THERAPEUTIC EFFICACIES OF ISONIAZID AND RIFAMPIN ENCAPSULATED IN LUNG-SPECIFIC STEALTH LIPOSOMES AGAINST MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION-INDUCED IN MICE

One recent promising development in the modification of drug formulati ons to improve chemotherapy is the use of a liposome-mediated drug del ivery system. The efficacies of isoniazid and rifampin encapsulated in lung-specific stealth liposomes were evaluated by injecting liposomal drugs and free drugs into tuberculous mice twice a week for 6 weeks. Liposome-encapsulated drugs at and below therapeutic concentrations we re more effective than free drugs against tuberculosis, as evaluated o n the basis of CFUs detected, organomegaly, and histopathology. Furthe rmore, liposomal drugs had marginal hepatotoxicities as determined fro m the levels of total bilirubin and hepatic enzymes in serum. The elim ination of mycobacteria from the liver and spleen was also higher with liposomal drugs than with free drugs. The encapsulation of antituberc ular drugs in lung-specific stealth liposomes seems to be a promising therapeutic approach for the chemotherapy of tuberculosis.