Anatomically Targeted Antifungal Drug Delivery and Combination Therapies

Fungal infections caused by clinically relevant pathogens have become a growing global health concern, while effective treatment remains limited by the difficulty of achieving adequate drug concentrations at different sites of infection. Anatomical and physiological barriers, including poor vascularization, restricted tissue penetration, mucosal clearance, and the blood–brain and blood–ocular barriers, can reduce therapeutic exposure and contribute to persistent or recurrent infections. Systemic toxicity, suboptimal pharmacokinetics, a limited range of antifungal drug classes, and the need to manage complex or disseminated infections further complicate treatment.Recent advances in nanotherapeutics, targeted delivery systems, antifungal biomaterials, and local, long-acting, and route-specific administration technologies have created new opportunities to address these challenges. Delivery approaches tailored to the anatomical site of infection may improve local drug concentrations, prolong therapeutic exposure, and reduce systemic toxicity. Delivery-enabled combination and adjunctive therapies may provide further benefits through the co-localization or coordinated release of antifungal agents and complementary treatments. Further investigation is needed to establish the mechanisms of action, safety, scalability, and clinical relevance of these strategies.This Research Topic aims to bring together researchers exploring technological and methodological advances in anatomically targeted antifungal drug delivery. We welcome studies investigating how advanced delivery systems and formulations can overcome site-specific barriers, improve local drug exposure, enhance antifungal efficacy, and reduce off-target effects. By connecting formulation science, anatomical targeting, pharmacology, and translational research, this Research Topic seeks to support the development of safer and more effective interventions for fungal infections.We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Site-specific delivery for pulmonary mycoses, oral and gastrointestinal candidiasis, and dermal, vaginal, ocular, central nervous system, bone, or device-associated fungal infections.- Formulations that overcome barriers to antifungal penetration, including mucosal clearance and the blood–brain and blood–ocular barriers.- Inhaled, intranasal, ocular, topical, transdermal, oral, vaginal, implantable, and catheter-based systems for local treatment.- Long-acting, controlled-release, mucoadhesive, depot, and stimuli-responsive formulations that sustain therapeutic drug concentrations.- Chemical and non-chemical approaches, including physical, mechanical, and device-assisted methods that improve local antifungal delivery.- Co-delivery of antifungal agents with complementary or adjunctive therapies.- Biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, safety, scale-up, and testing in anatomically relevant fungal infection models. Topic editors: Gabriel Davi Marena, Carlos Pelleschi Taborda, Vinicius Alves, Lovely Gupta Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84600/anatomically-targeted-antifungal-drug-delivery-and-combination-therapies