Inhalable chitosan nanoparticles as antitubercular drug carriers for an effective treatment of tuberculosis

The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize spray dried inhalable chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) for sustained delivery of anti-tubercular drugs, isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), to the lungs. CNPs were prepared by ionic gelation technique followed spray drying. Results showed that the CNPs obtained had a smooth spherical shape with an average size of 230 +/- 4.5 nm, with a poly dispersity index of 0.180 +/- 0.021. Both drugs, were detected in various organs (lungs, liver, spleen and kidney) until 24 h post nebulization. The chemotherapeutic efficacy of a single dose of drug-loaded CNPs suggested that they are more effective against the mycobacterium than free drugs.