amphotericin B
amphotericin B
Overview
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum polyene antifungal agent used for serious systemic fungal infections and, in some settings, for parasitic diseases such as cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is a clinically important drug because of its potent activity against a wide range of pathogenic fungi, including Candida species and invasive molds, and because it remains a key option when infections are severe, refractory, or life-threatening. In the recent literature provided, amphotericin B is described as an FDA-approved therapy with recognized efficacy but also with substantial toxicity concerns, particularly when administered systemically.
Its biological activity is generally attributed to binding ergosterol in fungal cell membranes, leading to membrane disruption and cell death. This mechanism underlies its use against invasive fungal disease, but the same membrane-associated effects also contribute to adverse reactions that have driven the development of improved formulations, especially liposomal amphotericin B. Recent research has continued to focus on balancing efficacy and toxicity through drug delivery innovations, combination therapy, and alternative administration routes.
Recent Publications Focus
Below is a summary of the newest research publications targeting amphotericin B (sorted by publication date).
Recent studies have focused on improving amphotericin B delivery, tolerability, and therapeutic performance through novel formulation strategies. A bioresponsive nanocubosomal in situ gelling system for ophthalmic delivery was developed for fungal keratitis, addressing amphotericin B’s poor aqueous solubility, physiological instability, and pH-dependent aggregation. The optimized formulation showed nanoscale particle size, high entrapment efficiency, colloidal stability, sustained drug release, enhanced antifungal activity against Candida albicans compared with the marketed product Amfocare®, and no ocular irritation in rabbit Draize testing. In a separate CNS-focused study, an HS15-based lecithin/cholesterol nanocomplex was designed for intranasal nose-to-brain delivery of amphotericin B, with the goal of bypassing the blood–brain barrier. This system maintained stable particle characteristics after loading, showed favorable spray and storage stability, increased intracerebral distribution in vivo, and produced minimal mucosal toxicity and nephrotoxicity.
Other publications examined amphotericin B in localized or combination treatment settings. In a mouse model of American cutaneous leishmaniasis, hollow microneedles were used to deliver Fungizone/amphotericin B directly to lesions, with the 20-day treatment regimen limiting lesion growth more strongly than the 10-day regimen and showing reduced parasitic burden after treatment cessation. The study also reported no elevation in serum creatinine or blood urea nitrogen, supporting reduced kidney toxicity. In fungal infection management, a case report of breakthrough invasive pulmonary Coprinopsis cinerea infection described switching antifungal therapy to liposomal amphotericin B, followed by surgical resection and subsequent cord blood transplantation; the report emphasized the importance of tissue diagnosis, molecular identification, and combined medical-surgical management.
Several recent studies also used amphotericin B as a comparator or partner in synergy testing. An in vitro study of Curcuma longa extract against Candida spp. found significant synergistic effects when the extract was combined with amphotericin B, with enhanced inhibition zones relative to the drug alone. Likewise, bisabolane-type sesquiterpenes isolated from a marine-derived Aspergillus species were reported to enhance amphotericin B activity against Candida albicans strains, including standard reference strains and drug-resistant clinical isolates. In another antimicrobial study, benzimidazole-based derivatives were compared with amphotericin B against Candida albicans, and two compounds showed lower MIC values than the reference drug. A photodynamic study of Trichocline plicata extracts against Leishmania amazonensis also noted parasite killing comparable to amphotericin B, placing the plant extract’s activity in the context of a standard antileishmanial agent.
Background PMIDs
- [PMID 42190773]
Method PMIDs
- [PMID 41866895]
- [PMID 42085808]
- [PMID 42215061]
Result PMIDs
- [PMID 42224217]
Target PMIDs
- [PMID 41651325]
- [PMID 41780885]
- [PMID 41831427]
- [PMID 41895473]
- [PMID 42026392]
- [PMID 42066647]
- [PMID 42083326]
- [PMID 42150646]
- [PMID 42409910]