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Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems as Emerging Tools to Overcome Antifungal Resistance
Lide Arana1, Andrea Guridi2, Elena Sevillano2
1Department of Applied Chemistry, University of the Basque Country EHU, 20018 Donostia, Spain.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Lipid-based drug delivery systems (LDDSs) offer a promising strategy to combat rising antifungal resistance. These systems enhance drug efficacy and overcome resistance mechanisms in fungal infections.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Fungal infections pose a growing global health threat due to increasing incidence and multidrug-resistant strains.
- Therapeutic challenges include drug target mutations, efflux pumps, biofilm tolerance, and limited new antifungal development.
- Antifungal resistance necessitates novel therapeutic strategies and improved epidemiological surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of lipid-based drug delivery systems (LDDSs) for optimizing antifungal administration.
- To explore how LDDSs can overcome key antifungal resistance mechanisms.
- To highlight LDDSs as a strategy against challenging fungal infections.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on fungal infections, antifungal resistance, and lipid-based drug delivery systems.
- Discussion of various LDDS formulations including liposomes (LPs), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).
- Analysis of the physicochemical properties and biological advantages of LDDSs in antifungal therapy.
Main Results:
- LDDSs exhibit high biocompatibility, stability, and controlled release properties.
- Nanoscale properties of LDDSs facilitate biofilm penetration, enhance intracellular uptake, and reduce efflux pump activity.
- LDDSs improve drug bioavailability, reduce toxicity, and promote tissue accumulation.
Conclusions:
- LDDSs represent a versatile strategy to enhance antifungal drug efficacy and overcome resistance.
- These systems show potential in treating both superficial and invasive fungal infections, especially those caused by resistant pathogens.
- Further development of LDDSs is crucial to expand the therapeutic arsenal against fungal diseases.
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