Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41583061›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of pharmaceutics: X2026

Liposomal antimicrobials in the fight against bacterial and fungal pathogens: Clinical successes and development challenges.

Hussein T Kenaan, Ross M Duncan, Wafa T Al-Jamal, David S Jones, Gavin P Andrews, Brendan Gilmore, Vanessa Yardley, Nicola Farrington, Katharine E Stott, David Lawrence and 6 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of pharmaceutics: X, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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

16 authors.

Hussein T KenaanSchool of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK.
Ross M DuncanSchool of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK.
Wafa T Al-JamalSchool of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK.
David S JonesSchool of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK.
Gavin P AndrewsSchool of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK.
Brendan GilmoreSchool of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK.
Vanessa YardleyFaculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Nicola FarringtonDepartment of Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Katharine E StottDepartment of Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
David LawrenceDepartment of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Joseph N JarvisDepartment of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Thomas S HarrisonInstitute of Infection and Immunity, City St George's University London, London, UK.
Stephen RobinsonDrugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland.
Isabela RibeiroDrugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland.
William HopeDepartment of Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Yiwei TianSchool of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Bacterial, fungal, and protozoan infections pose a rapidly escalating threat to global health, exacerbated by the rise in antimicrobial resistance. Current therapies against microbial pathogens are limited by high systemic toxicity and poor drug solubility. Liposomal formulations (spherical vesicles composed of lipid bilayers) have demonstrated remarkable clinical potential in addressing these concerns, as evidenced by the marketed products AmBisome® and Arikayce®. These products, which deliver amphotericin B via parenteral injection and amikacin via inhalation, exemplify how liposomes effectively mitigate drug-associated toxicity, enhance therapeutic efficacy, and overcome the biological barriers inherent to infection sites, including complex microbial biofilms, mucosal interfaces, or the blood-brain barrier. Complementary insights from anticancer research indicate that strategic manipulation of liposomal composition and structure can enhance their therapeutic potential. Adjustments in lipid charge, fluidity, and PEGylation, in particular, highlight their versatility and broad applicability for antimicrobial drug delivery. Liposomal antimicrobials can modulate pharmacokinetic profiles, achieve targeted release at sites of infection, and increase local drug concentrations, which are key advantages over conventional treatments. Despite these therapeutic advances, successful clinical translation and widespread adoption of liposomal antimicrobials remain highly dependent on overcoming existing technological and manufacturing challenges. This review emphasises the need for a paradigm shift within liposomal antimicrobial development, encouraging progression from initial research and development toward scalable, reproducible, and economically viable commercial manufacturing platforms. This transition is essential not only for ensuring the global accessibility and affordability of existing therapies but also for expanding the development of clinically relevant liposomal antimicrobial nanomedicines.

Indexed as

Antimicrobial resistanceBiological barriersInvasive fungal infectionsLiposomal amikacinLiposomal amphotericin BNanomedicine manufacturing challenges

Identifiers

PMID41583061
PMCPMC12825066

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.