NANOSPONGE HYDROGEL SYSTEMS IN ANTIFUNGAL THERAPY: CURRENT PERSPECTIVES AND THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

Fungal infections have emerged as a major global health concern due to the increasing prevalence of superficial and systemic mycoses, particularly among immunocompromised individuals, diabetic patients, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and organ transplant recipients. Common fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans, Aspergillus species, Cryptococcus neoformans, and dermatophytes are responsible for a wide range of infections affecting the skin, nails, mucosal tissues, and internal organs.[1] Although several antifungal agents including azoles, polyenes, allylamines, and echinocandins are available for clinical use, their therapeutic efficacy is often limited by poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, inadequate skin penetration, systemic toxicity, frequent dosing, and the emergence of antifungal resistance.