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

Abstract

Abstract Patients affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis need a topical treatment which cures lesions without leaving scars. Lesions are produced not only by the parasite but also by an uncontrolled and persistent inflammatory immune response. In this study, we proposed the loading of β-lapachone (β- LP) in lecithin-chitosan nanoparticles (NP) for targeting the drug to the dermis, where infected macrophages reside, and promote wound healing. The loading of β-LP in lecithin-chitosan NP was critical to achieve important drug accumulation in the dermis and permeation through the skin. In addition, it did not influence the drug antileishmanial activity. When topically applied in L. major infected BALB/c mice, 2 β-LP NP achieved no parasite reduction but they stopped the lesion progression. Immuno-histopatological assays in CL lesions and quantitative mRNA studies in draining lymph nodes confirmed that β-LP exhibited anti-inflammatory activity leading to the downregulation of IL-1β and COX-2 expression and a decrease of neutrophils infiltrate.