Biodegradable polymeric nanocarriers for pulmonary drug delivery.
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary drug delivery is attractive for both local and systemic drug delivery as a non-invasive route that provides a large surface area, thin epithelial barrier, high blood flow and the avoidance of first-pass metabolism.


OBJECTIVE
Nanoparticles can be designed to have several advantages for controlled and targeted drug delivery, including controlled deposition, sustained release, reduced dosing frequency, as well as an appropriate size for avoiding alveolar macrophage clearance or promoting transepithelial transport.


METHODS
This review focuses on the development and application of biodegradable polymers to nanocarrier-based strategies for the delivery of drugs, peptides, proteins, genes, siRNA and vaccines by the pulmonary route.


CONCLUSIONS
The selection of natural or synthetic materials is important in designing particles or nanoparticle clusters with the desired characteristics, such as biocompatibility, size, charge, drug release and polymer degradation rate.
Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Technologie & Biopharmazie, Ketzerbach 63, D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
Erik
E
Rytting
Juliane
J
Nguyen
Xiaoying
X
Wang
Thomas
T
Kissel
D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004337:Drug Carriers; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014612:Vaccines; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D004247:DNA