Implications of increased nanoparticle absorption by infant lungs: Future prospects

摘要

Even though inhaled therapies are currently employed to treat infants and young children with respiratory diseases, pediatric inhaled treatment is still a multidimensional problem that comprises different aspects. The early years of life are a period of great change in terms of growth and development, and these changes have a major impact on aerosol drug delivery in this age group. In addition, parameters such as physical and chemical characteristics of aerosol particles and optimization of the device design for the pediatric population have an influential role in determining the aerosol deposition. Delivery of medication incorporated into nanoparticles by inhalation has been considered to improve existing therapies for infants with the purpose of increasing lung deposition and efficacy of treatments. However, there are numerous factors that need to be analyzed and studied before inhaled therapies with nanoparticles are part of the standard treatment for infants and young children.