Aim: Pharmacologic agents that affect autophagy were tested for their abilities to enhance macrophage nanoformulated antiretroviral drug (ARV) depots and its slow release.
Methods: These agents included URMC-099, rapamycin, metformin, desmethylclomipramine, 2-hydroxy-β-cyclodextrin (HBC) and clonidine. Each was administered with nanoformulated atazanavir (ATV) nanoparticles to human monocyte-derived macrophages. ARV retention, antiretroviral activity and nanocrystal autophagosomal formation were evaluated.
Results: URMC-099, HBC and clonidine retained ATV. HBC, URMC-099 and rapamycin improved intracellular ATV retention. URMC-099 proved superior among the group in affecting antiretroviral activities.
Conclusion: Autophagy inducing agents, notably URMC-099, facilitate nanoformulated ARV depots and lead to sustained release and improved antiretroviral responses. As such, they may be considered for development as part of long acting antiretroviral treatment regimens.
Keywords: 2-hydroxy-β-cyclodextrin (HBC); URMC-099; autophagy; clonidine; desmethylclomipramine (DMC); long acting slow effective release antiretroviral therapy; metformin; monocyte-derived macrophages; rapamycin.