Leon Perez – Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia
Claudia Marcela Parra Giraldo – Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain
Andres Ceballos – Universidad del Rosario, Colombia
Colombia and LATAM
Innovative platforms
Mucor circinelloides
This project aims to develop a topical/inhalable nanoencapsulated Amphotericin B (nAmB) formulation for prophylaxis and treatment of mucormycosis, a lethal fungal infection caused by Mucorales, with mortality usually exceeding 50%. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where AmB formulations are often inaccessible, this infection progresses rapidly, making early intervention critical. Our nanoencapsulation technology addresses this gap by enhancing AmB’s bioavailability and safety while enabling topical deployment in high-risk anatomical sites (skin and mucosa).
Preliminary data demonstrate that a polymeric micelle-based nAmB achieves 4–256× lower MICs against Mucor circinelloides (including AmB-resistant strains) and reduces hemotoxicity compared to conventional AmB.
Building on this, we will:
i) Optimize an nAmB formulation for stable, low-cost production.
ii) Evaluate prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in an ex vivo model, focusing on burn-associated skin and nasal mucosa infections.
The dual prophylactic-therapeutic design is pivotal: when applied early, nAmB could prevent infection in burns/trauma patients; when used therapeutically, it may halt Mucorales’ rapid angioinvasion. By circumventing systemic AmB’s limitations (cost, toxicity, infrastructure demands), this approach could significantly benefit LMICs by providing a more effective, accessible, and less toxic alternative to current treatments, potentially reducing the high mortality rates associated with this deadly fungal infection.
