Diseases related to the lungs are among the most prevalent medical problems threatening human life. The treatment options and therapeutics available for these diseases are hindered by inadequate drug concentrations at pathological sites, a dearth of cell-specific targeting and different biological barriers in the alveoli or conducting airways. Nanostructured delivery systems for lung drug delivery have been significant in addressing these issues. The strategies used include surface engineering by altering the material structure or incorporation of specific ligands to reach prespecified targets. The unique characteristics of nanoparticles, such as controlled size and distribution, surface functional groups and therapeutic release triggering capabilities, are tailored to specific requirements to overcome the major therapeutic barriers in pulmonary diseases. In the present review, the authors intend to deliver significant up-to-date research in nanostructured therapies in inflammatory lung diseases with an emphasis on biocomposite-based nanoparticles.
Keywords: alveoli; biocomposites; biodegradability; cell targeting; cell-specific targeting; inflammatory lung diseases; lungs; nanoparticles; nanostructured delivery; pulmonary diseases.
Lung-related disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and pulmonary fibrosis are the result of inflammatory processes in the human body. The causes of these lung diseases can vary from unknown to specific. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is most commonly caused by smoking, whereas asthma may be caused by allergens, infections, cold air or smoke. Targeting these lung-related diseases with biologically degradable polymeric nanoparticles has recently been proposed as an effective treatment. These nanoparticles can be made by combining different materials to form biocomposite nanoparticles. Different drugs can be loaded into nanoparticles, and the surface of nanoparticles can be modified to change their properties; for example, to make them target diseased parts of the lung. In this article, the authors discuss current trends in nanoparticle treatment of inflammatory lung diseases, including the significance of biologically degradable materials.