Therapeutic efficacy of artemisinin-loaded nanoparticles in experimental visceral leishmaniasis

• ALPLGA nanoparticles showed enhanced antileishmanial efficacy in vivo.
• These nanoparticles significantly reduced parasite burden and hepatosplenomegaly.
• The nanoparticles restored the depressed host cellular immune response.
• No hepato or renal toxicity was observed depicting inertness of nanoparticles.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal vector-borne parasitic syndrome attributable to the protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex. The available chemotherapeutic options are not ideal due to their potential toxicity, high cost and prolonged treatment schedule. In the present study, we conjectured the use of nano drug delivery systems for plant-derived secondary metabolite; artemisinin as an alternative strategy for the treatment of experimental VL. Artemisinin-loaded poly lactic co-glycolic acid (ALPLGA) nanoparticles prepared were spherical in shape with a particle size of 220.0 ± 15.0 nm, 29.2 ± 2.0% drug loading and 69.0 ± 3.3% encapsulation efficiency. ALPLGA nanoparticles administered at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight showed superior antileishmanial efficacy compared with free artemisinin in BALB/c model of VL. There was a significant reduction in hepatosplenomegaly as well as in parasite load in the liver (85.0 ± 5.4%) and spleen (82.0 ± 2.4%) with ALPLGA nanoparticles treatment at 20 mg/kg body weight compared to free artemisinin (70.3 ± 0.6% in liver and 62.7 ± 3.7% in spleen). In addition, ALPLGA nanoparticle treatment restored the defective host immune response in mice with established VL infection. The protection was associated with a Th1-biased immune response as evident from a positive delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, escalated IgG2a levels, augmented lymphoproliferation and enhancement in proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) with significant suppression of Th2 cytokines (IL-10 and IL-4) after in vitro recall, compared to infected control and free artemisinin treatment. In conclusion, our results advocate superior efficacy of ALPLGA nanoparticles over free artemisinin, which was coupled with restoration of suppressed cell-mediated immunity in animal models of VL.

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