Chitosan Loaded into a Hydrogel Delivery System as a Strategy to Treat Vaginal Co-Infection

Abstract

Polymeric hydrogels are common dosage forms designed for the topical administration of antimicrobial drugs to treat vaginal infections. One of the major advantages of using chitosan in these formulations is related to the intrinsic and broad antimicrobial activity exerted on bacteria and fungi by this natural polymer. Most vaginal yeast infections are caused by the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. However, despite the anti-Candida activity towards and strains susceptibility to low molecular weight chitosan being documented, no information is available regarding the antimicrobial efficacy of mixed hydrogels in which chitosan is dispersed in a polymeric matrix. Therefore, the aim of the study is to evaluate the anti-Candida activity against eight different albicans and non-albicans strains of a mixed hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)/chitosan hydrogel. Importantly, chitosan was dispersed in HPMC matrix either assembled in nanoparticles or in a monomolecular state to eventually correlate any variation in terms of rheological and mucoadhesive properties, as well as anti-Candida activity, with the chitosan form. Hydrogels containing 1% w/w chitosan, either as free polymer chain or assembled in nanoparticles, showed an improved mucoadhesiveness and an anti-Candida effect against all tested albicans and non-albicans strains. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of preparing HPMC/CS mixed hydrogels intended for the prevention and treatment of Candida infections after vaginal administration.

Chitosan Nanocarrier Entrapping Hydrophilic Drugs as Advanced Polymeric System for Dual Pharmaceutical and Cosmeceutical Application: A Comprehensive Analysis Using Box-Behnken Design

“…This result was in agreement with Bing Hu et al [ 55 ], who suggested that PS decreased linearly with increasing CS: TPP mass ratio. This phenomenon was also witnessed by Papadimitriou et al [ 56 ], Aziz et al [ 57 ], Leelapornpisid et al [ 58 ], and Perinelli et al [ 59 ] who elucidated that at smaller CS: TPP mass ratios, the amount of TPP was in excess, linking the nanoparticles together to form larger particles. This effect was further augmented upon increasing the pH of the CS solution, due to the decreased protonation of CS molecules leading to decreased crosslinking ability with TPP.…”

Current Advances in Chitosan Nanoparticles Based Drug Delivery and Targeting

“…They found that these improved the mucoadhesiveness and improved the effect against the co-infection which concluded that this system is a feasible method for the treatment for the vaginal co-infection. 66 Beatriz et al prepared clotrimazole loaded into poly (d,l-lactide- co -glycolide)-chitosan-NPs for treatment of vaginal infections generated by Candida albicans . They found that chitosan enhanced the antifungal activity and mucoadhesive properties thereby coming up as a potential treatment for vaginal applications.…”

Localized Therapy of Vaginal Infections and Inflammation: Liposomes-In-Hydrogel Delivery System for Polyphenols

“…Moreover, by using natural-origin polymers such as chitosan, their biocompatibility and safety is improving; chitosan is especially attractive due to its intrinsic biological properties. Furthermore, chitosan can provide a controlled release of incorporated active ingredient, and combined with its mucoadhesive properties and intrinsic antimicrobial activity, chitosan appears as an excellent excipient in vaginal drug delivery [ 18 , 19 ]. The combination of two delivery systems ( Figure 1 ), one enabling the incorporation of poorly soluble substances (liposomes) and another assuring the prolonged contact time at the site of drug action (hydrogels), represents a novel and promising approach in optimization of localized drug therapy, particularly suitable for vaginal administration.…”