Optimizing pulmonary treatments with nanocrystals: Current status and future prospects

Optimizing pulmonary treatments with nanocrystals: Current status and future prospects - Pulmonary diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), asthma, lung cancer, and cystic fibrosis, remain a global health concern due to the limitations of conventional therapeutic approaches, such as poor bioavailability, systemic side effects, and inefficient drug targeting. Nanocrystals have emerged as a transformative approach to optimize pulmonary drug delivery due to their ability to enhance solubility, increase drug absorption, and facilitate targeted delivery. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current advancements and future directions in the use of nanocrystals for pulmonary treatments. Key formulation methods, including high-pressure homogenization, antisolvent precipitation, and spray drying, are discussed, along with their application in developing inhalable drug delivery systems such as dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and nebulizers. The advantages of nanocrystals in overcoming challenges associated with conventional therapies, including their potential for controlled drug release, enhanced stability, and improved patient compliance, are highlighted. By synthesizing recent developments, this review aims to provide insights into the potential of nanocrystals to revolutionize pulmonary treatments and guide future research directions. Keywords: Pulmonary diseases, Nanocrystals, COPD, Lung cancer, Bioavailability, Inhalable formulations, Dry powder inhalers (DPIs).