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Stability Considerations for Bacteriophages in Liquid Formulations Designed for Nebulization
Rohan Flint1,2, Daniel R Laucirica2, Hak-Kim Chan3
1School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
Cells
|August 26, 2023
Summary
Phage therapy offers a promising alternative for treating lung infections in chronic respiratory diseases. This review explores optimizing phage stability during nebulization for effective delivery to deep lung tissues.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pulmonology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Pulmonary bacterial infections pose risks to individuals with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) like cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) necessitates novel therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antibiotics.
- Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is an emerging alternative or adjunct treatment for infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current findings on the formulation and stability of liquid phage formulations for nebulized delivery.
- To identify factors influencing phage stability during nebulization for respiratory tract infections.
- To provide insights for maximizing phage stability and bactericidal efficacy via inhalation therapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating phage therapy for respiratory infections.
- Analysis of in vitro and in vivo data on nebulized phage delivery.
- Examination of formulation strategies impacting phage viability and stability.
Main Results:
- Nebulization is a potential delivery route for phages to deep lung sites.
- Phage viability can be compromised during the nebulization process.
- Specific formulation characteristics are critical for maintaining phage stability and activity.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing phage formulations is essential for successful nebulized phage therapy in CRDs.
- Further research is needed to fully characterize and enhance phage stability for inhalation delivery.
- Nebulized phage therapy holds promise for combating resistant bacterial lung infections.
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