Future of nanomedicines for treating respiratory diseases

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Nanoparticles are under discussion in drug delivery for more than 20 years now, but examples for nanoparticulate formulations in the treatment of respiratory diseases are rare and mostly limited to the administration of sub-micron drug particles (ultrafine particles). However, nanoparticles may also carry specific benefits for respiratory treatment. Are nanoparticles the next-generation drug carrier system to facilitate systemic delivery, sustained release and cancer treatment in the lungs?

Areas covered: This review will look into the promises and opportunities of the use of nanoparticles in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Important aspects to discuss are the fate of nanoparticles in the lung and mechanisms for reproducible delivery of nanoparticulate formulations to the lungs. Examples are given where nanoparticles may be advantageous over for traditional formulations and further aspects to explore are mentioned.

Expert opinion: The benefit of nanoparticulate systems for respiratory delivery adds to the portfolio of possible formulation strategies, depends on the intended functionality and needs more exploration. Advantages of such systems are only seen in special cases.

KEYWORDS:

• (Bio)polymers
• delivery
• formulations
• inhalation
• liposomes
• sustained release
• targeting
• toxicity
• uptake
• vaccines

Article highlights

• Discussion of potential advantages of nanoparticles in the respiratory tract

• Explanation of nanoparticle fate in the respiratory system

• Examples of nanotherapeutics in development

• Formulation and delivery aspects from nano-dispersion to a applicable dosage form

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

R Scherließ is a co-inventor of a patent on ‘Antigen-loaded chitosan nanoparticles for immunotherapy’ (WO2015/185180A1). The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.