Latest Advances in Inhalable Dry Powder Bacteriophage Therapy for Pulmonary Infections.

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Microbiology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Rising multidrug-resistant respiratory infections necessitate novel therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antibiotics.
• Bacteriophage therapy presents a viable alternative, but effective pulmonary delivery faces formulation and stability hurdles for inhalation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in dry powder inhalable formulations for pulmonary phage therapy.
• To focus on nanoparticle encapsulation methods for improved phage delivery and stability.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of nanoparticle carriers like solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and polymer-based nanoparticles for phage encapsulation.
• Investigation of drying techniques such as spray drying and spray freeze drying for optimal powder characteristics.
• Analysis of phage morphotype influence on stability under nebulization stress.

Main Results:

• Nanoparticle carriers improve aerodynamic properties for deep lung deposition and protect phages during processing and storage.
• Encapsulated phages exhibit significantly reduced viability loss (< 0.5 log PFU) compared to free phages.
• Optimized drying methods yield powders with desirable morphology, porosity, and dispersibility.

Conclusions:

• Inhalable nanoparticle-based phage formulations represent a promising strategy for treating multidrug-resistant pulmonary infections.
• Challenges in standardization, scaling up, and regulatory approval need addressing for clinical translation.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial for advancing phage therapy and nanotechnology for pulmonary applications.