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The efficacy of mycolic acid-enhanced PLGA nanoparticles for rifampicin delivery in tuberculosis treatment

Dissertation (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2024.

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Other Authors: Lemmer, Yolandy
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Lemmer, Yolandy
author_browse Lemmer, Yolandy
author_facet Lemmer, Yolandy
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:05.077Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/100438 The efficacy of mycolic acid-enhanced PLGA nanoparticles for rifampicin delivery in tuberculosis treatment Lemmer, Yolandy kruger.goosen@gmail.com Verschoor, Jan Adrianus Goosen, Kruger UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Tuberculosis Rifampicin Nanoencapsulation Guinea pigs Mycolic acids Dissertation (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2024. This study explored the efficacy of nanoparticle-encapsulated rifampicin formulations for treating high Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) bacillary loads using a guinea pig model. Two formulations were compared: rifampicin encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA/RIF) and PLGA/RIF coated with mycolic acid (PLGA/RIF/MA), against traditional rifampicin treatment and control groups. Data obtained from this study will guide optimisation for future drug efficacy testing, particularly for targeted TB treatment. The guinea pig model was chosen due to its physiological and immunological similarities to human TB infection. Detailed investigations included clinical monitoring, macropathological and histopathological assessments, and bacterial load quantification to evaluate treatment efficacy, side effects, and overall animal health. Key findings indicated differences in survival rates, clinical signs of TB progression, and bacterial load reduction among the treatment groups. The PLGA/RIF group showed promising results in terms of survival rates and bacterial load reduction, suggesting potential benefits of nanoparticle-encapsulated drug formulations. However, the addition of mycolic acid in the PLGA/RIF/MA formulation did not significantly enhance treatment outcomes compared to PLGA/RIF alone, highlighting the complexity of optimizing nanoparticle formulations for TB treatment and the need for further research. The study also addressed the challenges of achieving statistical significance in animal model research, particularly in pilot studies with limited sample sizes and high variability. It emphasized the need for method refinement to lower variability and increase method repeatability and reproducibility, leading to more statistically powered studies to confirm preliminary findings and fully assess the efficacy of nanoparticle-encapsulated TB treatments. Additionally, the study recommended serological testing for TB biomarkers as a method for early TB detection in animal models, potentially enabling earlier treatment initiation and providing insights into infection dynamics and treatment response. Overall, this study laid the groundwork for further exploration of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems in TB treatment. It underscores the considerations in designing targeted drug delivery, the challenges and potential of PLGA as a drug carrier, and the scope for innovative approaches to improve TB treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. Future studies are encouraged to build on these findings, refine animal models, and explore novel early diagnostic methods to advance TB research and treatment. Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM) MSc (Biochemistry) Unrestricted Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences SDG-03: Good health and well-being 2025-02-03T16:20:42Z 2025-02-03T16:20:42Z 2025-05 2024-08 Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100438 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28308791 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Tuberculosis
Rifampicin
Nanoencapsulation
Guinea pigs
Mycolic acids
The efficacy of mycolic acid-enhanced PLGA nanoparticles for rifampicin delivery in tuberculosis treatment
title The efficacy of mycolic acid-enhanced PLGA nanoparticles for rifampicin delivery in tuberculosis treatment
title_full The efficacy of mycolic acid-enhanced PLGA nanoparticles for rifampicin delivery in tuberculosis treatment
title_fullStr The efficacy of mycolic acid-enhanced PLGA nanoparticles for rifampicin delivery in tuberculosis treatment
title_full_unstemmed The efficacy of mycolic acid-enhanced PLGA nanoparticles for rifampicin delivery in tuberculosis treatment
title_short The efficacy of mycolic acid-enhanced PLGA nanoparticles for rifampicin delivery in tuberculosis treatment
title_sort efficacy of mycolic acid enhanced plga nanoparticles for rifampicin delivery in tuberculosis treatment
topic UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Tuberculosis
Rifampicin
Nanoencapsulation
Guinea pigs
Mycolic acids
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100438
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28308791