The objective of this study was to engineer a model anti-HIV microbicide (Tenofovir) loaded chitosan based nanoparticles (NPs). Box-Behnken design allowed to assess the influence of formulation variables on the size of NPs and drug encapsulation efficiency (EE%) that were analyzed by dynamic light scattering and UV spectroscopy, respectively. The effect of the NPs on vaginal epithelial cells and Lactobacillus crispatus viability and their mucoadhesion to porcine vaginal tissue were assessed by cytotoxicity assays and fluorimetry, respectively. In the optimal aqueous conditions, the EE% and NPs size was 5.83% and 207.97nm, respectively. With 50% (v/v) ethanol/water as alternative solvent, these two responses increased to 20% and 602 nm, respectively. Drug release from medium (281 nm) and large size (602 nm)-sized NPs fitted the Higuchi (r2=0.991) and first-order release (r2=0.999) models, respectively. These NPs were not cytotoxic to both the vaginal epithelial cell line and Lactobacillus for 48 hours. When the diameter of the NPs decreased from 900 nm to 188 nm, the mucoadhesion increased from 6% to 12%. However, the combinatorial effect of EE% × mucoadhesion for larger size NPs was the highest. Overall, large-size, microbicide loaded chitosan NPs appeared to be promising nanomedicines for the prevention of HIV transmission.

This study is designed to test the hypothesis that Tenofovir(TNF)ortenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) loaded nanoparticles (NPs)prepared with a blend of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and methacrylic acid copolymer (Eudragit® S-100, or S-100)are noncytotoxic and exhibit significant pH-responsive release of anti-HIV microbicides in presence of human semen. After NPs preparation by emulsification diffusion, their size, encapsulation efficiency (EE%), drug release profile, morphology, and cytotoxicity are characterized by dynamic light scattering, spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, and cellular viability assay/transepithelial electrical resistance measurement, respectively. Cellular uptake was elucidated by fluorescence spectroscopy and confocal microscopy. The NP shavean average size of 250 nm, maximal EE% of 16.1% and 37.2% for TNF and TDF, respectively. There is a 4-fold increase in the drug release rate from 75% S-100 blendin the presence of semen fluid simulant over 72 hr. At a concentration up to 10 mg/ml, the PLGA/S-100 NPs are noncytotoxic for 48 hr to vaginal endocervical/epithelial cells and Lactobacillus crispatus. The particle uptake (~50% in 24hr.) by these vaginal cell lines mostly occurred through caveolin-mediated pathway. These data suggest the promise of using PLGA/S-100 NP as an alternative controlled drug delivery system in intravaginal delivery of an anti-HIV/AIDS microbicide.

The objective of this study is to engineer polylysine–heparin functionalized solid lipid nanoparticles (fSLNs) for the use of a vaginal microbicide delivery template for HIV prevention. The fSLNs are prepared using a modified phase-inversion technique followed by a layer-by-layer deposition method. The Box–Behnken experimental design is used to analyze the influence of three factors (X1 = bovine serum albumin concentration, X2 = pH of the aqueous phase, and X3 = lipid amount) on the particle mean diameter (PMD) measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Tenofovir is used as a model anti-HIV microbicide. The SLNs are also characterized for morphology, zeta potential (ζ), percent drug encapsulation efficiency (EE%), and cytotoxicity on a human vaginal epithelial cell line by electron microscopy, DLS, ultraviolet, and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The statistical model predicts particle size (Y) with 90% confidence and the Y values are significantly affected by X1 and X2. The produced fSLNs appear noncytotoxic and exhibit a platelet-like shape with respective PMD, EE%, and ζ value of 153 nm, 8.3%, and −51mV. These fSLNs intended to be administered topically have the potential to enhance cellular uptake of hydrophobic microbicides and outdistance the virus during the HIV/AIDS infection process, possibly leading to more effective prevention of the disease transmission.