Advancements in nanoparticle-based therapies for multidrug-resistant candidiasis infections: a comprehensive review

Alireza Izadi1,2, Fatemeh Paknia3, Maryam Roostaee4

  • 1Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.

Nanotechnology
|May 15, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Nanoparticle therapies show promise for treating multidrug-resistant Candida auris infections. This review highlights advancements in nanomaterials for combating this global fungal threat and improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Candida auris is a rapidly emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen with global health implications.
  • Conventional detection and treatment methods for C. auris infections are increasingly challenged by antifungal resistance.
  • The rise of multidrug-resistant fungal infections necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in nanoparticle-based therapies for fungal infections.
  • To emphasize the potential of nanomaterials in combating Candida auris infections.
  • To explore mechanisms of action and applications of nanomaterials against multidrug-resistant fungi.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on nanoparticle-based antifungal therapies.
  • Analysis of various nanomaterials including silver, carbon, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, polymer, and gold.
  • Examination of mechanisms of action and combination strategies of nanomaterials.

Main Results:

  • Nanoparticle-based therapies demonstrate significant potential in treating cutaneous candidiasis.
  • Various nanomaterials show efficacy against multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens.
  • Combination therapies involving nanomaterials offer enhanced antifungal activity.

Conclusions:

  • Nanoparticle-based therapies represent a promising frontier in combating multidrug-resistant fungal infections, particularly Candida auris.
  • Further research into nanomaterial applications can lead to improved clinical outcomes and reduced mortality.
  • This approach offers a new era in targeted and effective antifungal interventions.

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers01:24

Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers

Polymeric carriers enhance targeted drug delivery by increasing efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. These carriers comprise a biodegradable polymeric backbone integrated with functional elements that enable targeting, improve physicochemical properties, and regulate drug release.Targeting MechanismsThe targeting ability of polymeric carriers is mediated by a homing device, which is a molecular recognition component designed to selectively bind to specific tissues or cells. Monoclonal...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...