Amphotericin B loaded sulfonated chitosan nanoparticles for targeting macrophages to treat intracellular Candida glabrata infections.

The current study assesses the potential of functionalised chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) for proficient macrophage delivery of amphotericin B (AmpB) for the management of Candida glabrata fungemia. Chitosan was functionalised by the method of sulfation by using chlorosulfonic acid and the developed compound was confirmed by FTIR, 1 H NMR and degree of sulfation and CHNS analysis. Amphotericin B encapsulated sulfated chitosan (AmpB-SCNPs), when characterized showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 310 ± 14 nm and zeta potential of 41.5 ± 2 mV. The safety of AmpB-SCNPs was established by the alamar cytotoxicity assay in nanoparticle treated macrophages following 24 h incubation. The AmpB-SCNPs showed a significant increase in the reduction of C. glabrata in comparison with the bare AmpB and AmpB-CNPs (55.2 and 42.7 vs 11.12 cfu/ml) indicating that AmpB-SCNPs could be a promising carrier for specific delivery of AmpB to macrophages for effective treatment of Candida glabrata fungemia.