Research Article Open Access

Amelioration in Approaches for Enhanced Pulmonary Drug Delivery

Abstract

Objective: Pulmonary disorders including asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), cystic fibrosis and other severe conditions like cancer have indeed made pulmonary drug delivery systems, both, an area of interest as well as concern. The mortality rate, around 8%, has enabled researchers to develop novel technologies for efficient drug delivery and reduced side effects. The review summarizes the advancements made till date to enhance the pulmonary drug delivery.

Evidence acquisition: As the drug delivery through inhalation involves two major influencing factors, i.e., formulation type and the device used for inhalation, various strategies have been designed with intent to upgrade the existing drug formulations and devices used. Apart from this, various targeting strategies including gene therapy, magnetic targeting, etc., so as to improve the target specificity of the administered drug in the regions of pulmonary system, have been developed. In spite of these advancements, pulmonary drug delivery appears to be challenging in terms of formulation design, animal model design as well as lack of availability of FDA approved excipients for inhalation.

Conclusion: Persistent efforts have been made by the researchers in combining various strategies in order to negate the drawbacks/limitations of pulmonary drug delivery so as to develop a drug delivery system with improved efficacy and negligible adverse effects.

Suraj Ashok Choudhary, Aparajita Patil

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