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Updated: Oct 30, 2025

A High-throughput Compatible Assay to Evaluate Drug Efficacy against Macrophage Passaged Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Published on: March 24, 2017
New Perspectives in Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Tuberculosis
Joandra Maísa da Silva Leite1,2, Yuri Basilio Gomes Patriota1,2, Mônica Felts de La Roca1,2
1Núcleo de Controle de Qualidade de Medicamentos e Correlatos, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Background:
Tuberculosis is a chronic respiratory disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The common treatment regimens of tuberculosis are lengthy with adverse side effects, low patient compliance, and antimicrobial resistance. Drug delivery systems (DDSs) can overcome these limitations.
Objective:
This review aims to summarize the latest DDSs for the treatment of tuberculosis. In the first section, the main pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic challenges posed by the innate properties of the drugs are put forth. The second section elaborates on the use of DDS to overcome the disadvantages of the current treatment of tuberculosis.
Conclusion:
We reviewed research articles published in the last 10 years. DDSs can improve the physicochemical properties of anti-tuberculosis drugs, improving solubility, stability, and bioavailability, with better control of drug release and can target alveolar macrophages. However, more pre-clinical studies and robust bio-relevant analyses are needed for DDSs to become a feasible option to treat patients and attract investors.
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