Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40640645›Full record

ArticlePharmaceutical research2025

Inhalable N-Acetylcysteine-loaded Lactose-coated PLGA Nanoparticles for Tuberculosis Treatment.

Kabi Raj Chaudhary, Cláudia Viegas, Paola Pirela, Mariana Atalaia, Beatriz Ruivinho, Sanchit Arora, Arti Singh, Pedro Brandão, Charan Singh, Pedro Fonte

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pharmaceutical research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Kabi Raj ChaudharyDepartment of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Affiliated to IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Punjab, 142001, India.
Cláudia ViegasFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMCB), Universidade do Algarve, Gambelas Campus, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
Paola PirelaiBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal.
Mariana AtalaiaiBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal.
Beatriz RuivinhoCentro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
Sanchit AroraDepartment of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Affiliated to IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Punjab, 142001, India.
Arti SinghDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Science and Technology, UPES, Dehradun-248007, Uttarakhand, India.
Pedro BrandãoiBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal.
Charan SinghDepartment of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Affiliated to IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Punjab, 142001, India. c.singhniper009@gmail.com.
Pedro FonteCentro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), Campus de Gambelas, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal. prfonte@ualg.pt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1115-9282

Funding

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia 2020.08839. BDFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia LA/P/0101/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia LA/P/0140/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia UIDB/04326/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia UIDB/04565/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia UIDB/04585/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia UIDP/04326/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia UIDP/04565/2020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveGlutathione (GSH), known for having mucolytic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, is used in clinical practice in several pathologies, including tuberculosis (TB). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been primarily used to treat lung conditions and paracetamol-induced liver toxicity. However, NAC exhibits potential antimycobacterial activity through several mechanisms including immunomodulation, enhancement of GSH levels, and direct antimycobacterial effect. In this work, we aim to develop an effective drug delivery system for NAC for inhalable formulations.

methodsHerein, we report the development of lactose-coated NAC-loaded Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NAC-PLGA NPs) obtained by double emulsion methodology. Lactose has a double role, as a cryoprotectant agent and dispersant for inhalable formulations. The physicochemical properties of lactose-coated NAC-PLGA NPs were examined in terms of particle size, polydispersity index (PdI), zeta potential (ZP), encapsulation efficiency, and morphology. The in vitro release and lung deposition studies were assessed.

resultsThe physicochemical characterization studies revealed the compatibility of the drug with the selected excipients. Moreover, lactose-coated NAC-PLGA NPs showed particle size of 310 ± 3 nm, PdI of 0.15 ± 0.01, and of -11.5 ± 0.4 mV. The in vitro release study suggested a biphasic release profile. Likewise, in vitro lung deposition studies revealed desirable lung deposition parameters, indicating effective particle size for efficient pulmonary delivery. Additionally, in vitro studies for antimycobacterial activity exhibited superior antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) H37Rv.

conclusionsThese preliminary findings suggest that lactose-coated NAC-PLGA NPs can open the door to new therapeutic options against one of the most drug-refractory and drug-resistant infectious diseases, TB.

Indexed as

AcetylcysteineAntitubercular AgentsLactoseNanoparticlesPolylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid CopolymerTuberculosisAdministration, InhalationAnimalsDrug CarriersDrug Delivery SystemsDrug LiberationExcipientsHumansLungMycobacterium tuberculosisParticle SizeAcetylcysteineAntitubercular AgentsDrug CarriersExcipientsLactosePolylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymerdry powderinhalable particlesN-acetylcysteinePLGA nanoparticlespulmonary deliverytuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID40640645
PMCPMC12304043

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.