EMERGING NANOTECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES FOR TARGETED ANTIPARASITIC DRUG DELIVERY: A REVIEW

Abstract

Parasitic infections remain a major global health challenge, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Conventional antiparasitic therapies are often limited by poor bioavailability, emerging drug resistance, and non-specific toxicity. Nanotechnology offers promising strategies to overcome these limitations by enhancing drug stability, enabling site-specific delivery, and minimizing adverse effects. This review highlights recent advances in nanotechnology-driven delivery platforms—including nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, and polymeric carriers—for the treatment of protozoan and helminthic infections. Furthermore, it explores current challenges, safety considerations, and future directions for integrating nanomedicine into antiparasitic drug development, underscoring its potential to transform therapeutic outcomes in parasitology.