Nanomedicine for Human and Veterinary Helminthiasis: Anthelmintic Delivery, Resistance, and Host–Parasite Interactions

Abstract

Helminth infections remain a major global health and veterinary concern, affecting more than 1.5 billion people worldwide and causing substantial economic losses in livestock production. The burden is greatest in tropical and subtropical regions where inadequate sanitation, contaminated food and water, and limited healthcare facilitate parasite transmission. Although conventional anthelmintic drugs, including benzimidazoles, avermectins, and praziquantel, have significantly reduced the prevalence of these infections, their long-term effectiveness is increasingly threatened by poor bioavailability, off-target effects, limited drug targets, and the rapid emergence of anthelmintic resistance. These challenges have driven the search for innovative therapeutic strategies. Nanomedicine has emerged as a promising approach to improving the treatment and control of helminth infections by enhancing drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability, enabling controlled release and targeted delivery, and potentially reducing toxicity and overcoming resistance. In addition to functioning as drug carriers, several nanoparticle systems possess intrinsic antiparasitic activity and have demonstrated enhanced efficacy when used alone or in combination with conventional anthelmintic drugs and phytotherapeutics. This review summarizes the current progress in nanoparticle-based therapies for parasitic worm infections, discusses the advantages and limitations of different nanocarrier systems, and highlights the challenges and prospects for translating nanomedicine into effective clinical and veterinary applications.