NANOPARTICULATE TECHNOLOGY IN THE TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS: A REVIEW

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the second most deadly infectious disease which causes for morbidity as well as mortality. This communicable infectious disease is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can produce silent, latent infection as well as progressive, active disease. Globally, 2 billion people are infected and roughly 2 million people die from tuberculosis each year. Despite for all the medical advancement, its resurgence among the developed world is a matter to be considered. Till date only BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerian) vaccine is available which is ineffective against adult pulmonary TB, which is the common form of disease. The emergence of Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR TB) and Extensively Dug Resistant TB (XDR TB) due to the misuse of anti-tubercular drugs is also a major concern. The traditional drug therapy involve long term and  multiple drug dosing which leads to poor compliance among patients  associated with severe side effects. Nanoparticle based treatment shows convincing and promising outcomes in the treatment of tuberculosis. This review discusses about nanoparticle technology which involves the encapsulation of antitubercular drugs as nanoparticles that leads to improved bioavailability, specific target site to the drug and circumvent the hepatotoxicity/ ototoxicity/ nephro toxicity/ ocular toxicity prevalent the first line chemotherapy.