Recent updates on dry powder for inhalation for pulmonary drug delivery systems

Abstract

Pulmonary drug delivery system is an attractive and most promising approach which is gaining great impetus for the delivery of various therapeutic agents which includes administration of proteins and peptides, agents for the treatment of tuberculosis, asthma, diabetes chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), various fungal infections, cancer, etc. This route has gained great importance due to its large surface and the absorptive area, which can potentially bypass the hepatic first-pass metabolism. The dawn of nanotechnology has brought a lot of advancement in the pre-existing formulation aspect with respect to reducing the systemic toxicity and dosing, specific targeting and enhanced efficiency of the treatment. This review reflects on the basics of pulmonary drug delivery, various formulations options available for administration via dry powder inhalers and advances in the same.