Abstract
Encapsulating pharmaceuticals in protective lipid based nanoparticles, and nebulizing them towards the target area in the body offers a range of clinical advantages. However, the process of nebulization might possibly damage sensitive nanoparticle structures, such as liposomes, resulting in loss of active pharmaceutical ingredients. We compare this loss for two types of lung inhalation devices: high-frequency piezo-actuated vibrating mesh nebulizers and non-actuated continuous jet nebulizers. We find that vibrating mesh nebulizers cause model liposomes to release more than ten times as much encapsulated material as the continuous jet nebulizers because the energies involved in nebulization are much larger. This result highlights the importance of applying a mild nebulization technology when administering shear-sensitive drug formulations such as lipid nanoparticle based drugs to the lungs.
Highlights
The nebulization route has some advantages over other administra tion routes for active pharmaceutical ingredients that target the lung area
An example of a lipid based nanoparticle drug formulation success is the recently FDA approved nebulizable liposome formulation of the antibiotic Amikacin, the success of which is attributed to the combined development of a shear-stress resistant nanoparticle formu lation of cholesterol-enriched dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPCCH) with a liposome size around 300 nm and a PARI eFlow vibrating mesh nebulization device [7]
In this communication we investigate a novel facile and fast nebulization method with a continuous jet atomi zation device to nebulize formulations at a throughput well over 1 mL/ min with a minimum amount of shear stress enabling a large window to formulate lipid based nanoparticle drug carriers (See Fig. 1)
Summary
The nebulization route has some advantages over other administra tion routes for active pharmaceutical ingredients that target the lung area. In the process of converting the lipid based nanoparticle drug formulations into aerosol droplets (nebulization), the nanoparticles may get damaged due to shear degradation, resulting in loss of the originally entrapped active pharmaceutical ingredients, in particular in case of hydrophilic materials [6] This is due to a high shear stress being exerted on the nanoparticles, leading to breakage. An example of a lipid based nanoparticle drug formulation success is the recently FDA approved nebulizable liposome formulation of the antibiotic Amikacin, the success of which is attributed to the combined development of a shear-stress resistant nanoparticle formu lation of cholesterol-enriched dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPCCH) with a liposome size around 300 nm and a PARI eFlow vibrating mesh nebulization device [7]. In this communication we investigate a novel facile and fast nebulization method with a continuous jet atomi zation device to nebulize formulations at a throughput well over 1 mL/ min with a minimum amount of shear stress enabling a large window to formulate lipid based nanoparticle drug carriers (See Fig. 1)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
