Title:Inhalation Delivery of Host Defense Peptides (HDP) using Nano- Formulation Strategies: A Pragmatic Approach for Therapy of Pulmonary Ailments
VOLUME: 21 ISSUE: 4
Author(s):Suneera Adlakha, Ankur Sharma, Kalpesh Vaghasiya, Eupa Ray and Rahul Kumar Verma*
Affiliation:Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Phase-10, Mohali, Punjab 160062, Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Phase-10, Mohali, Punjab 160062, Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Phase-10, Mohali, Punjab 160062, Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Phase-10, Mohali, Punjab 160062, Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Phase-10, Mohali, Punjab 160062
Keywords:Host defense peptides, pulmonary delivery, dry powder inhalation, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer.
Abstract:Host defense peptides (HDP) are small cationic molecules released by the immune systems
of the body, having multidimensional properties including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial
and immune-modulatory activity. These molecules gained importance due to their broad-spectrum
pharmacological activities, and hence being actively investigated. Presently, respiratory infections
represent a major global health problem, and HDP has an enormous potential to be used as an alternative
therapeutics against respiratory infections and related inflammatory ailments. Because of their
short half-life, protease sensitivity, poor pharmacokinetics, and first-pass metabolism, it is challenging
to deliver HDP as such inside the physiological system in a controlled way by conventional delivery
systems. Many HDPs are efficacious only at practically high molar-concentrations, which is not convincing
for the development of drug regimen due to their intrinsic detrimental effects. To avail the
efficacy of HDP in pulmonary diseases, it is essential to deliver an appropriate payload into the targeted
site of lungs. Inhalable HDP can be a potentially suitable alternative for various lung disorders
including tuberculosis, Cystic fibrosis, Pneumonia, Lung cancer, and others as they are active against
resistant microbes and cells and exhibit improved targeting with reduced adverse effects. In this review,
we give an overview of the pharmacological efficacy of HDP and deliberate strategies for designing
inhalable formulations for enhanced activity and issues related to their clinical implications.