In-vivo and safety studies of artemether and doxycycline entrapped in solid lipid nanoparticles

Jane Ijeoma Ugochukwu 1, 3, *, Anthony Amaechi Attama 2, 4 and Esimone Charles Okechukwu 3

1 Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani, Enugu State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
3 Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambara State Nigeria.
4 Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani, Enugu State, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023, 24(01), 284–299.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2023.24.1.0280
Publication history: 
Received on 05 June 2023; revised on 17 July 2023; accepted on 19 July 2023
 
Abstract: 
Nanoparticle has emerged as a promising strategy for the efficient delivery of drugs used for the treatment of some diseases by specific targeting to achieve improved delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs.This is achieved by delivering drug in small particle size to increase the total surface area of the drugs allowing faster dissolution in blood stream. At nanosize range, the properties of materials differ substantially from bulk materials of the same composition, mostly due to the increased specific surface area and reactivity, which may lead to increased bioavailability and toxicity.This research focuses on evaluation of safety and in vivo study of artemether-doxycline entrapped in solid lipid nanoparticles.The The safety profile of the formulation was determined in white albino mice. The pharmacodynamics of the drugs were evaluated to determine the suppressive potential of the formulated nanoparticles against established Plasmodium infection using a modified 4-day Peter suppressive test. Raw data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with SPSS software,Significance was accepted at the 5%, 1%, and 0.1% levels.The LD50 of the formulated nanoparticle was above 5000 mg/kg. The hematological showed that the percentage parasitemia, PCV, RBC, and HB of all groups treated with artemether-doxycycline-loaded SLNs were in the range of 1.05% to 14.50%, 38.75% to 56.75%, 0.7.05 x 1012/L to 7.30 x 1012/L, and 12.88 g/dL to 18.03 g/dL, respectively.When mean percentage parasitemia of all groups were compared with 22.0 % mean percentage parasitemia of negative control (SLN), it indicates a highly active anti-plasmodial therapeutic effect. While the biochemical and histological results showed that the formulated nanoparticle did not increase the adverse effects of artemether and doxycycline. The artemether-doxycycline loaded solid lipid nanoparticles developed resulted in a safe and effective alternative drug and reduced side effects.
 
Keywords: 
Plasmodium falciparium; Hematological; Toxicity; Nanoparticle; Formulation.
 
Full text article in PDF: 
Share this