title: Nanopharmaceuticals as a solution to neglected diseases: Is it possible?
abstract: The study of neglected diseases has not received much attention, especially from public and private institutions over the last years, in terms of strong support for developing treatment for these diseases. Support in the form of substantial amounts of private and public investment is greatly needed in this area. Due to the lack of novel drugs for these diseases, nanobiotechnology has appeared as an important new breakthrough for the treatment of neglected diseases. Recently, very few reviews focusing on filiarasis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, malaria, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, and tuberculosis, and dengue virus have been published. New developments in nanocarriers have made promising advances in the treatment of several kinds of diseases with less toxicity, high efficacy and improved bioavailability of drugs with extended release and fewer applications. This review deals with the current status of nanobiotechnology in the treatment of neglected diseases and highlights how it provides key tools for exploring new perspectives in the treatment of a wide range of diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Nanobiomateriales, CINDEFI, Depto. de Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata - CONICET (CCT La Plata), 1900, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: German A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Islan
authors.affiliation: Urogenital Carcinogenesis: Urogenitaland Immunotherapy Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil,; NanoBioss, Chemistry Institute, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Nanobiomateriales, CINDEFI, Depto. de Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata - CONICET (CCT La Plata), 1900, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maximiliano L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cacicedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Biology Sciences Center, Londrina State University (UEL), Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gerson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Biology Sciences Center, Londrina State University (UEL), Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata K T
authors.initials: RKT
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: NanoBioss, Chemistry Institute, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil; Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano-CNPEM), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego S T
authors.initials: DST
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Nanobiomateriales, CINDEFI, Depto. de Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata - CONICET (CCT La Plata), 1900, La Plata, Argentina. Electronic address: grcastro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Guillermo R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: NanoBioss, Chemistry Institute, University of Campinas, SP, Brazil; Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano-CNPEM), Campinas, SP, Brazil; Biological Chemistry Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP. Brazil. Electronic address: duran@iqm.unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Durán
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy; D008081:Liposomes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014330:Tropical Medicine; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes
keywords: Liposomes; Nanobiotechnology; Nanoemulsions; Nanoparticles; Neglected diseases; Solid lipid nanoparticles