NANOTECHNOLOGY-BASED APPROACHES FOR VORICONAZOLE DELIVERY APPLIED TO INVASIVE FUNGAL INFECTIONS

Fungal infections pose an increasing threat to public health worldwide, and some fungal species can cause life-threatening illnesses. Individuals with weakened immune systems are at higher risk, and if left untreated, systemic fungal infections can be fatal.

Mycoses are categorized into superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous, and systemic forms. The most prevalent fungal infections include Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus. Antifungal drugs are typically used for treatment, but limitations such as decreased susceptibility and adverse effects exist. Voriconazole (VCZ) is a commonly used drug, but it has limitations due to inter-individual variation and toxicity.

Researchers have explored nanoparticles as a potential antifungal therapy, which can enhance drug properties such as water solubility and stability, bioavailability, tissue penetration, efficacy, and reduced toxicity. Nanoparticles can also maintain a balanced drug plasma level within the therapeutic range and enhance the antifungal inhibition profile even at lower concentrations than conventional antifungals. Therefore, developing nanotechnology-based systems for delivering VCZ could be a promising strategy for managing fungal infections.

To read more, click here