Targeted Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Fibrosis: Design and Development of Biomaterials

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition and tissue scarring, and leading to impaired lung function and respiratory failure. Although current treatments, such as pirfenidone and nintedanib, slow disease progression,...

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Main Authors: Jinsha Liu, Zifeng Pan, Arshma Khan, Haoguang Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Compuscript Ltd 2025-04-01
Series:BIO Integration
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Online Access:https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/bioi-2025-0016
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author Jinsha Liu
Zifeng Pan
Arshma Khan
Haoguang Li
author_facet Jinsha Liu
Zifeng Pan
Arshma Khan
Haoguang Li
author_sort Jinsha Liu
collection DOAJ
description Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition and tissue scarring, and leading to impaired lung function and respiratory failure. Although current treatments, such as pirfenidone and nintedanib, slow disease progression, they fail to completely halt or reverse fibrosis. Therefore, innovative therapeutic strategies are needed. Targeted drug delivery systems (TDDSs) are emerging as promising solutions. Biomaterials play critical roles in these systems by enhancing drug specificity, availability, and efficacy, while minimizing systemic toxicity. The most notable biomaterials include nanotechnology-based systems, including liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles, which facilitate drug penetration and slow release in fibrotic tissues. Hydrogels have three-dimensional structures providing controlled and sustained drug release at inflammation sites, and therefore are particularly valuable in PF treatment. Furthermore, biological carriers such as stem cells and extracellular vesicles have biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory effects that improve therapeutic outcomes. Despite the promising potential of these systems, clinical translation is hindered by several challenges, including immune clearance, stability of delivery platforms, and optimization of drug retention within diseased tissues. Interdisciplinary approaches integrating precision medicine with advancements in biomaterials may provide solutions opening new avenues for PF treatment. This review discusses current developments in targeted drug delivery for PF, emphasizing the importance of biomaterials, the mechanisms and barriers involved in pulmonary drug delivery, and future perspectives for overcoming current limitations. The ultimate goal is to improve patient outcomes by revolutionizing the approach to PF treatment through advanced drug delivery technologies.
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spelling doaj-art-d52c698073814c299d37fca5ace7bc032025-08-20T03:53:23ZengCompuscript LtdBIO Integration2712-00822025-04-016110.15212/bioi-2025-0016Targeted Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Fibrosis: Design and Development of BiomaterialsJinsha Liu0Zifeng Pan1Arshma Khan2Haoguang Li3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Meizhou Meixian District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Meizhou 514000, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Meizhou Meixian District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Meizhou 514000, ChinaDepartment of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly 243123, IndiaThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, ChinaPulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition and tissue scarring, and leading to impaired lung function and respiratory failure. Although current treatments, such as pirfenidone and nintedanib, slow disease progression, they fail to completely halt or reverse fibrosis. Therefore, innovative therapeutic strategies are needed. Targeted drug delivery systems (TDDSs) are emerging as promising solutions. Biomaterials play critical roles in these systems by enhancing drug specificity, availability, and efficacy, while minimizing systemic toxicity. The most notable biomaterials include nanotechnology-based systems, including liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles, which facilitate drug penetration and slow release in fibrotic tissues. Hydrogels have three-dimensional structures providing controlled and sustained drug release at inflammation sites, and therefore are particularly valuable in PF treatment. Furthermore, biological carriers such as stem cells and extracellular vesicles have biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory effects that improve therapeutic outcomes. Despite the promising potential of these systems, clinical translation is hindered by several challenges, including immune clearance, stability of delivery platforms, and optimization of drug retention within diseased tissues. Interdisciplinary approaches integrating precision medicine with advancements in biomaterials may provide solutions opening new avenues for PF treatment. This review discusses current developments in targeted drug delivery for PF, emphasizing the importance of biomaterials, the mechanisms and barriers involved in pulmonary drug delivery, and future perspectives for overcoming current limitations. The ultimate goal is to improve patient outcomes by revolutionizing the approach to PF treatment through advanced drug delivery technologies.https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/bioi-2025-0016biomaterialsnanoparticlesprecision medicinepulmonary fibrosistargeted drug delivery
spellingShingle Jinsha Liu
Zifeng Pan
Arshma Khan
Haoguang Li
Targeted Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Fibrosis: Design and Development of Biomaterials
BIO Integration
biomaterials
nanoparticles
precision medicine
pulmonary fibrosis
targeted drug delivery
title Targeted Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Fibrosis: Design and Development of Biomaterials
title_full Targeted Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Fibrosis: Design and Development of Biomaterials
title_fullStr Targeted Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Fibrosis: Design and Development of Biomaterials
title_full_unstemmed Targeted Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Fibrosis: Design and Development of Biomaterials
title_short Targeted Drug Delivery System for Pulmonary Fibrosis: Design and Development of Biomaterials
title_sort targeted drug delivery system for pulmonary fibrosis design and development of biomaterials
topic biomaterials
nanoparticles
precision medicine
pulmonary fibrosis
targeted drug delivery
url https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/bioi-2025-0016
work_keys_str_mv AT jinshaliu targeteddrugdeliverysystemforpulmonaryfibrosisdesignanddevelopmentofbiomaterials
AT zifengpan targeteddrugdeliverysystemforpulmonaryfibrosisdesignanddevelopmentofbiomaterials
AT arshmakhan targeteddrugdeliverysystemforpulmonaryfibrosisdesignanddevelopmentofbiomaterials
AT haoguangli targeteddrugdeliverysystemforpulmonaryfibrosisdesignanddevelopmentofbiomaterials