Skip to main content
CRS 2026 Annual Meeting & Exposition Main banner

Nanomedicine and Nanoscale Delivery (Focus Group – NND)

Amphotericin B-Loaded Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Infected Macrophages for Antileishmanial Therapy

Batuhan Bozkurt – PHD student, Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University (at the time of study); Oguz Kirbas – Postdoctoral researcher, Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University; Mehmet Ucisik – Assistant Prof, Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University (at the time of study); Fikrettin Sahin – Professor, Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University
Introduction:

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites and is endemic in regions including the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. Although Amphotericin B (Amp B) is effective, its clinical use is limited by systemic toxicity and poor selectivity [1,2]. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), naturally involved in host-pathogen communication, offer a biomimetic drug delivery platform [3]. Delivery of Amp B into macrophages was enhanced via EVs derived from Leishmania-infected macrophages. This study focuses on the characterization and antileishmanial activity of Amp B-loaded EVs in L. infantum, as well as in infected and non-infected macrophages.

Learning Objectives:

  • Upon completion, participants will be able to explain isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles.
  • Upon completion, participants will be able to analyze the delivery of drug-loaded EVs for antileishmanial therapy.
  • Upon completion, participants will be able to describe antileishmanial strategies and interpret experiments.