PULMONARY DELIVERY OF LIPOSOME-ENCAPSULATED DRUGS IN ASTHMA THERAPY

Microencapsulation of a number of drugs in microscopic phospholipid ve sicles (liposomes) for site-targeted delivery of compounds is a novel area of drug delivery. More novel is the application of this concept f or aerosol delivery of drugs to the lungs, particularly as it applies to the development of topical therapies for asthma. Although still in its relative infancy, pulmonary drug delivery of liposomal antiasthma drugs is a promising method of conferring sustained release and prolon ged duration of action of drugs in the lung. It provides lung-targeted drug delivery with minimal systemic availability, thereby affording r eduction in undesirable systemic adverse effects. The technology for d elivery of liposomal antiasthma drugs as aqueous aerosols, metered dos e inhalers and dry powder formulations for inhalation is evolving. Thi s article provides an overview of various aspects of pulmonary deliver y of a variety of liposomal antiasthma drugs.