Nano- and micro-based inhaled drug delivery systems for targeting alveolar macrophages

摘要

Introduction: Macrophages are the most versatile cells in the hematopoietic system and are strategically distributed in tissues to fight pathogens or other foreign particles. In the lung, however, for intracellular infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and aspergillosis, bacteria and fungi utilize the alveolar macrophage as a breeding ground. This has become a challenge for the treatment of these infections, as most drugs do not effectively reach the macrophages at therapeutic levels. Alveolar macrophages also play an important role to initiative adaptive immunity toward combating inflammation and cancer in the lung.