Advancements in Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Pulmonary Drug Delivery

Abstract

The evolution of respiratory diseases represents a considerable public health challenge, as they are among the leading causes of death worldwide. In this sense, in addition to the high prevalence of diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer, emerging respiratory diseases, particularly those caused by members of the coronavirus family, have contributed to a significant number of deaths on a global scale over the last two decades. Therefore, several studies have been conducted to optimize the efficacy of treatments against these diseases, focusing on pulmonary drug delivery using nanomedicine. Thus, the development of nanocarriers has emerged as a promising alternative to overcome the limitations of conventional therapy, by increasing drug bioavailability at the target site and reducing unwanted side effects. In this context, nanoparticles composed of chitosan (CS) show advantages over other nanocarriers because chitosan possesses intrinsic biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and mucoadhesive capacity. Moreover, CS nanoparticles have the potential to enhance drug stability, prolong the duration of action, improve drug targeting, control drug release, optimize dissolution of poorly soluble drugs, and increase cell membrane permeability of hydrophobic drugs. These properties could optimize the performance of the drug after its pulmonary administration. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the potential of chitosan nanoparticles for pulmonary drug delivery, highlighting how their biological properties can improve the treatment of pulmonary diseases, including their synergistic action with the encapsulated drug.

Nanomaterials-assisted gene editing and synthetic biology for optimizing the treatment of pulmonary diseases

“…Natural polymers (such as chitosan, sodium alginate, and gelatin) are preferred owing to their superior cytocompatibility and biodegradability. It has been shown that chitosan and alginate enhance nebulization and simplify preparation for pulmonary delivery [94][95][96]. However, natural polymers exhibit certain limitations.…”

Microfluidic Synthesis of Scalable Layer-by-Layer Multiple Antigen Nano-Delivery Platform for SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines

“…It has numerous advantages for vaccine and drug delivery, such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, strong mucoadhesive properties, and good cost performance [ 9 ]. This LbL trimethylated chitosan-based delivery platform could enhance antigen stability, prolong the duration of action, control drug release, optimize dissolution of poorly soluble peptides, and increase the cell membrane permeability of hydrophobic antigens such as peptides [ 10 ]. Conventional methods for the production of chitosan nanoparticles have been developed in several research groups [ 11 , 12 ], but none of them has been used in the clinic.…”