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Updated: Feb 10, 2026
Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles
Published on: December 1, 2016
Inhaled Micro/Nanoparticulate Anticancer Drug Formulations: An Emerging Targeted Drug Delivery Strategy for Lung
Nazrul Islam1,2, Derek Richard3,4
1Pharmacy Discipline, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
Abstract:
Local delivery of drug to the target organ via inhalation offers enormous benefits in the management of many diseases. Lung cancer is the most common of all cancers and it is the leading cause of death worldwide. Currently available treatment systems (intravenous or oral drug delivery) are not efficient in accumulating the delivered drug into the target tumor cells and are usually associated with various systemic and dose-related adverse effects. The pulmonary drug delivery technology would enable preferential accumulation of drug within the cancer cell and thus be superior to intravenous and oral delivery in reducing cancer cell proliferation and minimising the systemic adverse effects. Site-specific drug delivery via inhalation for the treatment of lung cancer is both feasible and efficient. The inhaled drug delivery system is non-invasive, produces high bioavailability at a low dose and avoids first pass metabolism of the delivered drug. Various anticancer drugs including chemotherapeutics, proteins and genes have been investigated for inhalation in lung cancers with significant outcomes. Pulmonary delivery of drugs from dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulation is stable and has high patient compliance. Herein, we report the potential of pulmonary drug delivery from dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations inhibiting lung cancer cell proliferation at very low dose with reduced unwanted adverse effects.
Insights
Pulmonary drug delivery via inhalation offers a non-invasive method to treat lung cancer. This approach enhances drug accumulation in cancer cells, reducing side effects and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer death globally.
- Current treatments (IV, oral) have limitations in drug accumulation and cause systemic side effects.
- Pulmonary drug delivery offers a targeted approach for lung cancer management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of pulmonary drug delivery for lung cancer treatment.
- To evaluate the efficacy of dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations for inhibiting lung cancer cell proliferation.
- To assess the benefits of reduced dosage and minimized adverse effects.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations for pulmonary drug delivery.
- Administering anticancer drugs, including chemotherapeutics, proteins, and genes, via inhalation.
- Assessing the inhibition of lung cancer cell proliferation and systemic adverse effects.
Main Results:
- Pulmonary drug delivery enables preferential drug accumulation within lung cancer cells.
- Inhaled drug delivery is non-invasive, achieves high bioavailability at low doses, and avoids first-pass metabolism.
- Dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations demonstrate stability and high patient compliance.
- Significant outcomes observed in inhibiting lung cancer cell proliferation with reduced adverse effects.
Conclusions:
- Site-specific drug delivery via inhalation is a feasible and efficient strategy for lung cancer treatment.
- Pulmonary drug delivery using DPI formulations shows potential for effective lung cancer therapy with improved safety profiles.
- This approach offers a superior alternative to intravenous and oral delivery methods for reducing cancer cell proliferation and systemic toxicity.
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