Nanotherapeutics in pulmonary infections

Abstract

Pulmonary infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and respiratory virus infections pose serious threats around the world. Systemic delivery of drugs for lung infection treatment is often limited due to inadequate organ distribution, relatively less retention time of active chemicals in the lungs, antimicrobial resistance, and severe side effects. Nanotechnology has made amazing progress over the last few years, providing opportunities to address difficulties in conventional treatment strategies. Nanotherapeutics have the ability to encapsulate compounds with varying solubility, deliver different types of cargo, and particularly target the specific organ, cell, or cellular organelle. Furthermore, many nanotherapeutics can be given locally to the lungs via inhalation, avoiding systemic circulation. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a thorough overview of nanotherapeutics in the realm of pulmonary infections. We investigate the potential applications of nanoscale formulations such as nanoparticles (NPs), liposomes, micelles, and dendrimers in combating pulmonary infections. Furthermore, we emphasize the various approaches used in nanotherapeutics, such as targeted drug delivery, antibacterial strategies, and immunomodulation. In addition, we discuss various challenges related to nanotherapeutics, such as regulatory issues, clinical translation, and long-term toxicity. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.