Nebulizers: Scope and Application in Pulmonary Drug Delivery System

Pulmonary drug delivery system is one of the most intriguing and beneficial route for drug delivery as it offers several advantages over the conventional oral route of administration. Many devices are being studied to achieve optimum drug delivery through pulmonary route. Nebulizers, dry powder inhalers, pressurized metered dose inhalers are developed and marketed to target delivery through the pulmonary system. Nebulizers are devices which convert liquid into aerosols of appropriate size for inhalation which can efficiently reach the pulmonary region. The different types of nebulizers include jet nebulizer, ultrasonic nebulizer, vibrating mesh nebulizer. They are further subdivided according to the modification in their structure. The advancement in science has led to the development of more 'intelligent nebulizers' which include I-neb nebulizer and AKITA nebulizer, they monitor the breathing pattern of the patient and release the drug accordingly resulting in minimal wastage of the drug. Nebulizers sales have shown growth in the market owing to an increase in the incidences of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma in the young and elderly, thus, a combination of smart nebulizer and microparticle formulation will help in achieving the desired results.