Chapter 13 - Nanocarrier-Assisted Antimicrobial Therapy Against Intracellular Pathogens

Abstract

Since their introduction into the therapeutic world, antimicrobial agents have raised the health status of the population worldwide. Frequent use of antimicrobial agents has reduced the morbidity and mortality rate of several infectious diseases including tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, etc. throughout the world. However, complete cure and eradication of intracellular infection is difficult because of poor penetration of antimicrobial agents. Intracellular localization of infectious agents such as bacteria protects antimicrobial agents from the host immune system, but also from the action of antimicrobial agents. Infectious agents localized in phagocytic cells can use antimicrobial agents as a “Trojan horse” to induce secondary site infection and hence lead to recurrent infections. To counteract these problems of antimicrobial therapy, development of novel approaches is a prerequisite of the hour. Multifunctional nanocarrier systems might be a promising and more effective strategy for targeting intracellular infection. Nowadays, it is possible to incorporate, encapsulate, or even conjugate different antimicrobial agents in nanocarrier systems such as liposomes, nanoparticles, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, and polymersomes. Further, surface modification of nanocarriers might help in the selective delivery of antimicrobial agents to the site of infection. This chapter gives an overview of intracellular pathogens, problems in the eradication of intracellular infection, and different nanocarrier systems being used to deliver antimicrobial agents for targeted eradication of intracellular infectious pathogens.