Advanced Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Infectious Diseases

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 792

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Chemistry Rosario, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (IQUIR-CONICET), Rosario 2000, Argentina
Interests: drug delivery; nanotechnology; nanomedicines; neglected diseases

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Guest Editor
Área Técnica Farmacéutica, Departamento Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 570, Rosario 2000, Argentina
Interests: nanotechnology; drug delivery systems; cyclodextrins

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infectious diseases, caused by different microorganisms, are still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. From common bacterial infections to more complex parasitic and fungal diseases, the global burden is immense, resulting in millions of deaths every year. Despite the availability of a range of therapeutic tools, these infections often evade treatment due to limited drug options, resistance development, and severe side effects associated with current therapies.

The urgent need for novel and more effective treatment strategies has spurred significant research into nanomedicines—a promising frontier in infectious disease management. Nanomedicines, leveraging the unique properties of nanoparticles, are revolutionizing the way we approach infection treatment. These advanced therapeutic agents have the potential to overcome many of the limitations posed by traditional drugs. By enhancing the bioavailability, specificity, and targeted delivery of drugs, nanomedicines can increase treatment efficacy while minimizing toxicity and side effects.

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advancements in nanomedicines for combating infectious diseases. It invites original research and review articles that focus on the following:

  • Innovative Strategies: Addressing the challenges associated with widespread microbial infections.
  • New Therapeutic Approaches: The development of novel treatments for infection control, including new drug formulations and therapeutic targets.
  • Mechanisms of Action: Detailed studies of how nanomedicines interact with microbial agents at a molecular level.
  • Novel Diagnostic Systems: The design of advanced diagnostic tools for more accurate detection of infections.
  • Enhanced Drug Delivery: Strategies for improving the efficacy of treatments, including new delivery systems, combined therapies, and targeted approaches.
  • Improved Tolerability: New formulations to enhance patient comfort and minimize side effects.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative strategies related to the use of nanomedicines in infectious disease management. We encourage submissions that explore new therapeutic approaches, novel drug delivery systems, and the latest advancements in the understanding of how nanomedicines can combat microbial infections. With continued research and development, nanomedicines have the potential to revolutionize the way we treat infections, offering new hope for millions of patients worldwide.

Prof. Dr. Claudio J. Salomon
Prof. Dr. Maria Celina Lamas
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanomedicines
  • infectious disease
  • microorganisms
  • therapeutic treatments
  • drug delivery systems

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

24 pages, 4087 KB  
Article
Significant Improvement in Bioavailability and Therapeutic Efficacy of Mebendazole Oral Nano-Systems Assessed in a Murine Model with Extreme Phenotypes of Susceptibility to Trichinella spiralis
by Ana V. Codina, Paula Indelman, Lucila I. Hinrichsen and María C. Lamas
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(8), 1069; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17081069 - 19 Aug 2025
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Abstract
This study aimed to analyze whether the enhancement of the biopharmaceutical efficiency of mebendazole, a poorly water-soluble anthelmintic drug, significantly improves its antiparasitic activity in a murine model of trichinellosis. Objectives: Two advanced oral formulations were developed, polyvinyl alcohol-derived nanoparticles (NP) and [...] Read more.
This study aimed to analyze whether the enhancement of the biopharmaceutical efficiency of mebendazole, a poorly water-soluble anthelmintic drug, significantly improves its antiparasitic activity in a murine model of trichinellosis. Objectives: Two advanced oral formulations were developed, polyvinyl alcohol-derived nanoparticles (NP) and β-cyclodextrin citrate inclusion complexes (Comp), both employing mebendazole as an anthelmintic agent. The primary objective of this work is to treat trichinellosis, an infection with severe chronic effects. Methods: The physicochemical characteristics as well as the in vivo performance of the NP and Comp formulations were assessed. The in vivo studies involved the bioavailability analysis, comparing drug absorption between the pure drug and the novel formulations, as well as the in vitro anthelmintic activity and in vivo therapeutic efficacy against Trichinella spiralis encysted muscle larvae. The in vivo efficacy was evaluated during the parenteral stage of T. spiralis infection in male and female mice from two genetically distinct lines differing in mebendazole pharmacokinetic parameters and susceptibility to the parasite. Results: The formulations exhibited smaller particle sizes and improved dissolution properties compared to pure MBZ. The pharmacokinetics studies indicate that NP and Comp significantly improved MBZ bioavailability. Both NP and Comp significantly increased mebendazole’s anthelmintic activity against the encysted parasites, which would be attributed to the improved MBZ absorption. The formulations overcome the drug’s poor solubility and low bioavailability limitations, resulting in a higher plasma concentration of the active drug, even at low doses. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the newly designed mebendazole formulations are suitable for treating T. spiralis chronic infection and highlight a potential improvement in the pharmacological treatment of trichinellosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Infectious Diseases)
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