title: Lipid-Based Nanocarriers for Cutaneous Leishmaniais and Buruli Ulcer Management.
abstract: Infectious diseases in the skin represent a major group of pathologies that contribute annually for significant health economic expenses. According to WHO, Buruli Ulcer (BU) and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) are two neglected tropical diseases for which therapy remains inadequate. Topical delivery of therapeutics constitutes an advantageous alternative to treat infected skin lesions as it allows a direct treatment of affected areas avoiding unwanted systemic effects and reducing the drug dosage. However, effective topical delivery of antimicrobial agents is still a challenge. The emergence of difficult-to-treat skin mycobacteriosis such as BU or the increasing incidence of CL highlights the need for new antimicrobial agents and new delivery systems. In the present review problems related to mycobacterial and parasitic infected skin lesions will be particularly focused as well as new alternative strategies for their treatment. Currently, progresses and challenges in constructing nanocarrier platforms for delivering various antimicrobial drugs for infected skin lesions have been attempted. This article reviews the potential of these nanocarriers in the treatment of cutaneous infections, especially regarding mycobacteria and Leishmania caused skin lesions. Nanostructured biomaterials, such as lipid-based nanocarriers, have unique physicochemical properties enabling the topical application of antimicrobial drugs, thereby overcoming some of the limitations of conventional therapies. These nanosystems have been investigated for the topical delivery of well-known drugs or new therapeutic candidates. This approach is just the beginning of a stimulating nanotechnological area.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Medicines, iMed. ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, Avenida Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simoes
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carvalheiro
authors.forename: Maria Manuela
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gaspar
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006801:Humans; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids
keywords: Buruli ulcer; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Lipid-based nanocarriers; Neglected tropical
  diseases.; Skin infections; Topical drug delivery