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Yu YS, Xu H, AboulFotouh K, Williams G, Suman J, Sahakijpijarn S, Cano C, Warnken ZN, Wu KCW, Williams RO, Cui Z. Intranasal delivery of thin-film freeze-dried monoclonal antibodies using a powder nasal spray system. Int J Pharm 2024; 653:123892. [PMID: 38350499 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.123892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) administered intranasally as dry powders can be potentially applied for the treatment or pre-exposure prevention of viral infections in the upper respiratory tract. However, a method to transform the mAbs from liquid to dry powders suitable for intranasal administration and a device that can spray the dry powders to the desired region of the nasal cavity are needed to fully realize the potentials of the mAbs. Herein, we report that thin-film freeze-dried mAb powders can be sprayed into the posterior nasal cavity using Aptar Pharma's Unidose (UDS) Powder Nasal Spray System. AUG-3387, a human-derived mAb that neutralizes the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was used in the present study. First, we prepared thin-film freeze-dried AUG-3387 powders (i.e., TFF AUG-3387 powders) from liquid formulations containing different levels of mAbs. The TFF AUG-3387 powder with the highest solid content (i.e., TFF AUG-3387C) was then chosen for further characterization, including the evaluation of the plume geometry, spray pattern, and particle size distribution after the powder was sprayed using the UDS Powder Nasal Spray. Finally, the deposition patterns of the TFF AUG-3387C powder sprayed using the UDS Powder delivery system were studied using 3D-printed nasal replica casts based on the CT scans of an adult and a child. It is concluded that it is feasible to intranasally deliver mAbs as dry powders by transforming the mAbs into dry powders using thin-film freeze-drying and then spraying the powder using a powder nasal spray system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Sheng Yu
- The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, Austin, TX, United States; National Taiwan University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Haiyue Xu
- The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Khaled AboulFotouh
- The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, Austin, TX, United States; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | | | | | | | - Chris Cano
- TFF Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | | | - Kevin C-W Wu
- National Taiwan University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Taipei, Taiwan; National Health Research Institute, Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Robert O Williams
- The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Zhengrong Cui
- The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, Austin, TX, United States.
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AboulFotouh K, Almanza G, Yu YS, Joyce R, Davenport GJ, Cano C, Williams Iii RO, Zanetti M, Cui Z. Inhalable dry powders of microRNA-laden extracellular vesicles prepared by thin-film freeze-drying. Int J Pharm 2024; 651:123757. [PMID: 38160992 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are endogenous vesicles that comprise a variety of submicron vesicular structures. Among these, exosomes have been widely investigated as delivery systems for small and large molecules. Herein, the thin-film freeze-drying technology was utilized to engineer aerosolizable dry powders of miR-335-laden induced EVs (iEV-335) generated in B cells for potential delivery into the lung to treat primary lung cancer and/or pulmonary metastases. The size distribution, structure, and morphology of iEV-335 were preserved after they were subjected to thin-film freeze-drying with the proper excipients. Importantly, iEV-335, in liquid or reconstituted from thin-film freeze-dried powders, were equally effective in downregulating SOX4 gene expression in LM2 human triple-negative mammary cancer cells. The iEV-335 dry powder compositions showed mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMAD) of around 1.2 µm with > 60 % of the emitted doses had an MMAD of ≤ 3 µm, indicating that the powders can potentially achieve efficient deposition within the alveolar region following oral inhalation, which is desirable for treatment of primary lung cancer and pulmonary metastases. Overall, it is concluded that it is feasible to apply thin-film freeze-drying to prepare aerosolizable dry powders of iEVs for pulmonary delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled AboulFotouh
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Gonzalo Almanza
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; FutuRNA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Yu-Sheng Yu
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Robert Joyce
- FutuRNA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Gregory J Davenport
- TFF Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1751 River Run, Suite 400, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Chris Cano
- TFF Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1751 River Run, Suite 400, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Robert O Williams Iii
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Maurizio Zanetti
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; FutuRNA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Zhengrong Cui
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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AboulFotouh K, Southard B, Dao HM, Xu H, Moon C, Williams Iii RO, Cui Z. Effect of lipid composition on RNA-Lipid nanoparticle properties and their sensitivity to thin-film freezing and drying. Int J Pharm 2024; 650:123688. [PMID: 38070660 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
A library of 16 lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations with orthogonally varying lipid molar ratios was designed and synthesized, using polyadenylic acid [poly(A)] as a model for mRNA, to explore the effect of lipid composition in LNPs on (i) the initial size of the resultant LNPs and encapsulation efficiency of RNA and (ii) the sensitivity of the LNPs to various conditions including cold storage, freezing (slow vs. rapid) and thawing, and drying. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was employed to identify the optimal lipid molar ratios and interactions that favorably affect the physical properties of the LNPs and enhance their stability in various stress conditions. LNPs exhibited distinct responses under each stress condition, highlighting the effect of lipid molar ratios and lipid interactions on the LNP physical properties and stability. It was then demonstrated that it is feasible to use thin-film freeze-drying to convert poly(A)-LNPs from liquid dispersions to dry powders while maintaining the integrity of the LNPs. Importantly, the residual moisture content in LNP dry powders significantly affected the LNP integrity.Residual moisture content of ≤ 0.5% or > 3-3.5% w/w negatively affected the LNP size and/or RNA encapsulation efficiency, depending on the LNP composition. Finally, it was shown that the thin-film freeze-dried LNP powders have desirable aerosol properties for potential pulmonary delivery. It was concluded that Design of Experiments can be applied to identify mRNA-LNP formulations with the desired physical properties and stability profiles. Additionally, optimizing the residual moisture content in mRNA-LNP dry powders during (thin-film) freeze-drying is crucial to maintain the physical properties of the LNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled AboulFotouh
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Benjamin Southard
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Huy M Dao
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Haiyue Xu
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Chaeho Moon
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Robert O Williams Iii
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Zhengrong Cui
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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Monton C, Kulvanich P, Chankana N, Suksaeree J, Songsak T. Fabrication of Orally Fast-Disintegrating Wafer Tablets Containing Cannabis Extract Using Freeze-Drying Method. Med Cannabis Cannabinoids 2024; 7:51-58. [PMID: 38505273 PMCID: PMC10950359 DOI: 10.1159/000537926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The development of a novel dosage form for cannabis extract is necessary to improve drug delivery and also enhance patient convenience. Methods Orally fast-disintegrating wafer tablets containing cannabis extract, which were prepared using the freeze drying technique, were developed in this work. The formulation consisted of several key components: cannabis extract as the active compound, Tween® 80 as a surfactant and solubilizer, gelatin and mannitol as structural components, sucralose as a sweetening agent, and sodium methylparaben and sodium propylparaben as preservatives. Results The optimized formulation consists of the following ingredients: 5% cannabis extract, 1.25% Tween® 80, 5% gelatin, 88.34% mannitol, 0.2% sucralose, 0.19% sodium methylparaben, and 0.02% sodium propylparaben. The resulting wafer tablets exhibited the following characteristics: a porous structure, an average weight of approximately 200 mg, minimal weight variation (less than 1.4%), slightly acidic pH (pH 5.12), disintegration within 10 s, low moisture content (less than 3%), a Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol content of approximately 2.8 mg, and a cannabidiol content of approximately 0.9 mg. Additionally, the wafer tablets rapidly dissolved in simulated saliva fluid containing sodium lauryl sulfate. Conclusion This work succeeded in the fabrication of orally fast-disintegrating wafer tablets containing cannabis extract with desired properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaowalit Monton
- Drug and Herbal Product Research and Development Center, College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
- Medicinal Cannabis Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Poj Kulvanich
- Industrial Pharmacy Program, College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Natawat Chankana
- Medicinal Cannabis Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
- Sun Herb Thai Chinese Manufacturing, College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Jirapornchai Suksaeree
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Thanapat Songsak
- Medicinal Cannabis Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
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Wang JL, Southard B, Jara MO, Yu YS, Xu H, Kalafat J, Williams RO, Cui Z. Viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus in Thin-Film Freeze-Dried Powders Filled in Delayed-Release Vegetarian Capsules in a Simulated Gastric Fluid. AAPS PharmSciTech 2023; 24:193. [PMID: 37740105 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-023-02644-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, we have shown that thin-film freeze-drying can be applied to prepare dry powders of bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. Herein, we tested the viability of L. acidophilus in thin-film freeze-dried powders (TFF powders) filled in delayed-release vegetarian capsules in a simulated gastric fluid (SGF) consisting of 0.1N hydrochloric acid and sodium chloride. Initially, we determined the water removal rate from frozen thin films on relatively larger scales (i.e., 10-750 g). We then prepared and characterized two TFF powders of L. acidophilus with either sucrose and maltodextrin or sucrose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMC-AS), a pH-sensitive polymer, as excipients and evaluated the viability of the bacteria after the TFF powders were filled in delayed-release vegetarian capsules and the capsules were incubated in the SGF for 30 min. On 10-750 g scales and at the settings specified, water removal from frozen thin films was faster than from slow shelf-frozen bulk solids. When the L. acidophilus in sucrose and HPMC-AS TFF powder was filled into a delayed-release capsule that was placed into another delayed-release capsule, the bacterial viability reduction after incubation in the SGF can be minimized to within 1 log in colony forming unit (CFU). However, for the L. acidophilus in sucrose and maltodextrin TFF powder, even in the capsule-in-capsule dosage form, bacterial CFU reduction was > 2 logs. TFF powders of live microorganisms containing an acid-resistant material in capsule-in-capsule delayed-release vegetarian capsules have the potential for oral delivery of those microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Liang Wang
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin Southard
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Miguel O Jara
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Yu-Sheng Yu
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Haiyue Xu
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | | | - Robert O Williams
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
| | - Zhengrong Cui
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
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