RT Journal Article
T1 The lung (surfing) dealer: pulmonary surfactant and drug delivery
A1 Cañadas Benito, Olga
A1 Hidalgo, Alberto
A1 Pérez Gil, Jesús
AB IntroductionThe pulmonary route is an attractive route for drug delivery due to its large surface area, extensive vascularization, and avoidance of hepatic first-pass metabolism. Nevertheless, reaching alveolar regions typically requires a complex balance of aerodynamic particle size, airway geometry, patient cooperation and ventilatory capacity.Areas coveredResearch during two decades has pursued the potential use of pulmonary surfactant, the lipid-protein complex that lines and stabilizes the respiratory air–liquid interface, as drug delivery agent. Lung surfactant may incorporate and solubilize hydrophobic drugs, which could then be delivered into the airways as part of surfactant-based liposomes or nanoparticles. In this review, we summarize recent advances as they have reframed the air–lung lining fluid interface to open the innovative concept of interfacial delivery: drugs could actively spread over the respiratory surface, driven by interfacial forces such as those defining pulmonary surfactant action. Literature included in this review was systematically searched in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using targeted keyword combinations.Expert opinionKey knowledge gaps and technological challenges are identified whose investigation will contribute to develop the full potential of PS-based inhalation delivery strategies.
PB Taylor and Francis
SN 1742-5247
YR 2026
FD 2026-03
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/137813
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/137813
LA eng
NO Cañadas, O., Hidalgo, A., & Pérez-Gil, J. (2026). The lung (surfing) dealer: pulmonary surfactant and drug delivery. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 23(6), 1019–1029. https://doi.org/10.1080/17425247.2026.2646545
NO Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 28 jun 2026