Development and Optimization of a Macrophage-Targeted Nano-Drug Delivery System to Improve Therapeutic Efficacy of Antitubercular Agents
Keywords:
Macrophage targeting, nanoformulation, antitubercular drug delivery, optimization, sustained release, tuberculosis, pharmacokinetics, Box–Behnken design.Abstract
This study aims to develop and optimize a macrophage-targeted nanoformulation to improve the therapeutic effectiveness of antitubercular drugs. A Box–Behnken statistical design was applied to optimize formulation variables for achieving suitable particle size, high drug entrapment, and controlled drug release. The optimized formulation showed good correlation between predicted and experimental results, indicating reliable model performance. In-vitro investigations demonstrated sustained drug release governed mainly by diffusion mechanisms, while cytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies confirmed good biocompatibility and efficient macrophage uptake. In-vivo studies further indicated improved pharmacokinetic behavior, enhanced bioavailability, and lower hepatotoxicity compared with the free drug. These findings suggest that the developed nanoformulation could serve as a promising strategy for targeted and safer tuberculosis therapy
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