SUSTAINED RELEASE APPROACHES TOWARDS THE CHEMOTHERAPY OF TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is a most important killer of young adults worldwide and the global blight of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is reaching epidemic proportions. It is endemic in most developing countries and resurgent in developed and developing countries with high rates of human immune insufficiency virus infection. This article reviews the current situation in terms of drug delivery approaches for tuberculosis chemotherapy. A number of novel implant, microparticulate and a variety of other carrier-based drug delivery systems incorporating the principal anti-tuberculosis agents have been made-up that either target the site of tuberculosis infection or reduce the dosing occurrence with the aim of improving patient outcomes. These developments in drug delivery represent attractive options with noteworthy merit, on the other hand, there is a necessity to manufacture an oral system, which directly addresses issues of unacceptable rifampicin bioavailability in fixed-dose combinations. This is fostered by the need to deliver medications to patients more efficiently and with fewer side effects, especially in developing countries. The fabrication of a polymeric once-daily oral multi particulate fixed-dose combination of the principal anti-tuberculosis drugs, which attains segregated delivery of rifampicin and isoniazid for improved rifampicin bioavailability, could be a step in the right direction in addressing issues of treatment failure due to patient non-compliance.