Mucoadhesive solid lipid microparticles for controlled release of a corticosteroid in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment.

AIM: Therapeutic efficacy of pulmonary diseases is often limited and drug delivery systems offer new solutions to clinical problems. Solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) are suggested as systems for the delivery of therapeutics to the lung as, because of their size, they are able to deposit into secondary bronchi.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Here, we describe two novel different SLMs using chitosan and alginate such as mucoadhesive polymers and we also studied their biocompatibility and their effectiveness compared with the free drug in controlling senescence and inflammatory processes in cigarette smoke extracts.

RESULTS: Data reported show that fluticasone propionate (FP)-loaded SLMs are more effective than FP alone in controlling oxidative stress.

CONCLUSION: The therapeutic approach using FP-loaded microparticles could be a promising strategy for the treatment of the chronic inflammatory pulmonary diseases.