Novel Nanoparticulate Systems for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Review

In 2020, Kiran R Dudhat and Harsha V Patel from the Department of Pharmaceutics, Gujarat Technological University, India, reviewed the potential of nanoparticulate systems for treating Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a chronic and progressive lung disease. Traditional treatments often lack specificity and can result in cytotoxicity, reduced cell uptake, drug resistance, and rapid drug clearance. The authors suggested that nanotechnology could revolutionize the treatment of lung diseases like IPF. Nanoparticles can specifically target abnormal alveolar epithelial cells, improving bioavailability and reducing toxicity due to their surface modifiability and smaller size. The review also discussed the characteristics and recent advances in the preparation of nanoparticles and their therapeutic outcomes. However, the authors also noted concerns about the safety of nanoparticles, particularly in relation to potential nanotoxicity. The document did not provide specific study sizes or numerical data.