The use of nanoparticles as alternative therapeutic agents against Candida infections: an up-to-date overview and future perspectives

AbstractCandida spp. are opportunistic fungi that can cause severe infections especially in immunocompromised patients. Candidiasis is currently the most frequent fungal disease affecting humans globally. This rise is attributed to the vast increase in resistance to antifungal agents. In recent years, the epidemiological and clinical relevance of fungal infections caused byCandida species have attracted a lot of interest with increasing reports of intrinsic and acquired resistance amongCandida species. Thus, the formulation of novel, and efficient therapy forCandida infection persists as a critical challenge in modern medicine. The use of nanoparticle as a potential biomaterial to achieve this feat has gained global attention. Nanoparticles have shown promising antifungal activity, and thus, could be seen as the next generation antifungal agents. This review concisely discussedCandida infection with emphasis on anti-candida resistance mechanisms and the use of nanoparticles as potential therapeutic agents againstCandida species. Moreover, the mechanisms of activity of nanoparticles againstCandida species, recent findings on the anti-candida potentials of nanoparticles and future perspectives are also presented.
Source: World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research