Work

Inhaled formulations for bacterial pneumonia: Strategies and advances in drug delivery

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Inhaled formulations have garnered significant interest in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia, as they deliver the drug directly to the site of infection in the lungs, providing high local drug concentrations that are typically unattainable with oral or intravenous therapies. Technologies for inhalation formulations that enable efficient sterilization, effective nebulization, maximized lung deposition, and reduced macrophage uptake are critical for successful inhaled drug delivery. Consequently, formulation strategies for inhalation drug delivery aimed at treating bacterial pneumonia are of paramount importance, encompassing factors such as the selection of bactericidal agents, drug carriers, aerodynamic diameter of particles, and particle morphology. The appropriate selection of formulation strategies is essential to overcoming the barriers of the respiratory tract, reaching the infected sites, releasing the bactericides, and penetrating deep into the biofilm to achieve effective eradication of bacterial pneumonia. This paper aims to classify recent inhaled preparations for bacterial pneumonia and to provide insights and perspectives for the development of novel inhaled delivery formulations targeting this condition. Inhaled delivery represents a significant advancement in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia; however, the availability of inhaled pharmaceuticals for such applications remains limited. This review first examines the mechanisms of inhalation barriers in bacterial pneumonia. It categorizes inhalation formulations based on carrier type, outlines design strategies, applications, and therapeutic mechanisms for inhalation agents, and discusses the challenges and prospects associated with these formulations. • Inhaled delivery represents a significant for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia. • The modification of antibiotics into inhalable drugs is a convenient approach. • The use of carriers to deliver inhaled formulations can enrich their functionality.

Source: Bioactive Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.056