Table 4.
Advantages and disadvantages of different drug-delivery systems
| Drug-delivery system | Advantages | Disadvantages/suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| Large porous particles of capreomycin | Elimination of injection, reduces the side effects of drugs, biodegradable, increased bioavailability, controlled release of drug24 | – |
| Microparticles of rifampin-containing mannitol | Easy to prepare, targeted, and effective; pro-release of the drug into the lungs58 | Uncontrolled release of drug58 |
| Microparticles of poly (D-L-lactic acid) | Direct delivery to the lungs and microparticles phagocytized rapidly by alveolar macrophages; multiple drug encapsulation, maintaining a higher drug concentration than the drug given by intravascular means28,42 | In vivo analysis needs to be done |
| Tunable systems for controlled release into the lungs | Monomers are already in medical application, controlled release of drugs, can be tuned to target side of interest23 | – |
| Targeted delivery of glucan particles to macrophages | Glucan particles are easily taken in by macrophages, controlled release of drug, and good targetability; therapeutic effect can be maintained with a lower concentration than the minimum inhibitory concentration; reduces adverse effects of rifampin, such as hepatotoxicity33 | Encapsulated amount of drug was below the minimum inhibitory concentration and glucan-chitosan particles dissolve at pH 5 and result in quick drug release33 |
| Plant proteins: zein | Multiple drug encapsulation and safe to use51 | Sustained release needs to be improved |
| Gelatin nano-vehicles | Biocompatible, biodegradable, low antigenicity, low cost, numerous available active groups for attaching targeting molecules, uniform distribution of the particles, extended controlled release, nontoxic compared with free drug, improved pharmacokinetics, have the potential to reduce dosing frequency53–55 | – |
| Chitosan-montmorillonite hydrogel | Good targetability and controlled release at lower pH; improved encapsulation properties57,58 | In vitro and in vivo analysis for the evaluation of the therapeutic effect and cytotoxicity needs to be done |
| Nanocomposite hydrogels of poly (vinyl alcohol) and sepiolite | Improves the water solubility of drugs, especially that of rifampin64 | Swelling behavior and crystallinity of the hydrogels are not fully understood and in vitro and in vivo analysis for the evaluation of therapeutic effect needs to be done64 |