Abstract

Cephalexin (CEF), a member of the cephalosporin family of antibiotics, is used for the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections, such as those of the respiratory system, ear, skin, urinary tract, and bone. However, this drug is insoluble in water, has very poor bioavailability, and is released unchanged in vast quantities via the urine after being absorbed by the body. In many cases, antibiotic resistance develops, rendering the therapy ineffective. To address these issues, drug delivery systems have been formulated. In this article, novel emerging nanocarriers, including polymer nanoparticles (NPs), carbon-based nanostructures, lipid-based NPs, and inorganic NPs, used to improve CEF delivery and its antibacterial efficacy against a range of bacteria and diseases, including antibiotic-resistant species are described. In addition, the intrinsic antibacterial properties of the resulting nanocomposites are examined. Finally, the consequences of the co-delivery of CEF with other drugs are discussed. CEF-based nanoformulations have greater antibacterial action, enhanced targeted distribution, and a longer systemic flow duration than the free drug. In addition, these nanoplatforms are capable of overcoming antibiotic resistance. Co-delivery studies of CEF with other drugs indicate that a more synergistic effect is achieved with this method.