Recent advances in aerosol devices for the delivery of inhaled medications

Introduction: Aerosolized medications are commonly prescribed for the treatment of patients with pulmonary diseases, and there has been an increased interest in the development of aerosol delivery devices over the years. Technical innovations have advanced device design, novel features such as breath actuation, dose tracking, portability, and feedback mechanism during treatment that improved the performance of aerosol devices, and effectiveness of inhalation therapy. Areas covered: The purpose of this paper is to review recent advances in aerosol devices for delivery of inhaled medications. Expert opinion: Drug formulations and device designs are rapidly evolving to make more consistent dosing across a broad range of inspiratory efforts, to maximize dose and target specific areas of the diseased lung.