From the laboratory to the skin: translational potential of nanofibers in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis - an overview and systematic approach.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains a major global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, due to the limitations of current therapies, including toxicity, high cost, invasive administration routes, and poor patient adherence. In this context, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, such as nanofibers, have emerged as promising alternatives to improve therapeutic outcomes. This study provides a comprehensive overview of CL, its epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and current pharmacological treatments, followed by a systematic and critical analysis of nanofiber-based platforms for its treatment. A structured search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, covering studies published between 2010 and 2026. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in terms of polymer composition, fabrication techniques, physicochemical properties, and biological performance. The results demonstrated that polymeric nanofibers, particularly those produced by electrospinning and solution blow spinning, exhibit favorable characteristics, including high surface area, controlled drug release, biocompatibility, and enhanced local drug retention. Both in vitro and in vivo studies revealed significant antileishmanial activity, reduced cytotoxicity, and improved wound healing. Additionally, preliminary clinical findings highlighted their potential as safe and non-invasive therapeutic alternatives. Complementary bibliometric and patent analyses indicated increasing scientific and technological interest in this field, while highlighting key translational challenges related to standardization, scalability, regulatory approval, and clinical validation. Overall, nanofiber-based systems represent a promising translational strategy for the topical treatment of CL, offering advantages over conventional therapies and addressing key challenges associated with current clinical management.