Amphotericin
B (AmB) is an antifungal agent that poses a challenge
for intravenous drug delivery due to its hydrophobicity and severe
side effects that are attributed to the self-aggregation of AmB in
aqueous solution. To overcome this problem, we have rationally designed
an ionic-liquid-in-water nanoemulsion drug delivery system that harnesses
the unique properties of ionic liquids. The complex drug AmB serves
as a model pharmaceutical agent to demonstrate the robustness of ionic-liquid-in-water
nanoemulsions. High concentrations of AmB were solubilized in a new
hydrophobic dicholinium-based ionic liquid. The absorption spectrum
of AmB in an ionic liquid mixture and prepared nanoemulsion indicates
AmB solubilization in the monomeric form. The hydrophobic ionic liquid
exhibits high in vivo biocompatibility with zebrafish.
The hemolytic activity of the AmB nanoemulsion was negligible, yet
it maintained antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The preliminary results presented in this Communication indicate
that ionic-liquid-in-water nanoemulsions may allow for the delivery
of a variety of pharmaceuticals intravenously, broadening the scope
of ionic liquids in the pharmaceutical sciences.
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