Prospective Nanotechnology-Based Strategies for Enhanced Intra- and Transdermal Delivery of Antifungal Drugs

Abstract

Topical therapy of superficial fungal infections allows the prevention of systemic side effects and provides drug targeting at the site of disease. However, an appropriate drug concentration in these sites should be provided to ensure the efficacy of such local treatment. The enhancement of intra- and transdermal penetration and accumulation of antifungal drugs is an important aspect here. The present overview is focused on novel nano-based formulations served to improve antimycotic penetration through the skin. Furthermore, it summarizes various approaches towards the stimulation of drug penetration through and into the stratum corneum and hair follicles, which are considered to be promising for the future improvement of superficial antifungal therapy as providing the drug localization and prolonged storage property at the targeted area.

CaCO3-based carriers with prolonged release properties for antifungal drug delivery to hair follicles

“…22 Thus, the use of various vehicles with supramolecular structure (micelles, 23 dendrimers 24 ), vesicular carriers (including liposomes, 25,26 ethosomes, 27 and niosomes 28 ), emulsion systems, 29,30 solid, 31,32 or polymeric 33 particles was recently demonstrated to be beneficial in the treatment of fungal skin infections. 13,34,35 The speed and depth of the carrier penetration into the skin can differ depending on its nature. 36 Furthermore, the prolongation of payload release from the carriers may be achieved, thus enabling drug storage in the skin for a longer duration.…”

“…22 Thus, the use of various vehicles with supramolecular structure (micelles, 23 dendrimers 24 ), vesicular carriers (including liposomes, 25,26 ethosomes, 27 and niosomes 28 ), emulsion systems, 29,30 solid, 31,32 or polymeric 33 particles was recently demonstrated to be beneficial in the treatment of fungal skin infections. 13,34,35…”

Multifunctional Parachute-like Nanomotors for Enhanced Skin Penetration and Synergistic Antifungal Therapy

“…9 It is often difficult for antifungal drugs to penetrate the skin to reach the infected site, which is a great obstacle in antifungal treatment. 10,11 To address these problems, multifunctional nanocarriers as an efficient strategy for antifungal therapy have drawn tremendous attention.…”

“…Due to the characteristics of local deep-tissue invasion, fungi are prone to form biofilms beneath the skin barrier to cause inflammation . It is often difficult for antifungal drugs to penetrate the skin to reach the infected site, which is a great obstacle in antifungal treatment. , To address these problems, multifunctional nanocarriers as an efficient strategy for antifungal therapy have drawn tremendous attention.…”

Active nanomotors surpass passive nanomedicines: current progress and challenges

“…12,13 Fungi easily form biofilms under the skin barrier, making it difficult for antifungal drugs to penetrate skin tissue and reach the infection site. 48 The emergence of self-propelling nanomotors provides new solutions to this problem. Recently, Dai et al 49 fabricated a parachute-like nanomotor (PNM) triggered by a near-infrared laser and loaded with miconazole nitrate (MN), denoted as PNM-MN (Fig.…”