Carbohydrate-based nanocarriers and their application to target macrophages and deliver antimicrobial agents

Abstract Many deadly infections are produced by microorganisms capable of sustained survival in macrophages. This reduces exposure to chemotherapy, prevents immune detection, and is akin to criminals hiding in police stations. Therefore, the use of glyco-nanoparticles (GNPs) as carriers of therapeutic agents is a burgeoning field. Such an approach can enhance the penetration of drugs into macrophages with specific carbohydrate targeting molecules on the nanocarrier to interact with macrophage lectins. Carbohydrates are natural biological molecules and the key constituents in a large variety of biological events such as cellular communication, infection, inflammation, enzyme trafficking, cellular migration, cancer metastasis and immune functions. The prominent characteristics of carbohydrates including biodegradability, biocompatibility, hydrophilicity and the highly specific interaction of targeting cell-surface receptors support their potential application to drug delivery system (DDS). This review presents the 21st century development of carbohydrate-based nanocarriers for drug targeting of therapeutic agents for diseases localized in macrophages. The significance of natural carbohydrate derived nanoparticles (GNPs) as anti-microbial drug carriers is highlighted in several areas of treatment including tuberculosis, salmonellosis, leishmaniasis, candidiasis, and HIV/AIDS.