The Bombay Technologist

Lung Delivery for Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Chandrakant Hingankar

Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technology Department

Samir Joshi

Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technology Department

Keywords: Tuberculosis, Microspheres, Nanoparticles, Inhalation.

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Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is the second most deadly infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Though TB can be systemic, it most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB). Despite potentially curative pharmacotherapies being available for over 50 years, the length of the treatment and the pill burden can hamper patient lifestyle. Thus, low compliance and adherence to administration schedules remain the main reasons for therapeutic failure and contribute to the development of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains. To overcome these problems novel drug delivery approach is being investigated. Increasing number of studies are being performed for the pulmonary administration of drugs using a variety of different inhalation techniques. The obvious advantages of inhaled therapy include direct drug delivery to the diseased lungs in pulmonary TB, targeting to alveolar macrophages (AMΦs) harbouring the mycobacteria, reduced risk of systemic toxicity and improved patient compliance. Controlled drug delivery through pulmonary route can be achieved by aerosolizable liposomes, microspheres, polymeric nanoparticles and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs).