Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (nDDS) offer a variety of options when it comes to routes of administration. One possible path is crossing mucosal barriers, such as in the airways and in the GI tract, for systemic distribution or local treatment. The main challenge with this administration route is that the size and surface properties of the nanoparticles, as opposed to small molecular drugs, very often results in mucosal capture, immobilization and removal, which in turn results in a very low bioavailability. Strategies to overcome this challenge do exist, like surface ‘stealth’ modification with PEG. Here we review an alternative or supplemental strategy, co-association of mucus modulating agents with the nDDS to improve bioavailability, where the nDDS may be surface modified or unmodified. This contribution presents some examples on how possible co-association systems may be achieved, using currently marketed mucolytic drugs, alternative formulations or novel agents.

当涉及给药途径时，纳米颗粒药物递送系统（nDDS）提供了多种选择。一种可能的途径是跨越粘膜屏障，例如在气道和胃肠道中，以进行全身分布或局部治疗。与小分子药物相反，这种给药途径的主要挑战是纳米颗粒的大小和表面性质经常导致粘膜捕获，固定和去除，从而导致非常低的生物利用度。确实存在克服这一挑战的策略，例如用PEG进行表面“隐身”修饰。在这里，我们回顾了一种替代或补充的策略，将黏液调节剂与nDDS共同关联以提高生物利用度，其中nDDS可能是表面修饰的或未修饰的。