Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising strategy for improving drug delivery in the treatment of fungal and viral infections. Conventional antifungal and antiviral therapies are often limited by poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, systemic adverse effects, and inadequate delivery to intracellular sites of infection. Nanoscale delivery systems can overcome these limitations by improving drug pharmacokinetics, enhancing tissue-specific distribution, and enabling controlled and sustained drug release. Various nanocarriers, including liposomes, polymeric and lipid-based nanoparticles, dendrimers, and biomimetic nanostructures, have demonstrated considerable potential for increasing therapeutic efficacy.
Nanotechnology-based targeting approaches facilitate the preferential delivery of therapeutic agents to infected tissues through active receptor-mediated targeting and passive accumulation associated with inflammation and pathological tissue changes. In fungal infections, nanocarriers can improve drug penetration into biofilms and intracellular fungal niches, thereby enhancing antifungal activity and potentially reducing the development of resistance. In viral infections, nanoparticle-based formulations can enhance intracellular drug delivery, protect antiviral agents from enzymatic degradation, and improve inhibition of viral replication. Stimulus-responsive nanocarriers have further advanced targeted therapy by releasing their payload in response to local physiological conditions, such as changes in pH, enzyme activity, or temperature.
The integration of multifunctional nanoplatforms with artificial intelligence-based design may further support the development of personalized nanomedicine. Despite significant advances, challenges related to scalable manufacturing, regulatory requirements, long-term biosafety, and clinical translation remain. Continued progress in nanomaterial engineering and hybrid delivery systems may facilitate the broader clinical application of nanotechnology for effective and individualized treatment of infectious diseases.