# Nanoarchitectures in Management of Fungal Diseases: An Overview
## 4 Nanocarriers in Management of Fungal Infections
### Carbon Nanotubes  
[PERSON] and coworkers prepared antifungal AmB formulations by grouping single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) with fluorescein. These were represented as more effective for human Jurkat lymphoma T cells [78]. The AmB-attached CNTs showed less mammalian toxicity when compared to free AmB, as well as good activity against many fungal strains and multidrug-resistant fungal cells. The free AmB-based mammalian toxicity can be reduced by forming conjugations with CNT [79]. As the exterior wall of pristine CNTs is inert, there is a need to alter the CNT surface by non-covalent and covalent changes for better biocompatibility and solubility [80]. In the former method, the long-chain polymers and, in the latter method, direct covalent changes are incorporated for altering CNT surfaces. Most of the current chemical approaches aim to form a strong bond between CNTs and coupling agents. Sometimes, the functionalization of CNTs causes a loss of mechanical strength and more time for purification [81]. The CNTs are both exceptional DDS and novel engineered vehicles for carrying altered genes and single-stranded RNAs [82; 83; 84; 85]. [PERSON] et al. prepared two conjugates amid functionalized CNTs (_f_-CNTs) and AmB. The calculated MIC values for _f_-CNT-AmB conjugates were more as compared to AmB and AmB with sodium deoxycholate (AmBD), which suggested a nonlytic mechanism of action (MOA) and did not present any significant adverse effect on the Jurkat cell line at antifungal concentrations [79]. The molecular mechanisms for multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-induced in vivo toxicity on innate immunity are still largely unclear. Considering the potential of _Caenorhabditis elegans_ for the study of the innate immune response of animals, we employed this in vivo assay system to investigate the effects of MWCNTs on the innate immune response of animals and the underlying mechanisms. A pre-exposure to MWCNTs at concentrations more than 100 \(\upmu\)g/L enhanced the adverse effect of fungal infections in reducing the lifespan. With regard to the underlying cellular mechanisms, we found that MWCNT pre-exposure enhanced the colony formation of Candida albicans in the body of nematodes and suppressed the innate immune response of nematodes by decreasing the expression levels of some antimicrobial genes. With regard to the underlying molecular mechanisms, we found that MWCNTs decreased the expression levels of the pmk-1, sek-1, and nsy-1 genes encoding the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and inhibited the translational expression of PMK-1::GFP in the intestines and the phosphorylation of PMK-1. Epistasis assays showed that MWCNTs required the involvement of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway mediated by an NSY-1-SEK-1-PMK-1 cascade to enhance the toxicity of the fungal infection, increase the fungal colony formation, and suppress the innate immune response. Thus, our results suggest that MWCNTs may possess immunohistochemistry effects by affecting the functions of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Our study also provides meaningful insights into the role of the innate immune system of hosts against the toxicity of environmental toxicants. [PERSON] et al. fabricated MWCNTs and investigated their impact on the essential immune system of animals and related fundamental mechanisms. Regarding cellular mechanisms, MWCNTs enhanced the colony development of _C. albicans_ in the nematodes body and reduced the significant immune action of nematodes via reducing the expression stages of various antimicrobial genes. The MWCNTs decreased the expression levels of the sek-1, pmk-1, and nsy-1 genes encrypting the signaling pathway of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Thus, the results suggested that MWCNTs could hold immunohistochemistry activity by influencing the roles of the p38 MAPK signaling path and provided evocative immune system action against the environmental toxicants [86]. [PERSON] et al. assessed the antifungal property of AmBD-conjugated _f_-CNTs against _C.