Antifungal activity of amphotericin B cochleates against Candida albicans infection in a mouse model

Cochleates are lipid-based supramolecular assemblies composed of natural pr oducts, negatively charged phospholipid, and a divalent cation, Cochleates can encapsulate amphotericin B (AmB), an important antifungal drug. AmB coc hleates (CAMB) have a unique shape and the ability to target AmB to fungi. The minimal inhibitory concentration and the minimum lethal concentration a gainst Candida albicans are similar to that for desoxycholate AmB (DAMB; Fu ngizone), In vitro, CARIB induced no hemolysis of human red blood cells at concentrations of as high as 500 mu g of AmB/ml, and DAMB was highly hemoly tic at 10 mu g of AmB/ml. CAMB protect ICR mice infected with C, albicans w hen the agent is administered intraperitoneally at doses of as low as 0.1 m g/kg/day, In a tissue burden study, CAMB, DAME, and AmBisome (liposomal AmB ; LAMB) were effective in the kidneys, but in the spleen CARIB was more pot ent than DAMB at 1 mg/kg/day and was equivalent to LAMB at 10 mg/kg/day, In summary, CAMB are highly effective in treating murine candidiasis and comp are well with AmBisome and AmB.