Efficient Treatment of Fish Intestinal Parasites Applying Biocompatible Membrane-penetrating Oral Drug Delivery Nanoparticles

Abstract Nanodelivery of drugs aims to ensure drug stability in the face of adverse biochemical conditions in the course of administration, concomitant with appropriate pharmacological action provided by delivery at the targeted site. In this study, the application potential of nanoparticles produced with biopolymers chitosan-N-arginine and alginate as an oral drug delivery material is evaluated. Being both macromolecules weak polyelectrolytes, the bioparticle presents strong thermodynamic interaction with a biological model membrane consisting of charged lipid liposome bilayer, leading to membrane disruption and membrane penetration of the bioparticles in ideal conditions of pH corresponding to the oral route. The powder form of the bioparticle was obtained by lyophilization and with a high percentage of entrapment of the anthelmintic drug praziquantel. In vivo studies were conducted with oral administration to Corydoras schwartzi fish with high intensity of intestinal parasites infection. The in vivo experiments confirmed the mucoadhesive and revealed membrane-penetrating properties of the bioparticle by translocating the parasite cyst, which provided target drug release and reduction of over 97% of the fish intestinal parasites. Thus, it was evidenced that the bioparticle was effective in transporting and releasing the drug to the target, providing an efficient treatment.