From Benznidazole to New Drugs: Nanotechnology Contribution in Chagas Disease

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 24; no. 18; p. 13778
• Main Authors: Gomes, Daniele Cavalcante, Medeiros, Thayse Silva, Alves Pereira, Eron Lincoln, da Silva, João Felipe Oliveira, de Freitas Oliveira, Johny W, Fernandes-Pedrosa, Matheus de Freitas, de Sousa da Silva, Marcelo, da Silva-Júnior, Arnóbio Antônio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.09.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Asymptomatic; Bioavailability; Cardiomyopathy; Chagas disease; Chagas Disease - drug therapy; Drug approval; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug delivery systems; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; drug targeting; Drugs; Food contamination & poisoning; Humans; Investigations; Nanoemulsions; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology - methods; neglected diseases; Nitroimidazoles - chemistry; Nitroimidazoles - therapeutic use; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Pathogenesis; Patient compliance; Protozoa; Public health; Review; Tropical diseases; Trypanocidal Agents - chemistry; Trypanocidal Agents - pharmacology; Trypanocidal Agents - therapeutic use; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - drug effects; Vehicles; Brazil; Latin America; drug targeting; nanotechnology; neglected diseases; drug delivery systems; Trypanosoma cruzi
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813778

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan . Benznidazole and nifurtimox are the two approved drugs for their treatment, but both drugs present side effects and efficacy problems, especially in the chronic phase of this disease. Therefore, new molecules have been tested with promising results aiming for strategic targeting action against . Several studies involve in vitro screening, but a considerable number of in vivo studies describe drug bioavailability increment, drug stability, toxicity assessment, and mainly the efficacy of new drugs and formulations. In this context, new drug delivery systems, such as nanotechnology systems, have been developed for these purposes. Some nanocarriers are able to interact with the immune system of the vertebrate host, modulating the immune response to the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. In this overview of nanotechnology-based delivery strategies for established and new antichagasic agents, different strategies, and limitations of a wide class of nanocarriers are explored, as new perspectives in the treatment and monitoring of Chagas disease.