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Chen J, Ye Y, Yang Q, Fan Z, Shao Y, Wei X, Shi K, Dong J, Ma Y, Zhu J. Understanding the role of swirling flow in dry powder inhalers implications for design considerations and pulmonary delivery. J Control Release 2024; 373:410-425. [PMID: 39038545 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are widely employed to treat respiratory diseases, offering numerous advantages such as high dose capacity and stable formulations. However, they usually face challenges in achieving sufficient pulmonary drug delivery and minimizing excessive oropharyngeal deposition. This review provides a new viewpoint to address these challenges by focusing on the role of swirling flow, a crucial yet under-researched aspect that induces strong turbulence. In the review, we comprehensively discuss both key classic designs (tangential inlet, swirling chamber, grid mesh, and mouthpiece) and innovative designs in inhalers, exploring how the induced swirling flow initiates powder dispersion and promotes delivery efficiency. Valuable design considerations to effectively coordinate inhalers with formulations and patients are also provided. It is highlighted that the delicate manipulation of swirling flow is essential to maximize benefits. By emphasizing the role of swirling flow and its potential application, this review offers promising insights for advancing DPI technology and optimizing therapeutic outcomes in inhaled therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Chen
- Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 211 Xingguang Road, Ningbo 315100, China
| | - Yuqing Ye
- Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 211 Xingguang Road, Ningbo 315100, China; Particle Technology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada; Suzhou Inhal Pharma Co., Ltd, 502-Bldf A SIP, 108 Yuxin Road, Suzhou 215125, China.
| | - Qingliang Yang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Particle Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Ziyi Fan
- Particle Technology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada
| | - Yuanyuan Shao
- Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 211 Xingguang Road, Ningbo 315100, China
| | - Xiaoyang Wei
- Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 211 Xingguang Road, Ningbo 315100, China
| | - Kaiqi Shi
- Suzhou Inhal Pharma Co., Ltd, 502-Bldf A SIP, 108 Yuxin Road, Suzhou 215125, China
| | - Jie Dong
- Suzhou Inhal Pharma Co., Ltd, 502-Bldf A SIP, 108 Yuxin Road, Suzhou 215125, China
| | - Ying Ma
- Particle Technology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada; Suzhou Inhal Pharma Co., Ltd, 502-Bldf A SIP, 108 Yuxin Road, Suzhou 215125, China
| | - Jesse Zhu
- Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 211 Xingguang Road, Ningbo 315100, China; Particle Technology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada; Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo 315200, China.
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Singh G, Tang P, Cheng S, Chan HK, Kourmatzis A. From laminar to turbulent flow in a dry powder inhaler: The effect of simple design modifications. Int J Pharm 2022; 616:121556. [PMID: 35131350 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In order to better understand powder dispersion in dry powder inhaler (DPI) devices, a new powder disperser was designed, which uses flow modifiers to alter powder fluidization behavior so as to physically replicate various flow conditions observed in a range of commercial DPIs. The influence of these modifiers on the performance of the DPI was analyzed for flowrates progressing from laminar (15 L/min) to transitional (30 L/min), and finally turbulent flow regimes (60 L/min) in the device. The aerosol performance of the disperser was measured using a Next Generation Impactor. For flowrate in the laminar regime, powder evacuation from the disperser was generally insufficient (<30%), which was increased to >85% when the device was operated in the turbulent flow regime. In contrast, the highest fine particle fraction (FPF) and lowest throat deposition were achieved when operating in the transitional flow regime. The FPF could be increased further by applying flow modifications such as narrowing the air passage before the powder pocket, inducing localized turbulence (by a grid) near the powder pocket, and by changing the loading position of the powder. Flow modifiers had the most noticeable effect under a laminar flow regime, however, the device operated most efficiently under a transitional flow regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajendra Singh
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; School of Engineering, IIT Mandi, HP 175075, India
| | - Patricia Tang
- Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Shaokoon Cheng
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Hak-Kim Chan
- Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Agisilaos Kourmatzis
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Singh G, Lowe A, Azeem A, Cheng S, Chan HK, Walenga R, Kourmatzis A. Effect of inflow conditioning for dry powder inhalers. Int J Pharm 2021; 608:121085. [PMID: 34508843 PMCID: PMC8720028 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The transport of pharmaceutical dry powder inside an optically accessible inhaler-like device is studied using both macro- and microscopic high-speed imaging. The investigation aims to systematically study the effect of inflow modifications on the dispersion characteristics of agglomerates inside a dry powder inhaler (DPI) geometry. An inhaler device was designed with geometrical features akin to commercial inhalers used in the current market and research oriented inhalers such as the Twincer®: two offset inlet channels (one with a powder pocket), a clockwise swirling chamber and a single outlet channel. At the device outlet, a vacuum pump was fitted with an actuator and calibrated to achieve a steady state inhalation with a peak flowrate of 85 and 125 L/min. Airflow conditions at the intake of the device were strategically perturbed in order to induce powder fluidisation and dispersion using turbulence grids and through physically obstructing channel streams in order to achieve changes in flow behaviour (e.g., flow separation). Complete fluidisation of the powder bed was observed with image processing enabling statistics on de-agglomerated fragment size and velocity. A range of behaviour was noted including local turbulence through introduction of a grid, bimodal fragment size behaviour for cohesive mannitol powder, as well as introduction of low velocity zones in the device through flow splitting. The geometry enables simple systematic study of inflow conditions into a DPI-like device with the data being useful for study of a given powder formulation (mannitol) and validation of computational models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajendra Singh
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Albyn Lowe
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Athiya Azeem
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Shaokoon Cheng
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Hak-Kim Chan
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ross Walenga
- Division of Quantitative Methods and Modeling, Office of Research and Standards, Office of Generic Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Agisilaos Kourmatzis
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Elserfy K, Kourmatzis A, Singh G, Chan HK, Cheng S. Fluidization of lactose carrier powders through normally directed airflow: The effect of recirculation and particle size. ADV POWDER TECHNOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apt.2021.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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