Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is primarily caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans). Here, a novel organoselenium compound (G20) was synthesized and evaluated for anti-Candida activity. Methods: Growth-inhibition studies and medium acidification assays to assess the inhibition of the yeast plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase (Pma1p) were carried out in vitro using G20. A self-nanoemulsifying formulation (SNEP) of G20 was prepared and evaluated for antimycotic activity in a mouse model. Results: G20 inhibited the growth of C. albicans through a mechanism that, at least in part, involves the inhibition of Pma1p. The G20-SNEP formulation significantly reduced vaginal colonization and vaginal inflammation relative to yeast-infected but untreated control mice. Conclusion: G20-SNEP exhibits potent antimycotic activity in a mouse model of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

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Vol. 18, No. 18

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Received 17 December 2022

Accepted 4 August 2023

Published online 19 September 2023

Published in print August 2023

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To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.futuremedicine.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/nnm-2022-0323

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The work presented here was funded by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of St. John's University. K Patel is a member of the Nanomedicine Editorial Board. They were not involved in any editorial decisions related to the publication of this article, and all author details were blinded to the article's peer reviewers as per the journal's double-blind peer review policy. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval and have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all animal experiments.

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Nanoformulation of a novel potent ebselen analog for treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis

Abstract

References