Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40931324›Full record

ReviewFundamental & clinical pharmacology2025

Statins as Antifungal Agents: A Review on Drug Repurposing and Nanotechnology-Driven Delivery Strategies.

Dominique Mesquita E Silva, Laís de Souza Lacerda, Andrea de Souza Andrioli, Wilson Rodrigues Braz, Lara Melo Campos, Mayara Rodrigues Brandão de Paiva, Frederico Pittella, Rodrigo Luiz Fabri, Guilherme Diniz Tavares

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Fundamental & clinical pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Dominique Mesquita E SilvaPostgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7641-8405
Laís de Souza LacerdaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Andrea de Souza AndrioliPostgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Wilson Rodrigues BrazPostgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4962-1927
Lara Melo CamposDepartment of Biochemistry, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Mayara Rodrigues Brandão de PaivaPostgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6449-7904
Frederico PittellaPostgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Rodrigo Luiz FabriDepartment of Biochemistry, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Guilherme Diniz TavaresPostgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6276-0994

Funding

Coordenação de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brasil (CAPES)-Finance 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This review highlights the integration of drug repurposing and nanotechnology-driven delivery strategies as innovative approaches to enhance the antifungal activity of statins against mucosal candidiasis, providing a framework for future translational research and clinical application. The rising prevalence of antifungal resistance and virulence factors of Candida albicans underscore the limitations of current therapies. Statins, commonly used as lipid-lowering agents, have emerged as attractive repurposed drug candidates due to their ability to interfere with fungal ergosterol biosynthesis and Ras-mediated signaling pathways. However, repurposed statins face major translational barriers, including poor water solubility, limited mucosal bioavailability, and dose-dependent systemic toxicity. Nanotechnology-driven delivery platforms offer versatile solutions to these challenges, enabling site-directed delivery, improved stability, enhanced permeability, and controlled release. Lipid and polymeric nanocarriers, particularly chitosan-based nanoparticles, enable controlled release and prolonged mucosal retention, making them suitable for localized antifungal therapy. This review explores the integration of statin repurposing with advanced drug delivery strategies as a novel therapeutic paradigm for mucosal candidiasis. Updated evidence demonstrating the antifungal potential of nano-formulated statins is summarized, in conjunction with a general overview of design aspects relevant to optimizing delivery systems. Although still in early stages of investigation, this synergistic approach holds promise for overcoming resistance mechanisms and reducing the recurrence rates associated with existing antifungals. Ultimately, leveraging drug repurposing alongside nanotechnology may accelerate the translation of statin-based antifungal therapies into clinical practice, providing an innovative and cost-effective avenue to broaden the therapeutic arsenal against mucosal Candida infections.

Indexed as

Antifungal AgentsCandidiasisDrug Delivery SystemsDrug RepositioningHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsAnimalsCandida albicansDrug Resistance, FungalHumansNanoparticlesNanotechnologyAntifungal AgentsHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitorsantifungal activityCandida albicanscandidiasisdrug repurposingnanotechnologystatins

Identifiers

PMID40931324
PMCPMC12423362

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.