Chapter 9 - Nanotechnology-based approaches for tuberculosis treatment

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) management program oscillates between preventive arm (vaccination) and curative arm (treatment). The only clinically approved vaccine against Bacillus Calmette–Guérin has limited efficacy and is no longer used in developed world. The treatment of TB is the longest story with triumphs and tragedies representing one of the unique success of modern medicine. This treatment has saved millions of human lives across the globe, and it faces several challenges at present. Patient noncompliance is the major drawback associated with the complex and long duration chemotherapy of TB; hence, reduction in dosing frequency forms an important therapeutic strategy. It is possible to reduce the drug dosages and dosing frequencies of antituberculosis drugs (ATDs) by employing nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. These systems act by altering the interaction of the drug with the in vivo environment, prevent premature drug degradation, and simultaneously ensure prolonged release of drugs. In recent years, therapeutic benefit of ATDs encapsulated in nanocarriers based on lipids and polymers have been established in great detailed. Numerous in vivo studies in animal models have established the fact how nanotechnology can help in reducing drug dosages by 3-fold and dosing frequencies by 15-fold in case of ATDs. The present chapter highlights the powerful potential of these nanotechnology-based ATD delivery systems to curb TB in a friendly manner and what remains to be done.