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Plenty of Room at the Surface – Inhalable Polymeric Nanoparticles for Lung Delivery

Rotolo L.

Respiratory Drug Delivery 2024. Volume 1, 2024: 44-51.

Abstract:

This article will cover advancements in inhalable polymeric nanoparticles for lung delivery, with a particular focus on mRNA therapies. The mechanical and physiological barriers in the respiratory tract that influence nucleic acid delivery will be addressed. The importance of in vivo testing and the use of appropriate inhalation devices in early stages of pre-clinical research will be highlighted. Some of the key differences between lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and polymers will be described and focus will be given to newly synthesized Poly-Beta-Amino-Thio-Esters (PBATEs) as a potential clinical candidate for inhalable mRNA. Current bottlenecks of this early-stage technology will be reviewed. Chemical interactions between the synthetic and biological polymer at the ‘surface’ could increase the loading capacity in the nanoparticles (‘bottom’) and create stronger systems to open doors to their use in gene therapy.