Development and characterization of arteether-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for the treatment of malaria

Abstract

The purpose of the present work is to improve the antimalarial activity of the drug arteether (AE) by enhancing its solubility, by loading it into a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC). The in vitro drug release profile of the NLC showed 93% drug release in 32 h. Complete eradication of the parasite from the blood and efficient anti-malarial pharmacological activity were observed, with the use of AE-loaded NLCs. These results suggest that nanolipid carriers of AE could be a promising carrier system to deliver the poorly soluble antimalarial drug through the oral route, by enhancing its solubility as well as preventing its degradation in the stomach.