Numerical Analysis of Carrier Particle Motion in a Dry Powder Inhaler

Abstract

The efficiency of dry powder inhalers (DPIs) for drug delivery is still very low and is therefore the objective of intensive research. Thus, numerical calculations (computational fluid dynamics (CFD)) using the Euler/Lagrange approach without coupling are being performed in order to analyze flow structure and carrier particle motion within a typical inhaler device. These computations are being performed for a steady-state situation with a flow rate of 100 l/min. Essential for the detachment of the very fine drug powder (i.e., between 1 and 5 μm) from the carrier particles are the fluid stresses experienced by such particles (i.e., relative velocity, turbulence, and fluid shear) as well as wall collisions, which are both evaluated in the present study. Since the carrier particles are rather large (i.e., normally 50–100 μm), first the importance of different relevant fluid forces, especially transverse lift forces, is investigated. Moreover, the significance of the parameters in the particle–wall collision model is highlighted and a statistical analysis of particle–wall collisions in an inhaler is conducted. The improved understanding of particle motion in the normally very complex flows of inhalers will be the basis for optimizing inhaler design.