Inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary infections: Status quo and barrier-overcoming strategies

Pulmonary infection is a serious public health challenge with high morbidity and mortality. The employment of antibiotics is the first-line treatment for pulmonary infections, while other novel anti-infection agents, such as antimicrobial peptides, have also been developed due to the emergence of dr...

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Main Authors: Yihong Gao, Wenhao Wang, Xiao Yue, Guanlin Wang, Kaiqing Zhang, Chuanbin Wu, Ziyu Zhao, Zhengwei Huang, Xuejuan Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Drug Delivery
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10717544.2025.2544683
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author Yihong Gao
Wenhao Wang
Xiao Yue
Guanlin Wang
Kaiqing Zhang
Chuanbin Wu
Ziyu Zhao
Zhengwei Huang
Xuejuan Zhang
author_facet Yihong Gao
Wenhao Wang
Xiao Yue
Guanlin Wang
Kaiqing Zhang
Chuanbin Wu
Ziyu Zhao
Zhengwei Huang
Xuejuan Zhang
author_sort Yihong Gao
collection DOAJ
description Pulmonary infection is a serious public health challenge with high morbidity and mortality. The employment of antibiotics is the first-line treatment for pulmonary infections, while other novel anti-infection agents, such as antimicrobial peptides, have also been developed due to the emergence of drug resistance. Recently, inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems have garnered significant attention for the delivery of anti-infection agents, which possess great advantages like high lung accumulations and precise delivery performances. However, the respiratory physiological structure, mucus and biofilm have been considered as the barriers that nanoparticle drug delivery systems facing, which compromise the therapeutic effects. In this integrative review, recent advances in the inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery system were introduced. In addition, we focused on the biological characteristics of these barriers and discussed effective strategies to overcome the obstacles, including precise deposition in the lower respiratory tract infection site, effective penetration of mucus and breaking of the biofilm barrier. To sum up, this review aimed to deepen the understanding of the fate of anti-infective nanoformulations in pulmonary delivery and find effective strategies to address the barriers, thus providing new insights for the development of pulmonary delivery systems against pulmonary infections.
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issn 1071-7544
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publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Drug Delivery
spelling doaj-art-acf6d5aafc4345f7bc7a9126a121d5892025-08-26T10:08:16ZengTaylor & Francis GroupDrug Delivery1071-75441521-04642025-12-0132110.1080/10717544.2025.2544683Inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary infections: Status quo and barrier-overcoming strategiesYihong Gao0Wenhao Wang1Xiao Yue2Guanlin Wang3Kaiqing Zhang4Chuanbin Wu5Ziyu Zhao6Zhengwei Huang7Xuejuan Zhang8College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR ChinaSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR ChinaSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR ChinaPulmonary infection is a serious public health challenge with high morbidity and mortality. The employment of antibiotics is the first-line treatment for pulmonary infections, while other novel anti-infection agents, such as antimicrobial peptides, have also been developed due to the emergence of drug resistance. Recently, inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems have garnered significant attention for the delivery of anti-infection agents, which possess great advantages like high lung accumulations and precise delivery performances. However, the respiratory physiological structure, mucus and biofilm have been considered as the barriers that nanoparticle drug delivery systems facing, which compromise the therapeutic effects. In this integrative review, recent advances in the inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery system were introduced. In addition, we focused on the biological characteristics of these barriers and discussed effective strategies to overcome the obstacles, including precise deposition in the lower respiratory tract infection site, effective penetration of mucus and breaking of the biofilm barrier. To sum up, this review aimed to deepen the understanding of the fate of anti-infective nanoformulations in pulmonary delivery and find effective strategies to address the barriers, thus providing new insights for the development of pulmonary delivery systems against pulmonary infections.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10717544.2025.2544683Pulmonary infectionsnanoparticle-based delivery systemphysiological barriermucus barrierbiofilm barrier
spellingShingle Yihong Gao
Wenhao Wang
Xiao Yue
Guanlin Wang
Kaiqing Zhang
Chuanbin Wu
Ziyu Zhao
Zhengwei Huang
Xuejuan Zhang
Inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary infections: Status quo and barrier-overcoming strategies
Drug Delivery
Pulmonary infections
nanoparticle-based delivery system
physiological barrier
mucus barrier
biofilm barrier
title Inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary infections: Status quo and barrier-overcoming strategies
title_full Inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary infections: Status quo and barrier-overcoming strategies
title_fullStr Inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary infections: Status quo and barrier-overcoming strategies
title_full_unstemmed Inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary infections: Status quo and barrier-overcoming strategies
title_short Inhalable nanoparticle-based delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary infections: Status quo and barrier-overcoming strategies
title_sort inhalable nanoparticle based delivery systems for the treatment of pulmonary infections status quo and barrier overcoming strategies
topic Pulmonary infections
nanoparticle-based delivery system
physiological barrier
mucus barrier
biofilm barrier
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/10717544.2025.2544683
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