Role of nanoparticles loaded with pirfenidone after bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in adult male albino rats

Background Lung fibrosis is a severe form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Targeting cells is a good approach in drug delivery. Pirfenidone is an antifibrotic drug ‘used’ for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Aim The aim of the present work was to study the effect of nanoparticles (niosomes) loaded with pirfenidone on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in adult male albino rats with different histological techniques. Material and methods A total of 40 rats were divided into six groups: group I, control (five rats); group II pirfenidone treated (five rats); group III, encapsulated-pirfenidone treated (five rats); group IV, bleomycin treated (five rats); group V, bleomycin-pirfenidone treated (10 rats), which was then subdivided into two subgroups, that is, subgroup Va (five rats) and subgroup Vb (five rats); and group VI, bleomycin-encapsulated-pirfenidone treated (10 rats), which was then subdivided into two subgroups, that is, subgroup VI a (five rats) and subgroup VIb (five rats). Lung specimens were stained using hematoxylin and eosin-stained, Masson’s trichrome, anti-transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β 1 ), and toluidine blue for light microscopic examination and transmission electron microscopy. Assessments of mean area % of the stained collagen fibers and intensity of TGF-β 1 and the mean thickness of blood–air barrier of ultrathin sections were performed and then subjected to statistical analysis. Results Encapsulated pirfenidone-treated subgroups showed more patent alveoli, sacs, and ducts; patent bronchioles; blood vessels; and more type I pneumocytes and less type II. The blood–air barrier had thin basal lamina. There were better results in collagen deposition and TGF-β 1 in lung tissues with encapsulated pirfenidone treatment. Conclusion Encapsulated pirfenidone resulted in better improvement than using pirfenidone only.