J Appl Biomed 14:105-112, 2016 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2015.04.006

Enhanced anti-inflammatory benefits of meloxicam-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules in a mouse pleurisy model: A comparative study with a free form drug

Francine Rodrigues Ianiski^a, Fernanda D'Avila da Silva^a, Ethel Antunes Wilhelm^b,*, Renata Streck Fernandes^a, Marta Palma Alves^c, Marta Maria Mederios Frescura Duarte^d, Cristiane Luchese^b,*

^a Programa de Pós Graduação em Nanociências, Centro Universitário Franciscano, CEP: 97010-032, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

^b Centro de Ciências Químicas, Farmacêuticas e de Alimentos, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, CEP: 96010-900, RS, Brazil

^c Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, CEP: 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

^d Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

The development of new treatments for inflammation continues to be of high interest, since long-acting effect is critical for patients. We investigated whether meloxicam-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules (M-NC) have an anti-inflammatory action superior to a free drug (M-F) on a mouse pleurisy model, by analyzing the time-course of leukocytes migration in the pleural fluid. Male adult Swiss mice were divided into six groups for each time (24; 48 and 72 h) and were pretreated with blank nanocapsules (17 ml/kg) or M-NC (5 mg/kg) or free meloxicam (M-F) (5 mg/kg). After pretreatments, mice received saline (0.9%) or carrageenan (Cg) (1%) into pleural cavity. Four hours after Cg or saline administration, animals were killed, pleural cavity was washed and pleural fluid was collected for the determination of total leukocytes. Cytokines levels, differential leukocyte count and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels were determined only at 48 h of pretreatment, which had effect on total leukocyte count. M-NC were effective against the increase in total and differential leukocyte counts and pleural exudate caused by Cg, while M-F had no effect. M-NC had superior effect to M-F against the increase in cytokines and AGP levels induced by Cg. In summary, M-NC had a superior anti-inflammatory effect to free drug in Cg-induced pleurisy, supporting the idea that the inflammatory process in tissues facilitates the vectorization of polymeric nanoparticles.

Keywords: Inflammation; Pleurisy; Nanoparticles; Cytokines; Meloxicam

Received: January 22, 2015; Revised: April 27, 2015; Accepted: April 30, 2015; Published: April 1, 2016  Show citation