EC Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death worldwide declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), particularly among aging and pediatric population and with millions of bacterial pneumonia cases each year. The significantly increasing incidence of bacterial pneumonia in both children and the elderly is found due to decreased immune function. In recent years, the problem of drug resistance in bacterial pneumonia has become increasingly serious due to the misuse of antibiotics. Bacterial pneumonia is a serious infectious disease, and its current therapeutic strategies have led to the development of multi-drug resistant bacteria. Finding drugs that are alternatives to traditional antibiotics would be an effective solution to this challenge. Currently, nanomedicines can change improve the targeting and penetration of antibiotics, and the drug size thus improving bioavailability and reducing systemic toxic effects. For enhancing vaccine-induced antigen immunogenicity and specific immune responses with widely using for infectious disease prevention, tumor immunotherapy, etc. nanomedicine can be served as vaccine delivery vectors and adjuvants. Meanwhile, nanomaterials, like lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), polymeric NPs, and exosomes, can act as delivery systems for targeted drug distribution, controlled release, and effective treatment.

In conclusion, the disadvantages of the exosomes could be compensated by other types of NPs to achieve the targets.

 Keywords: Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Pneumococcal Infections; Pneumococcal Diseases; Elderly; Aging Population; Pneumococcal Vaccines; Pneumococcal Vaccination; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19 Vaccination; SARS-CoV-2

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