Nanoparticle phosphate-based composites as vehicles for antimony delivery to macrophages: possible use in leishmaniasis.

Pentavalent antimonial drugs such as N-methylglucamine antimonate (Glucantime®) are used for treating leishmaniasis but produce severe side effects, including cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. We characterized the physicochemical properties of 3 nanoparticle phosphate-based composites (NPCs; NPC0, NPC3, and NPC5) as Sb(v) carriers for specifically targeting macrophages and reducing systemic side effects. NPCs were synthesized in liquid media and sterilized at 25 kGy before use.