Macrophages targeting of amphotericin B through mannosylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

The objective of the present investigation was to assess the potential of polysaccharide (mannose) conjugated engineered multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) bearing Amphotericin B (AmB) formulation for site-specific delivery to macrophages. The mannosylated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized and AmB was efficiently loaded using dialysis diffusion method. The synthesized mannosylated MWCNTs were characterized by various physicochemical and physiological parameters such as fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM & TEM), drug loading and entrapment efficiency, in-vitro release kinetics, in-vivo study and toxicological investigation. AmB loaded mannosylated MWCNTs (AmBitubes) was found to be nanometric in size (500 nm) with tubular structure and good entrapment efficiency (75.46 ± 1.40%). In-vitro AmB from AmBitubes was found to be released in a controlled manner at pH 4, 7.4 and 10, with enhanced cell uptake and higher disposition in macrophage-rich organs, thereby indicating the site-specific drug delivery. The results suggest that AmBitubes could be employed as efficient nano-carrier for antileishmanial therapy.