ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis, malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease affect more than two billion people globally and cause substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly among the world’s poorest people. Unfortunately, the morbidity and mortality of these diseases is increased in patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Conventional therapeutic approaches habitually fail in the fi ght against infectious diseases. To beat the challenge, it is hypothesized that Drug Delivery Systems (DDSs) based on microparticles and nanoparticles (NPs) can be wisely engineered to assure an effi cient therapy. Concretely, it is suggested that nanotechnology can help in modifying drug’s pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and intracellular traffi c with the help of appropriate carriers. In the fi eld of adjuvancy, by loading antigens within particulate carriers it can be possible to modify the route of administration, raising intense and controlled immune responses, because of the preference of antigen presenting cells of taking up particulate solids instead of soluble materials. This chapter will critically analyze the use of nanoparticulate and microparticulate carriers as drug/vaccine delivery systems against experimental models of tuberculosis, malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease.
