Polymeric nanoparticles containing combination antiretroviral drugs for HIV type 1 treatment

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2013 May;29(5):746-54. doi: 10.1089/aid.2012.0301. Epub 2013 Feb 1.

Abstract

The use of combination antiretroviral nanoparticles (cART NPs) was investigated as a novel treatment approach for the inhibition of HIV-1 replication. We developed nanoparticles of biodegradable polymer, poly-(dl-lactide-co-glycolic acid; PLGA) containing efavirenz (EFV) and boosted lopinavir (lopinavir/ritonavir; LPV/r) by a high-pressure homogenization method. The method resulted in >79% drug entrapment efficiency for each of the three drugs. The average size of cART NPs was 138.3±55.4 nm as measured by dynamic light scanning, confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an average surface charge of -13.7±4.5. Lissamine-rhodamine-labeled fluorescent PLGA NPs exhibited efficient uptake in nonimmune (HeLa cells) and immune (H9 T cells) cells as measured by confocal microscopy. Cells treated with cART NPs resulted in minimal loss of cell viability over 28 days. Subcellular fractionation studies demonstrated that HIV-1-infected H9 monocytic cells treated with cART NPs contained significantly (p<0.05) higher nuclear, cytoskeleton, and membrane antiretroviral drug levels compared to cells treated with drug solutions alone. Finally, cART NPs efficiently inhibited HIV-1 infection and transduction. The IC50 for each of the three drugs in the cART NPs was <31 nM. These experiments demonstrate the efficacy of a novel PLGA NPs formulation for the delivery of cART to inhibit HIV-1 replication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkynes
  • Anti-HIV Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzoxazines / administration & dosage
  • Benzoxazines / therapeutic use
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cyclopropanes
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HeLa Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lactic Acid
  • Lopinavir / administration & dosage
  • Lopinavir / therapeutic use
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • U937 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Alkynes
  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Benzoxazines
  • Cyclopropanes
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Lopinavir
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid
  • efavirenz