Inhaled hyaluronic acid microparticles containing isoniazid and chitosan/dextran sulfate nanoparticles loaded with rifampin as a strategy for pulmonary delivery of antibiotics in the treatment of tuberculosis.

• Grant number: 24/09985-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: May 16, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Andréia Bagliotti Meneguin
• Grantee: Ana Beatriz Grotto Piperas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The treatment involves a combination of antibiotics; however, its complex therapeutic regimen leads to low treatment adherence, primarily due to the high incidence of adverse effects. The use of inhalation systems, also called as dry-powder inhaler (DPI), emerges as an innovative strategy to optimize the direct delivery of drugs to the lungs, providing greater convenience to patients and ensuring higher efficacy, along with reduced adverse effects. To develop systems capable of overcoming defense mechanisms and reaching pulmonary granulomas - lipophilic structures that hinder the adequate penetration and distribution of drugs - microparticles of hyaluronic acid, an extremely mucoadhesive natural polymer, containing isoniazid and chitosan/dextran sulfate nanoparticles loaded with rifampicin will be obtained by spray drying. Therefore, this research project aims to microencapsulate nanoparticles to optimize treatment efficacy, providing a more efficient and rapid therapeutic response for TB patients.