Drug delivery systems based on micelles and gels of poloxamines and miltefosine-cyclodextrin complexes for the treatment of leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease with high morbidity and mortality, considered the second leading cause of death worldwide by a parasitic agent after malaria. The available drugs against this infection exhibit high toxicity and long duration schedules, drawbacks that can be overcome with adequate formulations. Poloxamines (Tetronic®), a family of amphiphilic block-copolymers with temperature and pH-responsiveness, are able to encapsulate to a great extent Miltefosine (MF), a phospholipid with activity against various parasite species, including leishnmania. Our objective is the elucidation by SANS of the structure of the micelles and gels of Tetronic loaded with complexes of MF with cyclodextrins, with which the drug forms very stable associations, as part of a research project aimed to the design of new drug delivery systems for the treatment of tropical neglected diseases.