Drug delivery systems against leishmaniasis? Still an open question

Abstract

Background: Leishmania amastigotes live inside resident macrophages in different anatomic sites. Their hidden location is responsible for impairing the accession of therapeutic drugs. Drug delivery systems (DDSs) should allow the adverse effects caused by problematic routes of administration to be avoided as well as enhancing the antileishmanial activity and reducing the toxicity of the medication. However, after 30 years of research in the field, and since leishmaniasis is mostly a disease affecting the poorest populations, currently AmBisome^® is the only DDS used against the visceral form, and most experimental development only relates to parenteral administration. Objective: We critically review the main DDSs designed against the different clinical forms of leishmaniasis. Methods: A literature search was performed on PubMed and through Google. Conclusions: On reviewing the experimental and clinical therapeutic performance of former and current DDSs and considering the main obstacles to be overcome, we discuss how nanomedicine can contribute to the development of new and more efficient strategies.

Keywords::

• drug delivery systems
• leishmaniasis
• nanomedicine

Acknowledgements

The authors are members of the Carrera del Investigador Científico del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET, Argentina).

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