Carboxymethyl starch: biocompatible carrier for controlled release of artemisinin and peschiera fuschiaefolia antimalaria combination

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Malaria, an infectious disease, is still one of the major causes of mortality. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated about 219 million cases of malaria and up to 1.2 million deaths, mostly among children in Africa. Karici Diagnostics, a Canadian company specialized in diagnostic and treatment of infectious diseases, developed antimalaria natural agents extracted from plant Peschiera fuschiaefolia (Pf). Recently, Karici Diagnostic approached the Artemisinin combination therapy, answering to a need of the WHO, and advanced the hypothesis that the association of Pf and Artemisinin can improve the antimalarial activity, particularly for multidrug resistant strains. Exciting experimental in vitro data were often followed by disappointing in vivo results because of the insufficient concentration of drug due to poor water solubility, low absorption and undesirable accumulation often with harmful side effects. To overcome these problems, Karici Diagnostic investigated in collaboration with UQÀM the development of suitable drug carrier system. This system is mainly based on a starch derivative used as support to protect these bioactive agents during stomach transit and to transport them at the absorption sites. The technology concept consists in adding carboxyl groups onto the starch chain in order to promote the formation of a compact gel-like structure expected to be mechanically stable in acidic biological medium. This biomaterial is novel for pharmaceutical sustained release forms. Since the proposed antimalarial agents are natural and their association is novel, there are not standard methods to measure these bioactive agents. For this reason, the challenges in the present project concern not only the development of suitable carriers, but also to propose new analytical methods to quantitatively determine the active Pf alone and the Artemisinin/Pf combination. In addition to the economic benefits for the partner company, the present project also enables the formation of highly qualified personel and students training making their knowledge more relevant to their future professional career.