Abstract
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) comprise of a group of seventeen infectious conditions endemic in many developing countries. Among these diseases are three of protozoan origin, namely leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and African trypanosomiasis, caused by the parasites Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma cruzi, and Trypanosoma brucei respectively. These diseases have their own unique challenges which are associated with the development of effective prevention and treatment methods. Collectively, these parasitic diseases cause more deaths worldwide than all other NTDs combined. Moreover, many current therapies for these diseases are limited in their efficacy, possessing harmful or potentially fatal side effects at therapeutic doses. It is therefore imperative that new treatment strategies for these parasitic diseases are developed. Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising area of research in the therapy and prevention of NTDs. These delivery systems provide novel mechanisms for targeted drug delivery within the host, maximizing therapeutic effects while minimizing systemic side effects. Currently approved drugs may also be repackaged using these delivery systems, allowing for their potential use in NTDs of protozoan origin. Current research on these novel delivery systems has provided insight into possible indications, with evidence demonstrating their improved ability to specifically target pathogens, penetrate barriers within the host, and reduce toxicity with lower dose regimens. In this review, we will examine current research on these delivery systems, focusing on applications in the treatment of leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and African trypanosomiasis. Nanoparticulate systems present a unique therapeutic alternative through the repositioning of existing medications and directed drug delivery.
Highlights
Neglected tropical diseasesNeglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) represent a group of seventeen diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites
Buparvaquone liposomes (BPQ-LP) induce a Th1-type protective immune response over the Th2 response by increasing the levels of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), assisting in the elimination of parasites via production of nitric oxide (NO). These results showed that BPQ-LP is a safe and effective treatment for murine leishmaniasis that could potentially be used against human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) [60]
Of the 17 official NTDs, this review focuses on the only three protozoan diseases namely, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), and these three conditions alone are responsible for the highest death toll amongst all the NTDs [6]
Summary
Neglected tropical diseasesNeglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) represent a group of seventeen diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites. NTDs are responsible for a substantial portion of the global health burden and affect more than a hundred nations, primarily developing countries and areas where communities live in poor sanitary and hygienic conditions [1] The health burden caused by NTDs is often accompanied by a financial challenge, as developing effective public health approaches to control the disease costs billions of dollars per year [2]. These diseases can cause long-lasting effects that can prevent infected individuals from earning a living, impacting the already precarious socio-economic situation of many communities [2,3,4]. Out of the 17 official NTDs, this review will focus on the three protozoan diseases leishmaniasis, Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Chagas disease, as these three conditions are single handedly responsible for the highest number of deaths among all NTDs [6]
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