Abstract

PULMONARY DRUG DELIVERY AS A VITAL ROUTE FOR DELIVERYING NANOPARTICLES – A REVIEW

Nitan Bharti¹ *, S.L. Hari Kumar², Abhishek Budhiraja³

¹* Sri Sai College Of Pharmacy, Badhani, Pathankot, Punjab, India-145001

²Rayat & Bahra Institute of Pharmacy, Vill. Sahauran,Kharar, Mohali, Punjab, India -140104

³School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India-173212.

ABSTRACT

The nanotechnology has reignited interest in the lungs as a main route of drug delivery for both systemic and local treatments. The large alveolar surface area of lung coupled with the thin epithelial barrier and extensive vascularization might enhance drug transport and uptake. Such an avenue for drug delivery would greatly improve the treatment of pulmonary diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, lung cancer, tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis etc. The alteration of particle characteristics including size, surface chemistry, surface charge, and surface area, allows for the possibility of synthesizing particles specific for targeting to various cellular populations and organs including systems such as the respiratory tract. Pulmonary drug delivery is an area extensively investigated through the use of nanoparticles (particles that have a mean diameter of 300 nm or less). Polymeric nanoparticlulate formulations have many advantages over traditional dosage forms which include enhanced dissolution properties and vast potential for intracellular drug delivery. It is analysed that in the near future pulmonary diseases may be treated effectively and efficiently using inhalable therapeutic agents loaded nanoparticles. Such an approach might minimize drug related systemic side effects. After identification of the various modes of interaction, it will be possible to control and minimize such toxicological effects allowing for nanoparticles to be safely utilized as therapeutic agents for site-specific drug delivery.

Keywords: Nanoparticles, pulmonary drug delivery, aerosol, alveoli, bronchioles, inhalation, site-specific targeting.