Nanotechnology for Improved Anti-Malaria Efficacy Review Update

Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. The main factor that has contributed to the spread of this disease is the increase in the number of drug-resistant parasites. To overcome drug resistance, researchers have developed drug delivery system (nanotechnology) using nanocarriers such as mesoporous Silica and liposomes to encapsulate anti-malarial drug. The drug delivery systems were characterized by distinct features such as good biocompatibility, high percentage drug encapsulation, reduced drug toxicity and targeted drug delivery. In this review article, this drug delivery system developed from nano biomaterials (liposomes and mesoporous silica) for the delivery of antimalarial drugs were highlighted and it was shown that use of liposomes presented some challenges in maintaining its sterility and stability for use and also the fact it possess very short shelf life when in suspension thereby requires additional processes and efforts in making it viable for the market while the four groups of the mesoporous silica used in encapsulating the drugs [MCM-41 encapsulated quinine (MCM-41⊃QN) (1), 3-phenylpropyl silane functionalized MCM-41 loaded QN (pMCM-41⊃QN) (2) MCM-41 encapsulated Atersunate MCM-41⊃ATS) (3) and 3-aminopropyl silane functionalized MCM-41 contained ATS (aMCM-41⊃ATS) (4) also showed improved efficacy however the encapsulation strategy of MCM-41⊃QN (1) stands very effective in delivering the drug to the target cells compared to the delivery by the other mesopourous systems majorly because of the lower cytotoxicity accompanying its functions and therefore, this encapsulated drug may be considered for rational drug design.