Inflammation, allergy and asthma are the manifestation of multitude reactions of biological, cellular and immunological events. The various associated biological, cellular, and molecular events with inflammation, allergy and asthma participate to induce increased vascular permeability, vasodilatation, cellular migration, increased mucus secretion, broncho-constriction, structural changes of airway architecture, decline in pulmonary functions, release of intracellular mediators, increased formation of reactive oxygen species, cartilage degradation and loss of function. The participation of variety of effector cells viz. leukocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, macrophages, mast cells, dendritic cells, T-cells, B-cells, NK-cells, lead to cascade of events trigger of intracellular mediators (cytokines, chemokines etc.) activating diverse biological effects and immune responses. Eicosanoids are major precursors in cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase pathways and play an important role in inflammation, allergy and asthma. Such biological and cellular events are further enhanced by stress related effects. The wide varieties of synthetic and natural compounds have been showed to act on different molecular targets (receptor, enzymes, mediators, and cells) involved in inflammation, allergy and asthma and to alter produce specific/definite therapeutic activity. The present review describes pathogenesis and etiological aspects of inflammation, allergy and asthma with few relevant patents which would be immensely useful for researchers in the field of immunology and molecular pharmacology to explore new avenues/strategies for development of new generation of therapeutically active agents for treatment of inflammation and allergic disorders.

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The development of new therapeutic modalities involves the use of drug carrier, such as liposomes, which can modify pharmacokinetic and bio-distribution of drug profile. Polyene antibiotics incorporation into liposomes improves its availability at the site, bio-distribution and therapeutic index mainly through the engulfment of liposomes by circulating monocytes/macrophages and transportation to the site of infection. Polyene antibiotics (AmB, SJA-95, HA-1-92) and other antibiotics (streptomycin, tobramycin, quinolones, anti-tubercular and anti-cancer drugs), liposomal preparations are described with possible advantages from therapeutic efficacy and toxicity point of view. The polyene macrolide antibiotics liposomal preparations proved to be more effective in the treatment of systemic mycosis. The AmB-cyclodextrin derivatives inclusion complex is a major breakthrough in liposomal preparation which can be converted into aqueous phase of liposome. Liposomal drug incorporated preparation has been one of the important areas of research for developing the existing polyene antibiotics into useful chemotherapeutic agents in clinical medicine. In recent past other antibiotics have also been incorporated into liposomes using wide variety of materials, phosphatidylethanolamine derivatives (pegylated liposomes, enzyme sensitive conjugates, fluidosomes of anti-cancer drugs and poly lactic/glycolic acid microspheres for anti-tuberculosis drugs). In addition, attempts were also made to extend the receptor mediated drug targeting and to review some relevant patents.

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