Liposomal drug delivery systems for the treatment of leishmaniasis

Human leishmaniasis is a vector-borne, neglected infectious disease that is widely distributed in America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Current therapy is based on old and toxic drugs, including antimonials, aminoglycosides, and amphotericin. As a neglected disease, investment in the development of new therapeutic molecules is scarce. Considering these aspects, the optimization of treatment through novel delivery systems for current therapeutic agents is an attractive alternative. The encapsulation into liposomes of drugs used in treating leishmaniasis increases the concentration of these molecules in macrophages, which may not only increase the chance of cure but also expand their therapeutic spectrum to include resistant Leishmania, as well as reducing toxicity since the drug is less exposed to healthy cells. The classical example is the liposomal formulation of amphotericin B, a well-established therapeutic option that uses liposomes to decrease the progression of renal failure in patients. However, loading other leishmanicidal drugs into liposomes, such as pentavalent antimonials, presents an opportunity for innovative and cheaper therapeutic options for the treatment of human leishmaniasis. This review aims to discuss liposomes as a drug delivery system for leishmanicidal drugs.