Biodegradable gentamicin delivery systems for parenteral use for the treatment of intracellular bacterial infections

Biodegradable gentamicin delivery systems for parenteral use for the treatment of intracellular bacterial infections

November 2007, Vol. 4, No. 6, Pages 677-688
(doi:10.1517/17425247.4.6.677)

Carlos Gamazo‌1 PhD, Biology, Full Professor of Microbiology, Vice Chairman of Department Council of Microbiology, Sandra Prior‌1 PhD, Pharmacy, María Concepción Lecároz‌1 PhD, Pharmacy, Ana Isabel Vitas‌1 PhD, Biology, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Miguel Angel Campanero‌2 PhD, Pharmacy, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Guiomar Pérez‌2,3, Master in Science, Biology, David Gonzalez‌3 PhD, Biology, Associate Professor of Microbiology & María Jose Blanco-Prieto‌3 PhD, Pharmacy, Research Scientist, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology

1University of Navarra, Department of Microbiology, 31080 Pamplona, Spain +34 948 425 688; +34 948 425 649; cgamazo@unav.es

2Clínica Universitaria, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
3University of Navarra, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
† Author for correspondence

Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside with a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity. However, as a highly water-soluble drug, it penetrates cells poorly. This constitutes a particularly important drawback for treating intracellular bacterial infections. This major hurdle may be solved by the use of vectors to deliver and target bioactive agents to the intracellular sites of infection. Thus, in the case of antimicrobials, drug delivery systems may help to increase their therapeutic index in intracellular locations. The development and evolution of pharmaceutical forms of gentamicin for the parenteral treatment of intracellular pathogens is reviewed in this paper.

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