Assessment of β-lapachone loaded in lecithin-chitosan nanoparticles for the topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in L. major infected BALB/c mice

After demonstrating the ex vivo performance of lecithin-chitosan NP for enhancing the penetration and dermal accumulation of the poorly soluble drug β-lapachone, the efficacy of the treatment was topically assayed in L. major infected BALB/c mice. Despite the treatment did not influence the parasite burden, it down-regulated IL-1β and COX-2 and reduced the neutrophil infiltrate, thus decreasing the necrosis and size of the skin lesion. Our finding offers a new approach of utility for weakening skin damage in cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions.156