Nanotechnology-Based Approaches for Voriconazole Delivery Applied to Invasive Fungal Infections.

Invasive fungal infections increase mortality and morbidity rates worldwide. The treatment of these infections is still limited due to the low bioavailability and toxicity, requiring therapeutic monitoring, especially in the most severe cases. Voriconazole is an azole widely used to treat invasive aspergillosis, other hyaline molds, many dematiaceous molds, Candida spp., including those resistant to fluconazole, and for infections caused by endemic mycoses, in addition to those that occur in the central nervous system. However, despite its broad activity, using voriconazole has limitations related to its non-linear pharmacokinetics, leading to supratherapeutic doses and increased toxicity according to individual polymorphisms during its metabolism. In this sense, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have successfully improved the physicochemical and biological aspects of different classes of drugs, including antifungals. In this review, we highlighted recent work that has applied nanotechnology to deliver voriconazole. These systems allowed increased permeation and deposition of voriconazole in target tissues from a controlled and sustained release in different routes of administration such as ocular, pulmonary, oral, topical, and parenteral. Thus, nanotechnology application aiming to delivery voriconazole becomes a more effective and safer therapeutic alternative in the treatment of fungal infections.

Chitosan Nanoparticles Potentiate the in vitro and in vivo Effects of Curcumin and other Natural Compounds.

The development of biodegradable nanoparticles is an important tool for the biological transport of chemical compounds. The nanoencapsulation reduces the biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic drawbacks of compounds and enhances their biological properties. Naturally occurring polymers such as proteins and polysaccharides have been widely applied in the development of nanostructured systems of several therapeutic agents. Among them is chitosan, a crustacean-carapace-chitin derived biopolymer. In addition to its biocompatibility and biodegradability, chitosan is known for its mucoadhesion properties. Chitosan-based nanostructured systems potentiate most of the aspects of the loaded drugs, including cellular transport and other biological effects. The use of chitosan nanoparticles enhances permeation, stability, and bioactivity of natural compounds. In this review, an overview of the main features of chitosan nanoparticles that improved in vitro and in vivo effects of bioactive natural molecules is given, emphasizing the results obtained with curcumin.

Nanoparticles as a Tool for Broadening Antifungal Activities.

Fungal infections are diseases that are considered neglected although their infection rates have increased worldwide in the last decades. Thus, since the antifungal arsenal is restricted and many strains have shown resistance, new therapeutic alternatives are necessary. Nanoparticles are considered important alternatives to promote drug delivery. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the contributions of newly developed nanoparticles to the treatment of fungal infections. Studies have shown that nanoparticles generally improve the biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic characteristics of antifungals, which is reflected in a greater pharmacodynamic potential and lower toxicity, as well as the possibility of prolonged action. It also offers the proposition of new routes of administration. Nanotechnology is known to contribute to a new drug delivery system, not only for the control of infectious diseases but for various other diseases as well. In recent years, several studies have emphasized its application in infectious diseases, presenting better alternatives for the treatment of fungal infections.