Tuberculosis: from molecular pathogenesis to effective drug carrier design

In the past two decades, tuberculosis has gone from being a forgotten disease to a modern and recrudescent pathology. Tuberculosis is a curable infection and most of the negative therapeutic outcomes are related to poor patient compliance, which could be solved by new drug delivery approaches. By using such approaches the technological drawbacks of the currently used therapeutic agents could be addressed. In addition, optimum effectiveness of the drug by targeting the infection reservoirs could be achieved. In this article we compile the general physiological aspects of the infection along with new research updates especially on novel carriers used in the prevention of tuberculosis which might enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance.

► In spite of highly effective treatments for TB, cure rates remains low due to unsatisfactory patient compliances. ► Present efforts in improving treatment focus on shortening the length of treatment or utilizing innovative drug delivery strategies. ► Both polymeric and lipidic systems are well suited for the delivery of antimicrobial agents. ► Targeting strategies include both active and passive targeting and local delivery.