Current applications and prospects of nanoparticles for antifungal drug delivery

Abstract

Currently, the significance of fungi as human pathogens is not medically concealed in the world. Consequently, suitable recognition and treatment of such infections are of great importance and necessitate the need for comprehensive information in this regard. The introduction of new antifungals and their use today, especially in the last two decades, have revolutionized the treatment of fungal infections. On the other hand, increasing drug resistance in the world has overshadowed such developments. The use of NPs results in the treatment of fungal infections and owing to their specific properties, these particles, unlike the pure antibiotics, can exert a greater inhibitory power although with less concentration compared with conventional drugs. Important reasons that have led to the use of antifungal drugs in delivery systems include reduced drug efficacy, limited penetration through tissue, poor aqueous solubility, decreased bioavailability, and poor drug pharmacokinetics. It is therefore hoped that unfavorable properties of antifungal drugs be mitigated via their incorporation into different types of NPs. This review summarizes the different types of NPs as delivery systems of antifungal as well as their advantages over pure drugs.

Keywords: antifungal drug; drug delivery; nanoparticles.

Table 1. Studies conducted in nanoparticles for antifungal drugs delivery

Figure 1. Different types of nano carriers for drug delivery

Figure 2. Liposomes are bilayered vesicles having an aqueous core and one or more concentric phospholipid membranes. This structure allows liposomes to act as effective delivery systems for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs.

Figure 3. NPs can overcome many of the unfavorable drug properties through virtue of their versatility, multifunctionality and wide range of properties.