Severe asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are nowadays associated with a poor response to corticosteroids which led to the use of high-dose with consequent improved onset of side effects. The use of nanotechnologies can represent an innovative approach for the effective treatment of both asthma and COPD. The development of new nano-formulations involving the use of nanomaterials and specifically tailored to be inhaled offers numerous advantages over conventional inhaled dosage forms. Bronchial epithelial cells are one of the primary targets of inhaled drugs and offer an ideal model for evaluating the biocompatibility and effectiveness of new nano-systems delivered via pulmonary or nasal rout by inhalation, even in conditions of high oxidative stress typical of the most severe diseases. The analysis of cellular signals involved in normal and/or pathological conditions, such as oxidative stress, inflammation and cellular degeneration, may be predictive of the pharmacological effects of the new formulations along with their potential as innovative therapies/treatments.
The development of new nanocarriers, for the delivery of a wide variety of natural and synthetic drugs is performed by the Laboratory of Biocompatible Polymers of the Univ. of Palermo and by the Pharmaceutical Sciences Section of the Univ. of Cagliari by the use of news polymers and systems. The new drug delivery systems have several advantages: the use of low doses of drug leading an effective therapeutic effect; reduction of drug resistance; increased bioavailability; controlled release of the incorporated drug; increased deposition and pulmonary retention; reduction of side effects. The use of specific in vitro model of respiratory epithelium, is performed by the IRIB of Palermo and it has the advantage to reproduce in vitro special conditions such as high oxidative stress or inflammation typical of the most severe forms of both asthma or COPD. Such models allows to evaluate the application of new nanosystems even under severe conditions that cannot be effectively treated by using traditional therapies.