Innovative nanocompounds for cutaneous administration of classical antifungal drugs: a systematic review

Abstract

Nanomedicine manipulates materials at atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale, with at least one dimension within the nanometer range, for biomedical applications. The resulting nanoparticles have been consistently shown beneficial effects for antifungal drugs delivery, overcoming the problems of low bioavailability and high toxicity of these drugs. Due to their unique features, namely the small mean particle size, nanoparticles contribute to the enhanced drug absorption and uptake by the target cells, potentiating the therapeutic drug effect. The topical route is desirable due to the adverse effects arising from oral administration. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the use of nano compounds for the current treatment of topical fungal infections. A special emphasis is given to the employment of lipid nanoparticles, due to their recognized efficacy, versatility and biocompatibility, attracting the major attention as novel topical nanocompounds used for the administration of antifungal drugs.

(+)-Limonene 1,2-Epoxide-Loaded SLNs: Evaluation of Drug Release, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxicity in an HaCaT Cell Line

“…Lim-SLNs had a mean size of 194 ± 3.4 nm (PI 0.244), while blank SLNs (Lim-free) were of 203 ± 1.5 nm (PI 0.213). For topical administration, a mean particle size of up to 200 nm is desired to reach the dermis [43]. The polydispersity index is also important because it shows a homogeneous size distribution of particles, and for skin administration a value of below 0.4 is desirable.…”

Lipid-Polymeric Films: Composition, Production and Applications in Wound Healing and Skin Repair

“…Specifically, hair care products contain silicones and lipids capable of forming films on the hair, providing protection and shine [ 92 ]. In this sense, nanotechnology has also contributed through the use of lipid nanoparticles that, once incorporated in cosmetic formulations, are able to form films on the skin [ 5 , 6 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 ]. The size of the lipid particles is crucial in the hydrodynamic evaporation rate of the skin’s water.…”

Nanoparticles as a Tool for Broadening Antifungal Activities

“…The use of nanoparticles in biomedical applications has shown important results because it allows improvement in the pharmacological aspects of the formulations and decrease in the toxic effects of the compounds, as well as an increase of the release time and stability, and opens the possibilities of various administration routes [49,50], as oral [51], intravenous [52], pulmonary [53], ocular [54], and topical [55,56] (Fig. 1).…”

“…In this context, nanoparticles have been developed to improve the characteristics of classical antifungals and molecules with inhibitory activity on the important fungi that cause invasive diseases [55].…”