Preparation of large porous biodegradable microspheres by using a simple double-emulsion method for capreomycin sulfate pulmonary delivery

Fighting tuberculosis: old drugs, new formulations

This review reports the state of the art on innovative drug delivery strategies designed for antitubercular chemotherapeutics. The introduction contains the fundamental biological background concerning tuberculosis and a review of the current antitubercular therapy, and is followed by a critical report of the micrometric and nanometric particulate systems designed and investigated to improve tuberculosis chemotherapy.

Production of morphology-controllable porous hyaluronic acid particles using a spray-drying method

Hyaluronic acid (HA) porous particles with controllable porosity and pore size, ranging from 100 to 300 nm, were successfully prepared using a colloidal templating and spray-drying method. HA powder and polystyrene latex (PSL) particles, which were used as the precursor and templating agent, respectively, were mixed in aqueous solution and spray-dried using a two-fluid nozzle system to produce HA and PSL composite particles. Water was evaporated during spray-drying using heated air with a temperature of 120 degrees C. This simple process was completed within several seconds. The prepared particles were collected and washed with an organic solvent to dissolve the PSL templating agent. The porosity and pore size of the resulting particles were easily controlled by changing the initial mass ratio of precursor to templating agent, i.e., HA to PSL, and by altering the size of the PSL template particles.

Design of methylprednisolone biodegradable microspheres intended for intra-articular administration

This study aimed to design methyprednisolone (MP)-loaded poly(D,L lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres (MS) intended for intra-articular administration. MP was encapsulated in four different types of PLGA by using an S/O/W technique. The effects of beta-irradiation at the dose of 25 kGy were evaluated on the chemical and physicochemical properties of MS and the drug release profiles. The S/O/W technique with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) as surfactant allowed obtaining MS in the tolerability size (7-50 microm) for intra-articular administration. The MP encapsulation efficiency ranged 56-60%. HPMC traces were evidenced in the loaded and placebo MS by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. MS made of the capped PLGA DL5050 2M (MS 2M) and uncapped PLGA DL5050 3A (MS 3A) prolonged the release of MP over a 2- to 3-month period with a triphasic (burst release-dormant period-second release pulse) and biphasic release pattern, respectively. The beta-irradiation did not significantly alter the morphology, chemical, and physicochemical properties of MS. The only variation was evidenced in the drug release for MS 2M in term of shorting of the dormant period. The minimal variations in the properties of irradiated PLGA MS, which are in disagreement with literature data, may be attributed to a radioprotecting effect exerted by HPMC.

Chitosan-based spray-dried respirable powders for sustained delivery of terbutaline sulfate

In this study, we describe the preparation of highly dispersible dry powders for pulmonary drug delivery that display sustained drug release characteristics. Powders were prepared by spray-drying 30% v/v aqueous ethanol formulations containing terbutaline sulfate as a model drug, chitosan as a drug release modifier and leucine as an aerosolisation enhancer. The influence of chitosan molecular weight on the drug release profile was investigated by using low, medium and high molecular weight chitosan or combinations thereof. Following spray-drying, resultant powders were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction, tapped density analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravitational analysis. The in vitro aerosolisation performance and drug release profile were investigated using Multi-Stage Liquid Impinger analysis and modified USP II dissolution apparatus, respectively. The powders generated were of a suitable aerodynamic size for inhalation, had low moisture content and were amorphous in nature. The powders were highly dispersible, with emitted doses of over 90% and fine particle fractions of up to 82% of the total loaded dose, and mass median aerodynamic diameters of less than 2.5microm. A sustained drug release profile was observed during dissolution testing; increasing the molecular weight of the chitosan in the formulation increased the duration of drug release.

Inhalable microparticles containing large payload of anti-tuberculosis drugs

Microparticles containing large payloads of two anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs were prepared and evaluated for suitability as a dry powder inhalation targeting alveolar macrophages. A solution containing one part each of isoniazid and rifabutin, plus two parts poly(lactic acid) (L-PLA) was spray-dried. Drug content and in vitro release were assayed by HPLC, and DSC was used to elucidate release behaviour. Particle size was measured by laser scattering and aerosol characteristics by cascade impaction using a Lovelace impactor. Microparticles were administered to mice using an in-house inhalation apparatus or by intra-tracheal instillation. Drugs in solution were administered orally and by intra-cardiac injection. Flow cytometry and HPLC were used to investigate the specificity and magnitude of targeting macrophages. Microparticles having drug content approximately 50% (w/w), particle size approximately 5 microm and satisfactory aerosol characteristics (median mass aerodynamic diameter, MMAD=3.57 microm; geometric standard deviation, GSD=1.41 microm; fine particle fraction, FPF(<4.6 microm)=78.91+/-8.4%) were obtained in yields of >60%. About 70% of the payload was released in vitro in 10 days. Microparticles targeted macrophages and not epithelial cells on inhalation. Drug concentrations in macrophages were approximately 20 times higher when microparticles were inhaled rather than drug solutions administered. Microparticles were thus deemed suitable for enhanced targeted drug delivery to lung macrophages.