Rationally designed hyaluronic acid-based nano-complexes for pentamidine delivery

Publication date: Available online 16 July 2019Source: International Journal of PharmaceuticsAuthor(s): Flavia Carton, Yves Chevalier, Letizia Nicoletti, Małgorzata Tarnowska, Barbara Stella, Silvia Arpicco, Manuela Malatesta, Lars Petter Jordheim, Stéphanie Briançon, Giovanna LolloAbstractNanoparticles of polymeric complexes made of hyaluronic acid and polyarginine were investigated for the encapsulation of the cationic hydrophilic drug pentamidine isethionate. The interaction between the anionic hyaluronic acid and the cationic pentamidine and the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes of them were firstly studied. Then, nanoparticles made of mixed hyaluronic acid / polyarginine loaded with pentamidine were developed as drug delivery systems. A monodisperse population of negatively charged pentamidine-loaded nanoparticles allowed high encapsulation rates of pentamidine (80%). Such high encapsulation efficiency coming from ion exchange was confirmed by measurements of the counterion isethionate released from pentamidine during nanoparticles formation. Besides, freeze-dried pentamidine-loaded nanoparticles kept their integrity after their reconstitution in water. In vitro studies on human lung (A549) and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cell lines showed that pentamidine-loaded nanoparticles were more cytotoxic in comparison to the free drug, suggesting an enhanced internalization of encapsulated drug by cancer cells.Graphical abstract
Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research