Clinical assessment of novel nanofibrous dressings for cutaneous leishmaniasis: A trial-based study

Abstract

The burden of cutaneous leishmaniasis, characterized by skin lesions from Leishmania parasites, has prompted a shift from traditional antimonial treatments to alternative therapies due to concerns over drug resistance and toxicity. This study heralds a novel multi-layered wound dressing embedded with amphotericin B (AMB) in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers, designed to deliver controlled drug release. Fabrication involved conventional and needleless electrospinning, with the latter producing nanofibers (N-PVA-AMB) with a larger diameter of 550 nm compared to 230 nm for conventional (PVA-AMB), resulting in a more sustained release of 55 over 65 for PVA-AMB after 50 min. A pilot clinical trial demonstrated significant healing in patients with non-healing ulcers within 4 weeks of treatment using the AMB-loaded dressing. The dressing's unique composition not only facilitates painless application but also promotes efficient moisture transfer, enhancing wound healing and providing a barrier against infection. This innovative dressing addresses the challenges of pain during dressing changes and microbial contamination, marking a significant advancement in cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment and offering a practical alternative to conventional therapies.