Ballistic Penetration of Highly Charged Nanoaerosol Particles through a Lipid Monolayer

Permeation of Nanoparticles into Pulmonary Surfactant Monolayer: In Situ X-ray Standing Wave Studies

High-resolution X-ray techniques were applied to examine the effects of gold nanoparticles (size <5 nm) on natural pulmonary surfactant and pure DPPC monolayers preliminarily formed on water subphase in a Langmuir trough. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic nanoparticles were delivered from nanoaerosol using electrodeposition method. Grazing incidence diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, and X-ray standing wave measurements allow to monitor the changes in molecular organization of lipid monolayer and to locate the position of gold nanoparticles. X-ray experiments were performed over a period of 9-14 h. The obtained results evidenced that, on a long time scale, the deposition of nanoparticles, even at low doses, can induce pronounced alterations in lipid monolayer. The presented data can help to elucidate the mechanism of pulmonary translocation of inhaled nanoparticles that is of special interest for biomedical investigations of potential risk of nanoaerosols for human health.

Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery System: The Magic Bullet for the Treatment of Chronic Pulmonary Diseases

Chronic pulmonary diseases encompass different persistent and lethal diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), cystic fibrosis (CF), asthma, and lung cancers that affect millions of people globally. Traditional pharmacotherapeutic treatment approaches (i.e., bronchodilators, corticosteroids, chemotherapeutics, peptide-based agents, etc.) are not satisfactory to cure or impede diseases. With the advent of nanotechnology, drug delivery to an intended site is still difficult, but the nanoparticle's physicochemical properties can accomplish targeted therapeutic delivery. Based on their surface, size, density, and physical-chemical properties, nanoparticles have demonstrated enhanced pharmacokinetics of actives, achieving the spotlight in the drug delivery research field. In this review, the authors have highlighted different nanoparticle-based therapeutic delivery approaches to treat chronic pulmonary diseases along with the preparation techniques. The authors have remarked the nanosuspension delivery via nebulization and dry powder carrier is further effective in the lung delivery system since the particles released from these systems are innumerable to composite nanoparticles. The authors have also outlined the inhaled particle's toxicity, patented nanoparticle-based pulmonary formulations, and commercial pulmonary drug delivery devices (PDD) in other sections. Recently advanced formulations employing nanoparticles as therapeutic carriers for the efficient treatment of chronic pulmonary diseases are also canvassed.