Amphotericin B loaded sulfonated chitosan nanoparticles for targeting macrophages to treat intracellular Candida glabrata infections

The current study assesses the potential of functionalised chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) for proficient macrophage delivery of amphotericin B (AmpB) for the management of Candida glabrata fungemia. Chitosan was functionalised by the method of sulfation by using chlorosulfonic acid and the developed compound was confirmed by FTIR, 1H NMR and degree of sulfation and CHNS analysis. Amphotericin B encapsulated sulfated chitosan (AmpB-SCNPs), when characterized showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 310 ± 14 nm and zeta potential of 41.5 ± 2 mV. The safety of AmpB-SCNPs was established by the alamar cytotoxicity assay in nanoparticle treated macrophages following 24 h incubation. The AmpB-SCNPs showed a significant increase in the reduction of C. glabrata in comparison with the bare AmpB and AmpB-CNPs (55.2 and 42.7 vs 11.12 cfu/ml) indicating that AmpB-SCNPs could be a promising carrier for specific delivery of AmpB to macrophages for effective treatment of Candida glabrata fungemia.