Inside lungs, the tuberculosis bacteria are taken up by the dust cells (alveolar macrophages), which are unable to digest the bacteria due to its unusual lipid rich cell wall. the bacteria multiply within the macrophage. the alveolar macrophages possess mannose (a protein) specific membrane receptors which can recognize and facilitate the internalization of carriers bearing mannose residues. mannose decorated carrier systems for selective targeting to the alveolar macrophages have been developed. the results demonstrate that such carrier systems were efficiently phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages thereby delivering a higher payload of drug in comparison to the conventional dosage forms.