RT Journal Article
T1 Pulmonary surfactant and nanocarriers: toxicity versus combined nanomedical applications
A1 Hidalgo Román, Alberto
A1 Cruz Rodríguez, Antonio
A1 Pérez-Gil, Jesús
AB Pulmonary surfactant is a membrane-based lipid-protein system essential for the process of breathing, which coats and stabilizes the whole respiratory surface and possesses exceptional biophysical properties. It constitutes the first barrier against the entry of pathogens and harmful particles in the alveolar region, extended through the lungs, but on the other hand, it can offer novel possibilities as a shuttle for the delivery of drugs and nanocarriers. The advances in nanotechnology are opening the doors to new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues, which are not accessible by means of the current approaches. In this context, the pulmonary route is called to become a powerful way of entry for innovative treatments based on nanotechnology. In this review, the anatomy of the respiratory system and its properties for drug entry are first revisited, as well as some current strategies that use the respiratory route for both local and peripheral action. Then, a brief overview is presented on what pulmonary surfactant is, how it works and why it could be used as a drug delivery vehicle. Finally, the review is closed with a description of the development of nanocarriers in the lung context and their interaction with endogenous and clinical pulmonary surfactants.
PB Elsevier
SN 0005-2736
YR 2017
FD 2017-09
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/18030
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/18030
LA eng
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)
NO Comunidad de Madrid
DS Docta Complutense
RD 21 sept 2024