Development and performance evaluation of alginate-capped amphotericin B lipid nanoconstructs against visceral leishmaniasis.

The present study was aimed to assess the improvement of existing treatment regimens of Amphotericin B nanoconstrcuts which synergises with alginate for immunostimulation against visceral leishmaniasis. The particle size of Lip-nano (Plain AmB nanoconstructs) and Alg-Lip-nano (alginate capped Lip-nano) was 108.3 +/- 4.3 and 134.2 +/- 5.1 while zeta potential was (+) 28.4 +/- 3.3 and (-) 19.8 +/- 2.1 respectively. Percentage of parasite inhibition (intramacrophagic amastigotes) at 0.1 microg/ml conc. of AmB in case of Alg-Lip-nano (58%) was significantly higher (P = 0.05) compared to Lip-nano (48%). This supports that alginate coating over particles can activate macrophages to synergistically act with AmB in effective killing of parasite. This observation generates interest that immunotherapy with chemotherapeutic activity of AmB can effectively increase cure rate in visceral leishmaniasis.