title: Polymeric colloidal particulate systems: intelligent tools for intracellular targeting of antileishmanial cargos.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Targeted cargo delivery systems can overcome drawbacks associated with antileishmanials delivery, by defeating challenges of physiological barriers. Various colloidal particulate systems have been developed in the past; few of them even achieved success in the market, but still are limited in some ways.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review is focused on the pathobiology of leishmaniasis, interactions of particulate systems with biological environment, targeting strategies along with current conventional and vaccine therapies with special emphasis on polymeric nanotechnology for effective antileishmanial cargo delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The problems concerned with limited accessibility of chemotherapeutic cargos in conventional modes to Leishmania-harboring macrophages, their toxicity, and resistant parasitic strain development can be sorted out through target-specific delivery of cargos. Vaccination is another therapeutic approach employing antigen alone or adjuvant combinations delivered by means of a carrier, and can provide preventive measures against human leishmaniasis (HL). Therefore, there is an urgent need of designing site-specific antileishmanial cargo carriers for safe and effective management of HL. Among various colloidal carriers, polymeric particulate systems hold tremendous potential as an effective delivery tool by providing control over spatial and temporal distribution of cargos after systemic or localized administration along with enhancing their stability profile at a comparatively cost-effective price leading to improved chances of commercial applicability.
authors.affiliation: CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, CDRI communication No. 8523, Pharmaceutics Division , Lucknow-226031, UP , India +91 522 2612411 18 ; +91 522 2623405 ; manish_chourasia@cdri.res.in.
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asthana
authors.forename: Pramod K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Mohini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaurasia
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dube
authors.forename: Manish K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chourasia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003102:Colloids; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D003102:Colloids; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers