Abstract / Summary
Oral candidiasis remains a clinically relevant infection, particularly in drug-resistant strains of Candida . In recent years, nano-enabled therapeutics have been explored as potential alternatives to overcome the limitations of antifungal therapy. The present study aims to identify the existing literature on nano-enabled therapeutic strategies for oral candidiasis, with attention to both Candida albicans and non-albicans species. A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Literature searches were performed in Lens.org, PubMed, and Semantic Scholar. Search terms included combinations of “nanoparticles,” “nanocarriers,” “nano-formulations,” and “oral candidiasis.” The search retrieved 990 records in, 55 records in PubMed, and 141 records in Semantic Scholar. Records were screened for relevance to oral Candida infections and nano-enabled therapeutic applications. No restrictions on publication year were applied. Across databases, studies demonstrated a broad range of nano-based strategies, including metallic nanoparticles, polymeric nanocarriers, lipid-based systems, and hybrid nano-formulations. These approaches were primarily evaluated for antifungal efficacy, mitigation of drug resistance, and targeted delivery in the oral cavity. Both C. albicans and non-albicans species were represented across the studies, although with variable frequency. The evidence consistently indicated enhanced antifungal activity for several nanoparticle systems, yet variations in methodology and outcome measures limited direct comparison. Nano-enabled therapeutics show significant potential to improve antifungal performance against drug-resistant oral Candida . However, heterogeneity in formulations and evaluation methods highlights the need for more standardized investigations, especially comparative studies across Candida species and clinically relevant models. Not applicable.