Evaluation of nano-particles based delivery systems against prophylactic treatment of opportunistic fungal infection in Balb/c mice

Abstract

Immunologically compromised patients can suffer from mild superficial lesions to disseminated full blown infections caused by several fungal pathogens including Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans etc. Several advancements made in the field of medical sciences like, the introduction of antibiotics, newer chemotherapeutic option in treatment of cancer organ transplantation were intended to make tremendous impact on general public health. Paradoxically, some of these stipulated opportunity to infections, mainly those of fungal origin to establish themselves in the host. In fact, human subjects have become more susceptible to a range of opportunistic infections for last two or three decades. Besides HIV infection, individuals who have undergone organ transplantation or remain on treatment with anticancer drugs are prime targets of such infections. Similarly, patients receiving broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy or those subjected to invasive procedures are also highly prone to infection by fungal pathogens. The high frequency of life threatening systemic fungal infections could be attributed to the impaired immune system of the host because of human immunodeficiency virus infliction or due to the use of immunosuppressive drugs during organ transplantation or usage of anticancer agents in treatment of different types of malignancies. Limitations associated both with diagnosis as well as lack of effective treatment protocols for most of the fungal diseases by conventional means argue strongly in favour of pursuing the development of preventive strategies rather relying on antifungal chemotherapy. Efforts will be made to evaluate the fully biocompatible and biodegradable delivery system made up of fibrin microsphere/Liposome for sustained delivery of anti fungal drugs/immunomodulators for efficient elimination of the fungal pathogens from systemic circulation.