Advancing malaria treatment with magnetic and mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine: a review.

Malaria remains a pressing global health concern, particularly in regions with rising cases of drug-resistant Plasmodium strains. Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), a widely used antimalarial drug combination, faces challenges such as reduced bioavailability, systemic toxicity, and diminished efficacy due to resistance. In response, nanotechnology offers innovative strategies to improve SP delivery and therapeutic outcomes. This review focuses on the potential of magnetic and mesoporous silica nanoparticles as advanced drug delivery platforms for SPs. Magnetic and mesoporous silica nanoparticles combine a magnetic core, enabling targeted delivery through external magnetic fields, with a mesoporous silica shell that allows high drug loading and controlled release. This review explores recent advancements in magnetic and mesoporous silica nanoparticles synthesis, surface functionalization, and drug encapsulation techniques, highlighting their ability to increase SP bioavailability, ensure sustained drug release, and minimize off-target effects. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the improved pharmacokinetics, reduced toxicity, and enhanced antimalarial efficacy of SP-loaded magnetic and mesoporous silica nanoparticles, particularly against resistant Plasmodium strains. Additionally, the versatility of magnetic and mesoporous silica nanoparticles paves the way for the codelivery of synergistic drugs and the development of theranostic systems. While magnetic and mesoporous silica nanoparticles show immense promise, challenges such as scalability, biocompatibility, and regulatory hurdles must be addressed to facilitate clinical translation. By bridging nanotechnology with malaria treatment, this approach has the potential to revolutionize antimalarial therapy, providing a scalable and effective solution for resource-limited settings.