Malaria intervention policies and pharmaceutical nanotechnology as a potential tool for malaria management

Abstract

In order to better understand the persistence of malaria, it is timely to reflect on the various approaches toward its eradication and to consider what is being done well and to identify what needs to be improved. This review explores currently available tools and policies designed to eradicate malaria and the potential difficulties associated with each. We have also considered pharmaceutical nanotechnology as a possible tool in the fight against malaria. Each policy, ranging from the adaption of combination drug therapy to the deployment of insecticide-treated nets was considered to be laudable. The implementation and coverage of policies, however, exposed many gaps with persistence of the disease. Some of the challenges identified include misdiagnosis, production and distribution of fake and substandard antimalarial drugs, misapplication of insecticides, poor infrastructure, lack of sociopolitical will, and conflicts leading to displacement of people. Failure of malaria eradication has been attributed to the development of multiple drug resistance and the side effects associated with the use of conventional antimalarial chemotherapy. The review identified nanotechnology as a formulation strategy that has the potential to improve the safety and efficacy of drug therapy and help the cause of malaria eradication. In conclusion, this review is expected to provide a better understanding of the policies on malaria eradication and challenges associated with each of them. It also suggests that nanotechnology has the potential to reduce side effects of antimalarial drugs and improve their efficacy and should be given serious attention. Drug Dev Res 73 : 167–184, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.