Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a widely distributed protozoan vector-born disease affecting almost 350 million people. Initially, chemotherapeutic drugs were employed for leishmania treatment but they had toxic side effects. Various nanotechnology-based techniques and products have emerged as anti-leishmanial drugs, including liposomes, lipid nano-capsules, metal and metallic oxide nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, nanotubes and nanovaccines, due to their unique properties, such as bioavailability, lowered toxicity, targeted drug delivery, and biodegradability. Many new studies have emerged with nanoparticles serving as promising therapeutic agent for anti-leishmanial disease treatment. Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmB) is one of the successful nano-based drugs with high efficacy and negligible toxicity. A new nanovaccine concept has been studied as a carrier for targeted delivery. This review discusses different nanotechnology-based techniques, materials, and their efficacies in leishmaniasis treatment and their futuristic improvements.
Highlights
A diverse group of infectious diseases, commonly known as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are predominant in the underprivileged parts of the world, especially in developing countries
The results of the study showed that delivery of AMB through Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) is preferable over using Amphotericin B alone [122]
There is no nanovaccine commercially available for leishmaniasis, studies have led to higher efficacy by using nanoparticles as vaccine carriers and as adjuvants to form nanovaccines, which could be potentially decrease the number of leishmaniasis cases
Summary
A diverse group of infectious diseases, commonly known as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are predominant in the underprivileged parts of the world, especially in developing countries. These diseases are widespread in tropical and subtropical areas due to poor hygiene and insufficient health infrastructures [1]. Leishmaniasis, one of the most neglected tropical diseases, is currently affecting around 12 million people worldwide and 350 million people are under the risk of infection in 98 developing countries [3]. The control measures for the elimination of Leishmaniasis are limited, yet two strategies have been applied, such as classical therapeutics interventions and vector management through insecticides for the control of the leishmania parasite in disease-endemic regions [24]. In this review we attempt to comprehensively compile the various recent reports on nanotechnology-based approaches for the treatment of Leishmaniasis with emphasis on the utilization of various nanosized techniques and nano-drug conjugation systems
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