Perceptive solutions to anti-filarial chemotherapy of lymphatic filariasis from the plethora of nanomedical sciences.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Growing interest in the application of nanotechnology to treat lymphatic filariasis (LF) implies that the imminent medical arsenal of this interesting technology is attractive for health authorities. Currently, they are completely dependent on friendly oral mass drug (anti-filarials) administration to eliminate this morbid disease and are now looking for new alternatives to bring about further improvements.

AREAS COVERED:

A plethora of issues affecting the oral bioavailability of the mainstay human lymphatic filarial drugs, leading to meager pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics issues in anti-filarial chemotherapy are identified. Various important nanomedical drug delivery systems are highlighted and their solutions provided. A conceptual resolution to strictly arrest the transmission of LF in endemic areas is also presented.

FUTURE PERSPECTIVES:

Unless the solutions for pharmacokinetic tribulations and the measurement of factual pharmacodynamic endpoints for the existing anti-filarial drugs are evaluated using relevant approaches, health authorities will not be able to devise optimal treatment regimens for affected patients. Contemporary therapeutic paradigms need to be shifted toward the upcoming schemes of nanopharmaceutical sciences, which have enormous potential to advance the community-directed management of this tropical disease by improving the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the filaricidal agents.

• Authors: Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Afzal, Ujjwal Kaushik, Shailja Mishra Bhattacharya, Farhan Jalees Ahmad, Amit Kumar Dinda
• Journal: Journal of drug targeting (J Drug Target) Vol. 22 Issue 1 Pg. 1-13 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 1029-2330 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24004100 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Filaricides

Topics

• Animals
• Drug Delivery Systems (methods)
• Elephantiasis, Filarial (drug therapy)
• Filaricides (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans