Slow release anti-fungal skin formulations based on citric acid intercalated layered double hydroxides nanohybrids

Abstract

BackgroundDuring the past few decades, the occurrence of superficial fungal infections has rapidly increased. As the fungal infections take longer time to get cured, concepts such as designing drugs with extended persistence and controlled release have gained attention. In this context, nanotechnology has been identified as the latest technological revolution which has opened up new pathways for designing new therapeutic materials. Out of the many available nano-structures layered double hydroxides have gained increased scientific attention in applications as slow and controlled release drug formulations. This study focuses on the encapsulation of citric acid which has anti-fungal properties into a Mg-Al- layered double hydroxide (LDH) in order to be used as slow release topical skin formulations.ResultsCitrate ions were encapsulated into Mg-Al LDH using one step co-precipitation reaction. The successful intercalation of citrate ions into the layered structure has been proved referring to the expansion in the interlayer spacing as observed by the shift in the basal peak of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy data suggests the change in the electron density around the carboxylate groups of the citrate ion thus providing evidences for formation of encapsulated hybrid composite. The resulting nanohybrid has been then, introduced into a general body cream formulation containing cocoa-butter. Both citrate LDH and the resulting body cream formulations demonstrated prolonged slow release characteristics up to 8 h in aqueous medium under different pH values (3, 4, and 5) compared to quick and fast release of pure citric acid. It was observed that the slow reelase was most efficient at low pH values. The encapsulation between the nano-layers and citrate ions are the key to the slow release characteristics. The body cream has been tested for the anti-fungal activity against three common Candida species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis). The novel nanohybrid has shown an improved activity and slow release characteristics up to 48 h against the C. albicans and C. glabrata but not for C. tropicalis.ConclusionThe study confirms that the citrate ion intercalated LDHs have the potential for use in future slow release antifungal drug formulation.Graphical AbstractSlow release nanohybrids based on citrate intercalated layered double hydroxides

Candida glabrata Biofilms: How Far Have We Come?

“…For this purpose, nanotechnology creates new possibilities. For example, Perera et al [ 272 ] evaluated the encapsulation of citric acid into a Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH). Citric acid has antifungal properties and its encapsulation would allow its slow release in topical skin formulations.…”

Effect of natural curcuminoids‐intercalated layered double hydroxide nanohybrid against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis: A bactericidal, antibiofilm, and mechanistic study

“…Its controlled-release properties make it a valuable choice for biological and pharmaceutical applications. In the fields of biomedical applications, different types of LDH have been exploited for drug delivery, which have reached an advanced level of clinical trials and use because of their local sustained release and high intrinsic pharmacological activity compared with other conventional drugs (Ladewig, Niebert, Xu, Gray, & Lu, 2010;Ladewig, Xu, & Lu, 2009;Megalathan et al, 2016;Perera, Weerasekera, & Kottegoda, 2015). One such study is an encapsulation of natural curcuminoids to layered double hydroxides (Samindra & Kottegoda, 2014).…”

Natural curcuminoids encapsulated in layered double hydroxides: a novel antimicrobial nanohybrid

“…A recent attempt has been made to evaluate the anticancer activity of curcumin—LDH [ 15 ]. Perera et al [ 16 ] have also reported the potential of citrate intercalated LDH as an antimicrobial active formulation in body lotions and have verified its activity against Candida species . In recent literature Shafiei et al [ 17 ] have reported the successful encapsulation of epigallocatechin gallate into layered double hydroxide and it’s in vitro anti-tumor properties.…”