Nanomedicines against Chagas disease: an update on therapeutics, prophylaxis and diagnosis

MARIA JOSE MORILLA AND EDER LILIA ROMERO

NANOMEDICINE

FUTURE MEDICINE LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2014

1743-5889

Chagas disease is a neglected parasitic infection affecting nearly 10 million people worldwide, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. After a mostly clinically silent acute phase, the disease becomes a life-long chronic condition that can lead to sudden death. Its treatment is only effective in acute phase and is non toxic to children. In spite of causing an impressive number of DALYs, this is a largely forgotten disease to pharmaceutical companies. Currently its non vector mediated contagion and subsequent landing on developed countries, has awakened the interest of scientists and political stakeholders. Ordinary pharmaceutical technology is insufficient to solve the problem of toxic and inefficient treatment in adults, while medicinal chemistry and replacement therapy failed to speed its replacement. Latest preclinical therapeutic and prophylactic achievements however, are insufficient to predict if nanomedicines could become an alternative approach. This review will discuss how nanomedicines could help to improve the performance of therapeutics, vaccines and diagnosis of Chagas disease, in view of the need for better medicines truly accessible to people from endemic countries