Title:Role of Nanomedicines in Controlling Malaria: A Review
Volume: 23
Issue: 16
Author(s): Sakshi Sharma, Kamla Rawat*Himadri B. Bohidar*
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemistry, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
- School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Keywords:
Infectious disease, Malaria, Nanomedicine, Cerebral malaria, Erythrocyte targeting, Hepatocytes targeting liposomes, Antimalarial drugs, Targeted drug delivery.
Abstract: Malaria has created havoc since time immemorial. It has actually become a major health
concern due to its high prevalence in developing countries where poor sanitary conditions facilitate
the seasonal breeding of the vector, the female Anopheles mosquito. Even after tremendous advancements
in pest control and pharmacology science, managing this disease has not been successful,
and the cure for this deadly infection has not proven effective lately. The various conventional
drugs used are chloroquine, primaquine, mefloquine, atovaquone, quinine, artemisinin etc. All of
these have one or other major disadvantages like multi-drug resistance, high dose requirements, aggravated
toxicity, non-specificity of conventional drugs, and the emergence of drug-resistant parasites.
Therefore, it is necessary to surpass these limitations and look for an alternative to curb the
spread of this disease using an emerging technology platform. Nanomedicine is showing promise as
an effective alternative tool for the management of malaria. The idea of this tool resonates well with
David J. Triggle’s outstanding suggestion “The chemist is as the astronaut, searching for biologically
useful space in the chemical universe. This review presents a detailed discussion on various
nanocarriers, their mode of action and future perspective in treating malaria. Nanotechnology-based
drug delivery methods are highly specific, require a lower dose, offer more bioavailability with prolonged
drug release and stay in the body longer. Recent nano drug encapsulation and delivery vehicles
comprise nanocarriers like liposomes, and organic and inorganic nanoparticles, emerging as
promising alternatives for malaria management.
