The potential of chitosan for pulmonary drug delivery

• Author(s): Grenha, Ana ; Al-Qadi, Sonia ; Seijo, Begoña ; Remuñán-López, Carmen
• Date: 2010
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/2098
• Origin: Sapientia - Universidade do Algarve
• Subject(s): Chitosan; Gene delivery; Microspheres; Nanoparticles; Lung delivery
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

The administration of drugs through the pulmonary route offers great advantages, but also requires overcoming many challenges. There is a need to develop appropriate carriers for each active molecule to be delivered to the desired site in the lung, either for a local or a systemic effect. The polysaccharide chitosan is a very promising material for this purpose, given its demonstrated properties of biodegradability and biocompatibility, as well as mucoadhesivity and ability to enhance macromolecules permeation. In this review, the potential of chitosan to develop drug carriers for delivery to the lung will be discussed. The most important features that can support its selection will be explained. Besides, different approaches to increase its performance, especially concerning solubility, permeation-enhancing properties and gene transfection efficiency, will be presented. Special emphasis will be placed on information of different chitosan-based carriers, namely nanoparticles and microparticles, intended for pulmonary drug delivery.