https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1131-0544
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Abstract
The global threat posed by antimicrobial resistance demands urgent action and the development of effective drugs. Lower respiratory tract infections remain the deadliest communicable disease worldwide, often challenging to treat due to the presence of bacteria that form recalcitrant biofilms. There is consensus that novel anti-infectives with reduced resistance compared with conventional antibiotics are needed, leading to extensive research on innovative antibacterial agents. This review explores the recent progress in lipid-based nanomedicines developed to counteract bacterial respiratory infections, especially those involving biofilm growth; focuses on improved drug bioavailability and targeting and highlights novel strategies to enhance treatment efficacy while emphasizing the importance of continued research in this dynamic field.
Tweetable abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global issue necessitating new drugs. Lipid-based nanomedicines are a possible solution, enhancing drug bioavailability and targeting. Here we highlight recent advances and the importance of research to improve treatment effectiveness.
Author contributions
Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work: EM Arroyo-Urea, F Herranz and A González-Paredes. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content: EM Arroyo-Urea, M Lázaro-Díez, J Garmendia, F Herranz and A González-Paredes. Final approval of the version to be published: EM Arroyo-Urea, M Lázaro-Díez, J Garmendia, F Herranz and A González-Paredes. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved: EM Arroyo-Urea, M Lázaro-Díez, J Garmendia, F Herranz and A González-Paredes.
Financial disclosure
This work was supported by Atracción de Talento program (Modalidad 1) from Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) (Reference 2019-T1/IND-12906), Nanomedicine CSIC Hub (Spain) funding (PIE 202180E048), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2021-123238OB-I00, PID2021-125947OB-I00, PDC2022-133493-I00, RED2022-134299-T), Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) (875/2019), Gobierno de Navarra (Spain) (PC150, PC136) and Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) (P2022/BMD-7333). CIBER is an initiative from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (Spain). EM Arroyo-Urea benefits from the FPU fellowship program of the Spanish Ministry of Universities (reference FPU21/04116). The authors have 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.
Competing interests disclosure
The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
Writing disclosure
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.