Emerging Trends in Antifungal Treatment: Role of Gels, Natural Products, and Innovative Targets

Growing medication resistance limits the efficacy of traditional antifungal treatments, making fungal infections a major worldwide health problem, especially among immunocompromised people. This review focuses on new molecular targets, gel-based drug delivery methods, and drugs derived from natural products as developing trends in antifungal therapy. Due to their biocompatibility, capacity to improve drug stability, and enhanced patient compliance, gels have drawn interest as topical delivery systems that provide localised therapy with less systemic side effects. Natural products, such as marine chemicals, plant-derived metabolites, and microbial bio actives, are highlighted as a possible source of novel antifungal medicines with a variety of actions, including enzyme inhibition and membrane disruption. In order to address the present problems with resistance, novel therapeutic targets are being investigated, including fungal cell wall production, biofilm formation, hyphal morphogenesis, mitochondrial function, and heat shock proteins. Optimising treatment approaches is further aided by developments in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, as well as better diagnostic instruments and antifungal stewardship. All things considered, combining innovative drug delivery strategies with targeted treatments and natural substances presents a potential path toward the creation of safer and more potent antifungal treatments. Keywords: Antifungal therapy, Antifungal resistance Gel-based drug delivery, Natural products, Fungal biofilms, Novel molecular targets, Topical drug delivery, Drug repurposing