Nanoparticle Encapsulation for Antiretroviral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract

HIV continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing the global health community. More than 36 million people currently live with HIV and, in 2015 2.1 million new infections were reported globally. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) prevents HIV infection by inhibiting viral entry, replication, or integration at the primary site of pathogenic contraction. Failures of large antiretroviral drug (ARV) PrEP clinical trials indicate the current insufficiencies of PrEP for women in high-risk areas, such as sub-Saharan Africa. A combination of social, adherence, and drug barriers create these insufficiencies and limit the efficacy of ARV. Nanotechnology offers the promise of extended drug release and enhances bioavailability of ARVs when encapsulated in polymeric nano-particles. Nanoparticle encapsulation has been evaluated in vitro in comparative studies to drug solutions and exhibit higher efficacy and lower cytotoxicity profiles. Delivery systems for nanoparticle PrEP facilitate administration of nano-encapsulated ARVs to high-risk tissues. In this mini-review, we summarize the comparative nanoparticle and drug solution studies and the potential of two delivery methods: thermosensitive gels and polymeric nanoparticle films for direct prophylactic applications.

Recent Advances in Polymeric Nanoparticle-Encapsulated Drugs against Intracellular Infections

“…It used PNs functionalized with the Fc fragment of IgG to target neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) through an FcRn-mediated transcytosis mechanism so the PNs can finally overstep the intestinal epithelium. Valuable information that may be of interest to the reader have also been reviewed elsewhere regarding nanotherapeutics of leishmaniasis [ 120 , 236 , 237 ], tuberculosis [ 238 , 239 , 240 , 241 , 242 ], viral infections [ 243 , 244 ], HIV [ 245 , 246 , 247 , 248 , 249 ], malaria [ 118 , 250 , 251 , 252 ], infectious diseases [ 4 , 45 , 66 , 253 ], intracellular delivery [ 59 , 60 , 64 , 83 , 254 , 255 ], bacterial pathogens [ 46 , 192 , 256 , 257 , 258 , 259 ] and stimuli-responsive systems [ 15 , 58 , 260 , 261 , 262 ].…”

The Paradox of HIV Blood–Brain Barrier Penetrance and Antiretroviral Drug Delivery Deficiencies

“…Nanotechnology has recently been used in the design, formulation, and delivery of drugs that can overcome these challenges by improving BBB transmigration to increase drug delivery and minimize loss of ART drug load to the brain. A promising direction involves nanotechnology for optimization of molecule shape and size of the conventional ART drugs to achieve a nanoparticle to solve drug solubility and permeability issues [ 81 - 83 ].…”