles coated with hyaluronic acid (miconazole-loaded nanoparticles/HA) were developed to overcome the limitations of the conventional therapy of the vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). They were synthesized by emulsification and solvent evaporation techniques, characterized by diameter, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, atomic force microscopy (AFM), evaluated in terms of efficacy against C. albicans in vitro, and tested in a murine VVC model. Nanoparticles showed 211nm of diameter with a 0.32 polydispersity index, -53mV of zeta potential, and 90% miconazole encapsulation efficiency. AFM evidenced nanoparticles with a spherical shape. They inhibited the proliferation of C. albicans in vitro and in vivo after a single administration. Nanoparticles released the miconazole directly in the site of action at low therapeutic doses, which was enough to eliminate the fungal burden in the murine VVC model. These systems were rationally designed since the existence of the HA induces their adhesion on the vaginal mucus and their internalization via CD44 receptors, inhibiting the C. albicans. Therefore, miconazole-loaded nanoparticles/HA represent an innovative non-conventional pharmaceutical dosage form to treat the VVC and recurrent VVC.
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- Authors
- Teixeira, A. D. R., Quaresma, A. D. V., Branquinho, R. T., Santos, S. L. E. N., Magalhães, J. T. D., Silva, F. H. R. D., Marques, M. B. D. F., Moura, S. A. L. D., Barboza, A. P. M., Araújo, M. G. D. F., & Silva, G. R. D.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (BR)
- Federal University of São João del-Rei (BR)
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Silva, Gisele Rodrigues Da
- ORCID
- Venue
- European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-09
- Volume
- 188
- Pages
- 106508
- ISSN
- 0928-0987 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4382046051
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5
- FWCI
- 1.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- CNPq
- FAPEMIG
- CAPES
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery
- Keywords
- miconazole, hyaluronic acid coating, nanoparticles, vaginal candidiasis, Candida albicans, antifungal drug delivery, CD44 targeting, emulsion solvent evaporation, encapsulation efficiency, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antifungal Agents, Candida albicans, Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal, Female, Humans, Hyaluronic Acid, Miconazole, Mice, Nanoparticles
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