Abstract

In this study, fluconazole (FLZ) loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared with two different formulations consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA-rhamnolipid (R) in order to improve antibiofilm activity against Candida albicans ATCC 90028. The encapsulation efficiency, drug loading capacity, in-vitro release, characterization and antibiofilm activity of these formulations were compared. Characterization of NPs were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Zetasizer. Drug loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency percentages were measured by spectrophotometric method. PLGA-NPs were spherical in shape with mean sizes of ~300 nm and surface charge of FLZ loaded PVA and PVA-R-PLGA NPs -25,9±1.99, -48,1±2.46, respectively. Sustained release of FLZ (≥60% after 6 h) were obtained in PVA-R PLGA-NPs. The encapsulation efficiency percentages of PVA-FLZ-PLGA and PVA-R-FLZ-PLGA were 50% and 85%, respectively. Antibiofilm inhibition percentages are 55% and 63%, respectively. These results show that the PVA-R-FLZ-PLGA drug delivery system is a new therapeutic approach that can be used in infections caused by C. albicans.