Dectin-1 receptor-targeted β-glucan microparticles as dry powder inhalation system – a novel strategy to improve lung pharmacokinetics of rifampicin

pharmacokinetics in rats revealed ∼23-fold higher drug concentration in AMs and extended lung residence (∼48 h) with intratracheal GMP-R compared to oral Rif. GMP-R exhibited targeting index of 5.01, with intracellular inhibitory concentrations maintained for ∼20 h. Overall, dectin-1 receptor-targeted inhalable GMP-R enhances lung deposition and intracellular concentrations, while reducing systemic toxicity. Pharmacokinetic outcomes indicate its potential for reducing dosing frequency, while warranting further validation of therapeutic efficacy in infection models.