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Cañadas, O.* ; Hidalgo, A. ; Pérez-Gil, J.*

The lung (surfing) dealer: Pulmonary surfactant and drug delivery.

Expert Opin. Drug Deliv., DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2026.2646545 (2026)
DOI PMC
INTRODUCTION: The pulmonary route is an attractive route for drug delivery due to its large surface area, extensive vascularization, and avoidance of hepatic first-pass metabolism. Nevertheless, reaching alveolar regions typically requires a complex balance of aerodynamic particle size, airway geometry, patient cooperation and ventilatory capacity. AREAS COVERED: Research during two decades has pursued the potential use of pulmonary surfactant, the lipid-protein complex that lines and stabilizes the respiratory air-liquid interface, as drug delivery agent. Lung surfactant may incorporate and solubilize hydrophobic drugs, which could then be delivered into the airways as part of surfactant-based liposomes or nanoparticles. In this review, we summarize recent advances as they have reframed the air - lung lining fluid interface to open the innovative concept of interfacial delivery: drugs could actively spread over the respiratory surface, driven by interfacial forces such as those defining pulmonary surfactant action. Literature included in this review was systematically searched in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using targeted keyword combinations. EXPERT OPINION: Key knowledge gaps and technological challenges are identified whose investigation will contribute to develop the full potential of PS-based inhalation delivery strategies.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Review
Keywords Interfacial Delivery ; Air-liquid Interface ; Inhaled Drug Delivery ; Respiratory Medicine ; Surface Tension ; Surfactant Nanoparticle; Plasma-proteins; Nanoparticles; Liposomes; Inhibition; Monolayer; Mechanism; Provides; Peptide; Sirna
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1742-5247
e-ISSN 1744-7593
Journal Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Publishing Place 2-4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon Or14 4rn, Oxon, England
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Lung Health and Immunity (LHI)
Grants Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities