Unveiling the role of nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategies for pulmonary drug delivery

Pulmonary diseases are severe clinical conditions marked by widespread inflammation in the lungs, leading to impaired gas exchange, respiratory failure, and significant mortality. Despite intensive research and advancements in critical care, treatment of pulmonary diseases remains difficult to manage due to the absence of specific pharmacological therapies. The complexity of its pathophysiology, which involves dysregulated immune responses, increased vascular permeability, and alveolar damage, poses challenges in developing effective treatments. In recent years, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising solution for addressing these limitations, offering the potential to deliver drugs precisely to the affected lung tissue while minimizing systemic side effects. This review explores various nanoparticle platforms, including liposomes, nanoemulsions, nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, niosomes, phytosomes, bilosomes, and micelles. These nanocarriers have shown potential in enhancing stability, drug solubility, and bioavailability, and enabling controlled and targeted delivery, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes in pulmonary diseases. Each nanocarrier system is discussed in terms of its composition, mechanism of action, and suitability for pulmonary drug delivery. Moreover, the review delves into recent patents in the field, underscoring innovative advancements that have the potential to revolutionize pulmonary drug delivery. By providing a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, this paper aims to highlight their potential as novel therapeutic strategies and encourage further research and clinical exploration to improve patient outcomes in the management and treatment of pulmonary diseases.