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Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles
Published on: October 8, 2016
Fungal diseases: could nanostructured drug delivery systems be a novel paradigm for therapy?
Aline Raquel Voltan1, Guillermo Quindós2, Kaila P Medina Alarcón3
1Department of Drugs and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
Invasive mycoses are a major problem for immunocompromised individuals and patients in intensive care units. Morbidity and mortality rates of these infections are high because of late diagnosis and delayed treatment. Moreover, the number of available antifungal agents is low, and there are problems with toxicity and resistance. Alternatives for treating invasive fungal infections are necessary. Nanostructured systems could be excellent carriers for antifungal drugs, reducing toxicity and targeting their action. The use of nanostructured systems for antifungal therapy began in the 1990s, with the appearance of lipid formulations of amphotericin B. This review encompasses different antifungal drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, carriers based on solid lipids and nanostructure lipids, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and others. All these delivery systems have advantages and disadvantages. Main advantages are the improvement in the antifungal properties, such as bioavailability, reduction in toxicity, and target tissue, which facilitates innovative therapeutic techniques. Conversely, a major disadvantage is the high cost of production. In the near future, the use of nanosystems for drug delivery strategies can be used for delivering peptides, including mucoadhesive systems for the treatment of oral and vaginal candidiasis.
Insights
Nanostructured systems offer promising alternatives for antifungal drug delivery, improving efficacy and reducing toxicity in invasive fungal infections. These advanced carriers enhance drug bioavailability and targeting, addressing limitations of current treatments.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Invasive mycoses pose significant threats to immunocompromised and critically ill patients.
- High morbidity and mortality rates are linked to delayed diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections.
- Limited antifungal agents, coupled with toxicity and resistance issues, necessitate novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review various nanostructured systems for antifungal drug delivery.
- To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of these nanocarriers.
- To explore future applications of nanosystems in antifungal therapy.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of nanostructured antifungal drug delivery systems.
- Analysis of systems including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, polymeric nanoparticles, and dendrimers.
- Evaluation of reported improvements in antifungal properties and therapeutic outcomes.
Main Results:
- Nanostructured systems demonstrate enhanced antifungal properties, including improved bioavailability and targeted delivery.
- These systems can significantly reduce drug toxicity.
- Lipid formulations of amphotericin B represent an early success in nanostructured antifungal therapy.
Conclusions:
- Nanocarriers offer a viable approach to overcome challenges in treating invasive fungal infections.
- Future applications may include peptide delivery and mucoadhesive systems for candidiasis.
- High production costs remain a significant disadvantage for widespread nanocarrier adoption.
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