Experience with doxorubicin-bound polyisohexylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles on murine alveolar echinococcosis of the liver.

The parasiticidal properties of doxorubicin against the metacestode of Echinococcus multilocularis were investigated after binding of that drug to polyisohexylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles, a colloidal biodegradable drug carrier. A reduction of the hepatic parasite development and a reduced viability of the metacestode were observed in mice injected with 5 mg kg-1 body weight-1, but 7.5 mg kg-1 body weight-1 did not appear more efficient. Free doxorubicin or unbound nanoparticles had no antiparasitic activity.