Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects millions of people globally. The WHO aims to eradicate it as a public health concern by 2030, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis. With 6 to 8 million infected and 75 million at risk, it is a major threat in Latin America. Migration has led to new cases in non-endemic countries. Without treatment, up to 30% of those infected may develop fatal chronic heart or digestive diseases. The medications for Chagas disease, nifurtimox and benznidazole, were introduced over 50 years ago and are effective only in the early stages, with many side effects. New formulations and combinations have been tested, but none have surpassed benznidazole. Therefore, the discovery of new medications is a priority.
This study aims to review the compounds used in the formation of inclusion complexes for the treatment of Chagas disease, analyzing the incorporated compounds and advancements in related studies. This review focused on articles that emphasize how cyclodextrins can improve the bioavailability, therapeutic action, toxicity, and solubility of medications. Initially, 380 articles were identified with the keyword “cyclodextrin AND Chagas disease”; 356 were excluded for not being directly related to the topic, using the keyword “cyclodextrin complex against Trypanosoma cruzi”.
All articles involving studies with modified, combined, or synthesized benznidazole along with cyclodextrins showed positive results in terms of bioavailability, solubility, and low toxicity. Nevertheless, benznidazole is not recommended, nor is it the choice in the chronic phase, with practically no effect. Although various efforts have been made to seek new therapeutic targets, the treatment of Chagas disease continues without an effective solution. Therefore, derivatives or drug base families (nifurtimox and benznidazole) and natural products from plants with antiprotozoal and antibacterial properties are being explored along with the technique of inclusion complexation. These are potent, thanks to complexation, and have the potential for therapeutic effect in any stage of the disease.
Taio, F.; Converti, A.; Lima, Á.A.N.d. Cyclodextrin Complexes for the Treatment of Chagas Disease: A Literature Review. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 9511. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179511