Open AccessCharacterization and trypanocidal activity of a β-lapachone-containing drug carrier
Author(s) -
Juliana M. C. Barbosa,
Caroline Deckmann Nicoletti,
Patrícia Bento da Silva,
Tatiana G. Melo,
Débora Omena Futuro,
Vı́tor F. Ferreira,
Kelly Salomão
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0246811
Subject(s) - benznidazole , nifurtimox , trypanosoma cruzi , trypanocidal agent , pharmacology , chagas disease , drug , context (archaeology) , toxicity , drug delivery , in vivo , chemistry , medicine , biology , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , paleontology , parasite hosting , organic chemistry , world wide web , computer science
The treatment of Chagas disease (CD), a neglected parasitic condition caused by Trypanosoma cruzi , is still based on only two drugs, nifurtimox ( Nif ) and benznidazole ( Bz ), both of which have limited efficacy in the late chronic phase and induce severe side effects. This scenario justifies the continuous search for alternative drugs, and in this context, the natural naphthoquinone β-lapachone ( β-Lap ) and its derivatives have demonstrated important trypanocidal activities. Unfortunately, the decrease in trypanocidal activity in the blood, high toxicity to mammalian cells and low water solubility of β-Lap limit its systemic administration and, consequently, clinical applications. For this reason, carriers as drug delivery systems can strategically maximize the therapeutic effects of this drug, overcoming the above mentioned restrictions. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to investigate the in vitro anti- T . cruzi effects of β-Lap encapsulated in2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin ( 2HP-β-CD ) and its potential toxicity to mammalian cells.