Inhalation drug delivery in combating pulmonary infections: Advances and challenges

Pulmonary infections (PIs) are contributing as a significant cause of mortality across the world. The clinical applications of a variety of therapeutics approved for PIs have been limited owing to their fatal side effects and inappropriate route of administration. The aforesaid drawbacks can be conquered via the inhalation delivery of therapeutics. Inhalation drug delivery can be a promising approach for targeting PIs. This approach can deliver drugs to the target site and minimize toxicity. However, types of barriers are the chief hurdle to inhalation drug delivery. The nanoparticulate approach can be efficient to overcome these barriers. The various inhalable nanoparticles (NPs) such as lipidic, polymeric, hybrid lipid polymer (HLP), and metal NPs have been explored to treat PIs efficiently. Vaccines and nanovaccines have also shown promise in the prevention and treatment of PIs and can be further explored. The inhalation device is a core of inhalation drug delivery however these devices are allied with several drawbacks therefore; the apt selection of inhalation devices is of huge significance. Furthermore, very few inhalable formulations to treat PIs have been marketed and entered into clinical trials, and extensive efforts are required to bring more formulations into the market and clinical trials. In this review, the author discusses PIs overview, conventional treatment for PIs and their limitations, inhalation drug delivery benefits and challenges. Further, nanoparticulate-based inhalation drug delivery, inhalable vaccines and nanovaccines, inhalation devices, and inhaled formulations in market, and clinical trials are also discussed. In a nutshell, inhalation drug delivery can be a promising strategy to manage PIs.

Automated summary

Pulmonary infections are a significant cause of mortality worldwide. The clinical applications of therapeutics for these infections are limited due to their side effects and inappropriate administration routes. Inhalation drug delivery is a promising approach for targeting pulmonary infections, but it faces barriers. Nanoparticulate delivery can overcome these barriers, and various inhalable nanoparticles have been explored for efficient treatment. Inhalation devices are important for drug delivery, and selecting the appropriate device is crucial. Currently, there are few inhalable formulations available in the market and in clinical trials, indicating the need for more efforts in this area.