Application of Poloxamers for the Development of Drug Delivery System to Treat Leishmaniasis: A Review

Abstract

: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting more than 1.5 million people annually, with an annual mortality of over 20.000. The drugs used to for its treatment are toxic, expensive, require extended treatment times and present variable efficacy. The disease severity and therapy limitations suggest the need for new antileishmanial agents. In this context, in order to identify new options for treatment, a number of studies based on nanotechnological strategies have been carried out. Poloxamers are triblock copolymers very often utilized for nanotherapeutic solutions, resulting in products with better solubility, higher stability, superior therapeutic efficacy and less toxicity. This review will discuss the physicochemical properties of the copolymers, as well as describe the use of poloxamers for the development of therapeutic formulations to treat leishmaniasis.

Effect of 3-Carene and the Micellar Formulation on Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

“…Poloxamers are triblock copolymers that, in an aqueous medium, can self-organize into nanometric-sized micelles. Micellar systems (micelles, hydrogels, andorganogels) of poloxamer have been used to solve problems such as low solubility and reduced absorption of drugs; additionally, they offer protection against drug degradation, modified release, and improved efficacy [ 25 ]. Furthermore, poloxamer micelles have the most reduced dimensions (10 to 200 nm) among the nanosystems used for drug delivery, which favors circulation in the bloodstream, diffusion in distinct tissues, and cell uptake [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”