RESUMO
Severe antifungal infections, especially opportunistic fungal infections, are increasing tremendously in immunocompromised patients. This is basically because more patients enduring neoplastic diseases lead to the wide use of chemotherapy, thus causing immunosuppression. Patients with HIV infection, burns, pancreatitis and neutropenia are also amenable to fungal infections. Out of a plethora of antifungal drugs applied, Amphotericin B, being a broad-spectrum antimicrobial drug, has been the gold standard treatment for a diverse variety of fungal infections since the 1950s and visceral leishmaniasis since the 1960s. However, Amphotericin B has major constraints of poor bioavailability and kidney toxicity, due to which newer antifungal compounds are being used. This article discusses fungal and parasitic diseases and formulations for treating these ailments.
RESUMO
Dendrimers are three dimensional, multifunctional polymeric structures which are composed of a core and branches emanating from these structures, resembling a tree. Here, we review the key highlights of the dendrimers for diagnostic uses as MRI contrast agents, X-ray computed tomography and particularly for cancer treatment as an effective carrier for drug delivery and in boron capture therapy. We will discuss how dendrimers represent a new class of carriers that are able to deliver drugs effectively and in a sustained manner to the target tumor sites. Dendrimers are being utilized to a variety of cancer therapies to improve the safety and effectiveness of anticancer therapeutics. This review will also investigates the benefits utilizing dendrimers for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
