Advancements in Translational Respiratory Research Using Nanotechnology

Chronic respiratory diseases, including bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung malignancies and respiratory infections are considered major causes of mortality and, therefore, require more attention from clinicians for translational research. It is very important to deliver a specific drug to the site of action at the right time and the right dose in several medical conditions such as asthma, which requires quick restorative activity. Most of the conventional dosage forms suffer from various disadvantages, like poor bioavailability, drug accumulation and patient non-compliance. To overcome these drawbacks, novel drug delivery systems (NDDSs) such as nanoparticles have emerged as a new delivery system with several important roles. Nanotechnology has drawn increasing attention due to its ability to transfer a broad variety of drug molecules to a specific site at a lower dose, with enhanced bioavailability and increased patient compliance. This chapter summarizes the different types of nanoparticles and the current inventive attempts to use nanoparticles as new drug carriers for the successful management of chronic respiratory diseases.