Submicron oil-in-water emulsion formulations for mefloquine and halofantrine: Effect of electric-charge inducers on antimalarial activity in mice

Abstract

Stearylamine, oleic acid, phosphatidylserine and dicetylphosphate have been studied to determine their capacity to induce electric charge on non-ionic submicron emulsions containing halofantrine and mefloquine. The in-vivo antimalarial activity of drug-loaded emulsions, evaluated in mice, was affected by the nature of the additives used. In particular, the electric-charge inducers markedly affected the pharmacological activity of mefloquine, but not of halofantrine. After subcutaneous administration ED50 values (the doses affording 50% protection) were 3 and 15 mg kg-1, respectively, for halofantrine and mefloquine emulsions without charge inducers. The mefloquine-loaded emulsions with charge inducers were active at 10 mg kg-1 for dicetylphosphate, 17 mg kg-1 for phosphatidylserine, 23 mg kg-1 for oleic acid and 27 mg kg-1 for stearylamine, again after subcutaneous administration. This work has enabled the formulation of stable emulsions, incorporating drugs with high antimalarial activity, which are proposed for parenteral delivery of these fairly soluble drugs.