Nanostructures for Improved Antimonial Therapy of Leishmaniasis

Abstract Pentavalent antimonials are first-line drugs for treatment of the neglected tropical disease leishmaniasis. However, the use of these old drugs is limited by the need for daily parenteral administration, their severe side effects, and treatment failures. In light of these limitations, the World Health Organization strongly recommends research into new drugs against leishmaniasis. In this context, several structurally different nanocarriers have been investigated for the targeted delivery of antimonial drugs to infection sites of visceral leishmaniasis, as well as for the oral and topical delivery of antimony in visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. This chapter covers the progress achieved toward pharmaceutically acceptable nanostructured formulations for the improved delivery of antimonial drugs. Special emphasis is given to innovative nanostructures based on the unique physicochemical properties of antimony(V). The most promising nanosystems comprise liposomes for visceral leishmaniasis and micelle-like nanostructures for the oral delivery of antimony.