Polymeric Nanoparticles: A Holistic Approach to Combat Tuberculosis

The emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) and extremely drug resistant (XDR) forms of pulmonary tuberculosis remains a major health challenge in this advanced era of health science. The longer therapy and higher dose of anti-tubercular drugs (ATDs) increases the patient incompliance at its peak levels of intolerance as well as toxicity. In the recent decades, nanoparticulate drug delivery has emerged as an excellent venture for the effective treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, brain as well as tuberculosis (TB). Currently, encapsulation and conjugation of therapeutics to polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) is an attractive strategy to enhance the effectivity of chemotherapeutics and minimize the toxic effects associated with ATDs. Various characteristics of nanoparticles (NPs) such as high stability, high loading efficiency, and high carrying capacity gives preference to the nanoparticles over other drug delivery systems. Multiple or dual drug delivery concept is continuously gaining attention as a strict and favourable requirement of anti-TB therapy. The ideal properties of NPs including controlled or sustained drug release from the matrix enhances drug bioavailability with dose reduction and also enhance compliance of TB patients. Natural and synthetic polymers are playing important role in curtailing the side effects of chemotherapeutics. This review extensively highlights the drug delivery approaches of ATDs and emphasized on the importance and application of PNPs to combat TB.