CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

As the WHO stated, lower respiratory infections are the third leading cause of death. In addition, it is remarkablethat antimicrobial resistance represents a huge threat. Thus, new therapeutic weapons are required. Among thepossible alternatives, antibiotic encapsulation in nanoparticles has gained much attention in terms of improvedtolerability, activity and ability to combat the resistance mechanisms of bacteria. In this regard, this reviewarticlefocuses on the latest nanocarrier approaches for inhalatory therapy of antibiotics. First, the technology related tolung disposition will be reviewed. Then, nanocarrier systems will be introduced and the challenges required toperform adequate pulmonary deposition analysed. In the following part, drug delivery systems (DDSs) on themarket or in clinical trials are described and, finally, new approaches of nanoparticles that have reached preclinicalstage are enumerated. Altogether, this review aims at gathering together the novel nanosystems foranti-infectious therapy, underlining the potential of DDSs to improve and optimize currently available antibiotictherapies in the context of lung infections.