Nanoparticle based drug delivery systems improve antimalarial efficacy and vaccine performance in African research and clinical settings

Abstract

Malaria is a significant public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, responsible for a large proportion of the world’s malaria cases and deaths. Antimalarial drug resistance and the low efficacy of existing drugs, due to poor solubility, bioavailability, short half-life and non-specific distribution, highlight the importance of the development of better delivery strategies. The current systematic review focuses on the platforms that were developed or evaluated in Africa (2015-2025) involving nanoparticles. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for original experimental (in vitro, in vivo, clinical trials) studies on nanoparticle-mediated antimalarial drug delivery, vaccines, or immune modulation with explicit relevance to African research or populations. After screening 52 records and full-text assessment, 16 studies were included. Sixteen studies described 14 distinct nanoparticle systems: lipid-based (38%), polymeric (19%), inorganic/metallic (25%), and protein/virus-like particles (19%). Lipid and polymeric nanoparticles achieved 80–95% parasitaemia reduction at reduced doses through enhanced solubility and sustained release. Inorganic carriers offered high loading and pH-triggered delivery, whereas R21/Matrix-M virus-like particles demonstrated 75–80% vaccine efficacy in large African Phase 2b/3 trials. Nanoparticle drug delivery demonstrates potentials in improving antimalarial efficacy, targeting, and safety, yet translation remains limited by manufacturing scale-up, regulatory gaps, and a lack of long-term toxicity data. Strengthening local production and South–South/North–South collaborations is essential to integrating these technologies into Africa’s malaria control programmes. Not applicable Systematic review of 16 primary studies (2015–2025) on nanoparticle-based antimalarial strategies with direct relevance to Africa’s scientific ecosystem. Lipid and polymeric nanoparticles achieved 80–95% parasitaemia reduction at 50–70% lower doses than free drugs through enhanced bioavailability and sustained release. R21/Matrix-M virus-like particles demonstrated 75–80% vaccine efficacy in large Phase 2b/3 trials conducted across multiple African countries. Inorganic/metallic systems provided high drug loading and pH-responsive release but raised long-term toxicity concerns requiring further evaluation. Despite promising preclinical and clinical results, local manufacturing scale-up, regulatory harmonisation, and long-term safety data remain critical barriers in Africa.