Applications of Chitosan in Pulmonary Drug Delivery

Abstract

Pulmonary administration is an effective method for treating lung and other diseases. Drugs can be transported directly to the lung by the pulmonary drug delivery system (PDDS). PDDS has the advantages of maintained local drug concentration, reduced side effects, controllable drug release, promoted drug absorption, prolonged drug action time, and improved patient compliance. Polymers have been extensively utilized to prepare novel PDDS. Among these polymers, chitosan (CS) is a natural cationic polysaccharide which is rich in its source. It has many unique physicochemical properties, good biocompatibility, and satisfactory biodegradability. CS has been a popular biomaterial in pharmaceutics for decades and is widely used in drug delivery. CS contains many amino groups. The contained positive charges can interact strongly with the negatively charged mucosa membranes, thereby facilitating CS adsorption on the mucosal surface, avoiding clearance by the cilia, and improving the adhesion and penetration rate on the cell membrane. Moreover, studies have shown that CS could open cell tight junctions, which would promote drug transportation across the epithelial tissue. Thus, CS is an especially suitable material for PDDS. In this chapter, we will focus on the research progress and the applications of CS in PDDS. Many representative and advanced studies on CS-based PDDS are reviewed in detail.

Nanosized Drug Delivery Systems to Fight Tuberculosis

“…Studies in the literature with antitubercular drug nanocarriers mostly focus on SLNPs as well as polymeric NPs (PLGA, chitosan, alginate), allowing the co-encapsulation of several first-line antibiotics, and the considerable reduction in the treatment posology [ 177 , 178 ]. To date, only scarce studies have dealt with the encapsulation of second-line drugs, and especially newly discovered active molecules such as LZN, BDQ, DLM and PMD.…”

Lipid Nanoparticles as Delivery Vehicles for Inhaled Therapeutics

“…The multiple amine groups contribute to the positive charge of chitosan in the approximately neutral pH of airway mucus [ 74 , 141 ]. Electrostatic interactions with the negatively charged mucins give chitosan-coated particles the ability to adhere to the airway mucosal surfaces [ 74 , 144 ]. Chitosan-coated particles are also less likely to be carried in the mucociliary escalator [ 74 , 144 ].…”

“…Electrostatic interactions with the negatively charged mucins give chitosan-coated particles the ability to adhere to the airway mucosal surfaces [ 74 , 144 ]. Chitosan-coated particles are also less likely to be carried in the mucociliary escalator [ 74 , 144 ]. Additionally, chitosan can negotiate itself between the tight junctions of airway surface epithelial cells, promoting drug uptake and bioavailability in the lungs [ 144 , 145 ].…”

“…Chitosan-coated particles are also less likely to be carried in the mucociliary escalator [ 74 , 144 ]. Additionally, chitosan can negotiate itself between the tight junctions of airway surface epithelial cells, promoting drug uptake and bioavailability in the lungs [ 144 , 145 ]. There are also a variety of chitosan derivatives that can be utilized, depending on the specific chemistry of each LNP formulation and its demands, such as trimethyl chitosan, carboxymethyl chitosan and PEGylated chitosan [ 74 ].…”

Development of Inhalable Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Ciprofloxacin for Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis Treatment

“…41 At present different evidence support the usage of chitosan as a carrier to deliver active ingredients deep inside the lungs from a dry powder inhaler. 42,43 Therefore, CIP dry powder prepared using chitosan as a carrier was expected to show improved drug release in lower airways and the alveolar regions of the lung.…”