Advanced nanotherapies for precision treatment of inflammatory lung diseases

Abstract

Inflammatory lung diseases, particularly those associated with acute pulmonary inflammation, represent a major clinical challenge due to their high global morbidity and mortality rates, as well as the absence of effective and safe therapies. While traditional pharmacological interventions have been frequently used for managing acute inflammatory lung diseases, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to improve clinical outcomes. Recently, advanced nanotherapies have emerged as a promising paradigm for targeted treatment of inflammatory lung diseases, leveraging the unique pathophysiological features of acute pulmonary inflammation, characterized by excessive inflammatory mediator production and robust immune cell infiltration. This review first outlines the pathogenic mechanisms and pathological microenvironment linked with acute lung inflammation. Then different bioresponsive nanocarriers are comprehensively summarized and discussed, with a particular emphasis on inflammation-responsive nanotherapies engineered for modulating acute pulmonary inflammation. Furthermore, innovative biomimetic nanotherapies, such as those based on cell hitchhiking, cell membrane coating, and extracellular vesicles, are critically examined. Finally, we highlight the key challenges impeding the clinical translation of these next-generation nanotherapies for acute lung inflammation and propose potential avenues for future research.