Investigation of anti-leishmanial efficacy of miltefosine and ketoconazole loaded on nanoniosomes

[Display omitted] •Miltefosine- and ketoconazole-loaded nanoniosomes were prepared.•Anti-leishmanial effects of the nanoniosomes were evaluated against Leishmania major.•The nanoniosomes were improved anti-leishmanial agents for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is a group of parasitic disease caused by protozoa of Leishmania genus. Leishmania major accounts for the cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The current treatments of this disease are expensive with high toxicity and are associated to difficulties of healing and parasite resistance. Miltefosine and ketoconazole have been found to be effective against CL. In this study, miltefosine- and ketoconazole-loaded nanoniosomes were prepared by the thin film-hydration method, and their anti-leishmanial effects against Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes were evaluated. The particle size and zeta potential of the nanoniosomes were determined. Release from the formulations showed enhanced and controlled dissolution of the drugs. The miltefosine- and ketoconazole-loaded nanoniosomes inhibited the growth of promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania major in vitro after 48 h of incubation and had IC50 values of 53.39 ± 0.02 and 86.38 ± 0.07 μg mL−1, respectively. The formulations provided improved anti-leishmanial activities for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.