Lipid nanoparticles with improved biopharmaceutical attributes for tuberculosis treatment.

Abstract Tuberculosis is a topic of relevance worldwide because of the social and biological factors that triggered the disease and the economic burden on the health-care systems that imply its therapeutic treatment. Challenges to handle these issues include, among others, research on technological breakthroughs modifying the drug regimens to facilitate therapy adherence, avoid mycobacterium drug resistance, and minimize toxic side-effects. Lipid nanoparticles arise as a promising strategy in this respect as deduced from the reported scientific data. They are prepared from biodegradable and biocompatible starting materials and compared to the use of the free drugs, the entrapment of active molecules into the carriers might lead to both dose reduction and controlled delivery. Moreover, the target to the lung, the organ mainly affected by the disease, could be possible if the particle surface is modified. Although conclusive statements cannot be made considering the limited number of available research works, looking into what has been achieved up to now definitively encourages to continue investigations in this regard.