Intensification of Invasive Fungal Infections and Exploration of Effective Antifungal Drug Delivery Formulations: A Detailed Review

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) pose a significant global health threat, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. These infections can lead to severe illness and death, placing a significant financial burden on healthcare systems. Fungi were not previously considered a substantial risk to human health, but this perception changed with the rise of the HIV epidemic. The emergence of drug-resistant fungal strains further complicates the man-agement of these infections, highlighting the urgent need for effective antifungal therapies. Addressing this challenge requires innovative approaches and antifungal drug delivery for-mulations as promising strategies. This article explores the role of effective antifungal drug delivery formulations in combating the rise of IFIs. These formulations, ranging from lipid-based systems like liposomes and lipid emulsions to polymeric nanoparticles and micropar-ticles, offer several advantages over conventional drug delivery methods. Optimizing these formulations may improve drug efficacy, reduce the risk of drug resistance, and enhance pa-tient outcomes. Furthermore, advancements in nanotechnology and targeted drug delivery systems hold promise in overcoming existing limitations and expanding the scope of antifun-gal therapies.

Keywords: Drug resistance; economic burden; fungal infection preven-tion; global health threat; healthcare.; immunocompromised individuals.