Objectives: The purpose of this investigation is the study of toxicity, in vivo distribution and therapeutic activity against candidiasis of poly-aggregated amphotericin B, in two different formulations: not microencapsulated (P-AMB) or incorporated in albumin microspheres (MP-AMB).
Methods: The therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of amphotericin B formulations was studied in an immunocompetent murine model of systemic candidiasis. A pharmacokinetic study was also performed to measure the plasma, kidney, liver and spleen amphotericin B concentrations after administration of the three formulations to mice.
Results: The acute toxicity of P-AMB in mice is lower than that of the conventional amphotericin B reference formulation (D-AMB). The 50% lethal doses were increased at least eight times. Intravenous bolus administration of doses up to 40 mg/kg of body weight of poly-aggregated amphotericin B, either P-AMB or MP-AMB, did not produce acute symptoms of toxicity. Interestingly, in the pharmacokinetic study, significant (P < 0.05) lower plasma and kidney amphotericin B concentrations and higher liver and spleen amphotericin B concentrations were achieved after poly-aggregated amphotericin B formulation (P-AMB and MP-AMB) administration in relation to the reference formulation (D-AMB). At high amphotericin B doses, no significant differences in efficacy (P > 0.05) were observed among the formulations (D-AMB, P-AMB and MP-AMB).
Conclusions: Although the efficacy in the candidiasis treatment was decreased as a consequence of amphotericin B aggregation, it can be compensated by the possibility of increasing the doses with lower nephrotoxicity. Moreover, due to its lower toxicity while maintaining its effectiveness, the poly-aggregated formulations (P-AMB and MP-AMB) have a better therapeutic index than the conventional formulation (D-AMB).