Transdermal delivery of amphotericin B, a pharmacologic agent with activity against fungi and parasitic protozoa, is a challenge since amphotericin B exhibits poor solubility in aqueous solutions at physiologic pH values. In this study, we have used a laser-based printing approach known as matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation to print amphotericin B on the surfaces of polyglycolic acid microneedles that were prepared using a combination of injection molding and drawing lithography. In a modified agar disk diffusion assay, the amphotericin B-loaded microneedles showed concentration-dependent activity against the yeast Candida albicans. The results of this study suggest that matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation may be used to print amphotericin B and other drugs that with complex solubility issues on the surfaces of microneedles.

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A mixture of microflora, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, are found in burns and traumatic wounds. In this study, piezoelectric inkjet printing was used to apply an antifungal agent, amphotericin B, and an antibacterial agent, azithromycin, to the surfaces of gauze, silicon, and aluminum. The in vitro disk diffusion assay was performed on the unmodified, dimethyl sulfoxide vehicle-modified, azithromycinmodified, and amphotericin B-modified surfaces. Unlike the unmodified and dimethyl sulfoxide vehicle-modified surfaces, the amphotericin B-modified surfaces showed antifungal activity against C. albicans; the azithromycin-modified surfaces showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and P. aeruginosa. The dimethyl sulfoxide vehicle-modified surface did not show activity against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, or C. albicans. The results indicate that piezoelectric inkjet printing may be useful for loading gauze with both antibacterial and antifungal pharmacologic agents with poor solubility in aqueous solutions for the treatment of mixed wounds.