Drug delivery systems against leishmaniasis? Still an open question.
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.
Romero
Eder L
EL
Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Programa de Nanomedicinas, Roque Saenz Peña 352, Bernal 1876 BXD, Buenos Aires, Argentina. elromero@unq.edu.ar
Morilla
Maria Jose
MJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000187:drug effects; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008081:Liposomes; D053758:Nanoparticles
D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D008081:Liposomes