Targeting Drug Delivery to the Lungs by Inhalation

[摘要] Most drugs targeted to the respiratory tract are used for theirlocal action. For example, ephidrine for nasal decongestion, beta-2agonists for bronchodilatation, and inhaled steroids to suppress theinflammation seen in asthmatic airways. Since the drug is delivereddirectly to its required site, only a small quantity is needed foran adequate therapeutic response, and consequently there is a lowincidence of systemic side effects compared with oral or intravenousadministration. More recently, it has become apparent that thelining of the respiratory tract, from nasal mucosa to airways andalveoli, may be used for the absorption of a drug for its systemiceffect. This route of administration may be particularly attractiveif it avoids the metabolic destruction encountered when some drugsare administered by alternative routes (for instance, peptides andproteins are rapidly destroyed by peptidases when Oven by the oralroute). If there is a lack ofclinical response to an aerosolizeddrug, it is important to question whether the drug has failed orwhether delivery to the site of action is inadequate. To delivertherapeutic agents by inhalation to the lower respiratory tract,inhaled drug particles must have appropriate aerodynamiccharacteristics. In addition, the anatomy and pathophysiology of thepatient's respiratory tract, mode of inhalation through theinhaler, and the characteristics of the inhalational device itself,may significantly affect drug deposition.

[学科分类] 生理学与病理学