Development of liposomal amphotericin B dry powder inhaler formulation

Targeting lung macrophages for fungal and parasitic pulmonary infections with innovative amphotericin B dry powder inhalers

The incidence of fungal pulmonary infections is known to be on the increase, and yet there is an alarming gap in terms of marketed antifungal therapies that are available for pulmonary administration. Amphotericin B (AmB) is a highly efficient broad-spectrum antifungal only marketed as an intravenous formulation. Based on the lack of effective antifungal and antiparasitic pulmonary treatments, the aim of this study was to develop a carbohydrate-based AmB dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulation, prepared by spray drying. Amorphous AmB microparticles were developed by combining 39.7 % AmB with 39.7 % γ-cyclodextrin, 8.1 % mannose and 12.5 % leucine. An increase in the mannose concentration from 8.1 to 29.8 %, led to partial drug crystallisation. Both formulations showed good in vitro lung deposition characteristics (80 % FPF < 5 µm and MMAD < 3 µm) at different air flow rates (60 and 30 L/min) when used with a DPI, but also during nebulisation upon reconstitution in water.

Dry Powder Inhaler with the technical and practical obstacles, and forthcoming platform strategies

A Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) is a technique as well as a device used to inhale formulation which is in the form of dry powder, and is inhaled through the nose or mouth. It was developed for the purpose of treating conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Asthma, and even cystic fibrosis etc. The aim of the review is to discuss the different methods of preparation of dry powders along with the characterization of DPI. Here we present the outline of different methods like supercritical fluid extraction (SCF), spray drying, and milling. The review focussed on various devices including single and multi-dose devices used in the DPI. It also highlights on recent advances in the DPI including nano particulate system, siRNA-based medication, liposomes, and pro-liposomes based delivery. In COVID-19 silver nanoparticles-based DPIs provide very prominent results in the infected lungs. Moreover, this review states that the AI-based DPI development provides and improvement in the bioavailability and effectiveness of the drug along with the role of artificial neural networks (ANN). The study also showed that nasally administered drugs (nose to brain) can easily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and enter the central nervous system (CNS) through the olfactory and trigeminal pathway which provides effective CNS concentrations at lower dosage. It is suggested that DPIs not only target respiratory complications but also treat CNS complications too. This review provides support and guides the researcher in the recent development and evaluation of DPI.

Could the Lung Be a Gateway for Amphotericin B to Attack the Army of Fungi?

Fungal diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Aspergillus, Pneumocystis, and Cryptococcus are opportunistic fungi and may cause severe lung disease. They can develop mechanisms to evade the host immune system and colonize or cause lung disease. Current fungal infection treatments constitute a few classes of antifungal drugs with significant fungi resistance development. Amphotericin B (AmB) has a broad-spectrum antifungal effect with a low incidence of resistance. However, AmB is a highly lipophilic antifungal with low solubility and permeability and is unstable in light, heat, and oxygen. Due to the difficulty of achieving adequate concentrations of AmB in the lung by intravenous administration and seeking to minimize adverse effects, nebulized AmB has been used. The pulmonary pathway has advantages such as its rapid onset of action, low metabolic activity at the site of action, ability to avoid first-pass hepatic metabolism, lower risk of adverse effects, and thin thickness of the alveolar epithelium. This paper presented different strategies for pulmonary AmB delivery, detailing the potential of nanoformulation and hoping to foster research in the field. Our finds indicate that despite an optimistic scenario for the pulmonary formulation of AmB based on the encouraging results discussed here, there is still no product registration on the FDA nor any clinical trial undergoing ClinicalTrial.gov.

Development of (Inhalable) Dry Powder Formulations of AS01B-Containing Vaccines Using Thin-Film Freeze-Drying

AS01_B is a liposomal formulation of two immunostimulants namely 3-O-desacyl-4́-monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and QS-21. The liposomal formulation of AS01_B reduces the endotoxicity of MPL and the lytic activity of QS-21. The AS01_B-adjuvanted Shingrix vaccine is marketed in a two-vial presentation, with the liquid AS01_B liposomes in one vial and the antigen as a dry powder in another vial. In the present study, we tested the feasibility of applying thin-film freeze-drying (TFFD) to engineer dry powders of the AS01_B liposomal adjuvant alone or vaccines containing AS01_B as an adjuvant. Initially, we showed that after the AS01_B liposomal adjuvant was subjected to TFFD using sucrose as a stabilizer at 4% w/v, the particle size distribution of AS01_B liposomes reconstituted from the dry powder was identical to the liquid adjuvant before drying. We then showed using ovalbumin (OVA) as a model antigen adjuvanted with AS01_B (AS01_B/OVA) that subjecting the AS01_B/OVA vaccine to TFFD and subsequent reconstitution did not negatively affect the AS01_B liposome particle size, nor the immunogenicity of the vaccine. Importantly, the thin-film freeze-dried AS01_B/OVA vaccine, unlike its liquid counterpart, was not sensitive to repeated freezing-and-thawing. The developed AS01_B/OVA dry powder also showed the desirable aerosol properties (i.e., fine particle fraction of 66.3 ± 4.9% and mass median aerodynamic diameter of 2.4 ± 0.1 µm) for potential pulmonary administration. Finally, the feasibility of using TFFD to prepare dry powders of AS01_B-adjuvanted vaccines was further confirmed using AS01_B-adjuvanted Fluzone Quadrivalent and Shingrix, which contains AS01_B. It is concluded that the TFFD technology can enable the formulation of AS01_B-adjuvanted vaccines as freezing-insensitive, inhalable dry powders in a single-vial presentation.

Insight Into Nanoliposomes as Smart Nanocarriers for Greening the Twenty-First Century Biomedical Settings

The necessity to develop more efficient, biocompatible, patient compliance, and safer treatments in biomedical settings is receiving special attention using nanotechnology as a potential platform to design new drug delivery systems (DDS). Despite the broad range of nanocarrier systems in drug delivery, lack of biocompatibility, poor penetration, low entrapment efficiency, and toxicity are significant challenges that remain to address. Such practices are even more demanding when bioactive agents are intended to be loaded on a nanocarrier system, especially for topical treatment purposes. For the aforesaid reasons, the search for more efficient nano-vesicular systems, such as nanoliposomes, with a high biocompatibility index and controlled releases has increased considerably in the past few decades. Owing to the stratum corneum layer barrier of the skin, the in-practice conventional/conformist drug delivery methods are inefficient, and the effect of the administered therapeutic cues is limited. The current advancement at the nanoscale has transformed the drug delivery sector. Nanoliposomes, as robust nanocarriers, are becoming popular for biomedical applications because of safety, patient compliance, and quick action. Herein, we reviewed state-of-the-art nanoliposomes as a smart and sophisticated drug delivery approach. Following a brief introduction, the drug delivery mechanism of nanoliposomes is discussed with suitable examples for the treatment of numerous diseases with a brief emphasis on fungal infections. The latter half of the work is focused on the applied perspective and clinical translation of nanoliposomes. Furthermore, a detailed overview of clinical applications and future perspectives has been included in this review.

A Critical Review on Emerging Trends in Dry Powder Inhaler Formulation for the Treatment of Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Pulmonary aspergillosis (PA), a pulmonary fungal infection caused by Aspergillus spp., is a concern for immunocompromised populations. Despite substantial research efforts, conventional treatments of PA using antifungal agents are associated with limitations such as excessive systemic exposure, serious side effects and limited availability of the therapeutics in the lungs for an adequate duration. To overcome the limitations associated with the conventional regimens, pulmonary delivery of antifungal agents has become a focal point of research because of the superiority of local and targeted drug delivery. Dry powder inhalers and nebulized formulations of antifungal agents have been developed and evaluated for their capability to effectively deliver antifungal agents to the lungs. Moreover, progress in nanotechnology and the utilization of nanocarriers in the development of pulmonary delivery formulations has allowed further augmentation of treatment capability and efficiency. Thus, the following review provides an insight into the advantages and therapeutic potential of the utilization of nanocarriers in pulmonary delivery of antifungal agents for the treatment of PA. In addition, discussions on formulation aspects and safety concerns together with the clinical and regulatory aspects of the formulations are presented, which suggest the possibility and desirability of utilization of nanocarriers in the treatment of PA.

Pharmacokinetics of inhaled nanotherapeutics for pulmonary delivery

Pulmonary delivery of lipid-based nanotherapeutics by inhalation presents an advantageous alternative to oral and intravenous routes of administration that avoids enzymatic degradation in gastrointestinal tract and hepatic first pass metabolism and also limits off-target adverse side effects upon heathy tissues. For lung-related indications, inhalation provides localized delivery in order to enhance therapeutic efficacy at the site of action. Optimization of physicochemical properties, selected drug and inhalation format can greatly influence the pharmacokinetic behavior of inhaled nanoparticle systems and their payloads. The present review analyzes a wide range of nanoparticle systems, their formulations and consequent effect on pharmacokinetic distribution of delivered active components after inhalation.

Recent insights on nanomedicine for augmented infection control

Antimicrobial agents have been widely investigated for protecting against microbial infections in modern health. Drug-related limitations, poor bioavailability, toxicity to mammalian cells, and frequent bacteria drug resistance are major challenges faced when exploited in nanomedicine forms. Specific attention has been paid to control nanomaterial-based infection against numerous challenging pathogens in addition to improved drug delivery, targeting, and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles, and thus, efficient antimicrobials have been fabricated using diverse components (metals, metal oxides, synthetic and semisynthetic polymers, natural or biodegradable polymers, etc). The present review covers several nanocarriers delivered through various routes of administration, highlighting major findings to control microbial infection as compared to using the free drug. Results over the past decade support the consistent development of various nanomedicines capable of improving biological significance and therapeutic benefits against an array of microbial strains. Depending on the intended application of nanomedicine, infection control will be challenged by various factors such as weighing the risk-benefits in healthcare settings, nanomaterial-induced (eco)toxicological hazards, frequent development of antibiotic resistance, scarcity of in vivo toxicity data, and a poor understanding of microbial interactions with nanomedicine at the molecular level. This review summarizes well-established informative data for nanomaterials used for infection control and safety concerns of nanomedicines to healthcare sectors followed by the significance of a unique "safe-by-design" approach.

Challenges for pulmonary delivery of high powder doses

In recent years there is an increasing interest in the pulmonary delivery of large cohesive powder doses, i.e. drugs with a low potency such as antibiotics or drugs with a high potency that need a substantial fraction of excipient(s) such as vaccines stabilized in sugar glasses. The pulmonary delivery of high powder doses comes with unique challenges. For low potency drugs, the use of excipients should be minimized to limit the powder mass to be inhaled as much as possible. To achieve this objective the inhaler design should be adapted to the properties of the API in order to achieve a compatible combination of the drug formulation and inhaler device. The inhaler should have an appropriate powder dosing principle for which prefilled compartments seem most appropriate. The drug formulation should not only allow for accurate filling of these compartments but also enable efficient compartment emptying during inhalation. The dispersion principle must have the capacity to disperse considerable amounts of powder in a short time frame that allows the powder to reach the deep lung. Last, but not least, the inhaler should be simple and intuitive in use, be cost-effective and exhibit accurate and consistent, preferably patient independent, pulmonary delivery performance.

Inhaled formulations and pulmonary drug delivery systems for respiratory infections

Respiratory infections represent a major global health problem. They are often treated by parenteral administrations of antimicrobials. Unfortunately, systemic therapies of high-dose antimicrobials can lead to severe adverse effects and this calls for a need to develop inhaled formulations that enable targeted drug delivery to the airways with minimal systemic drug exposure. Recent technological advances facilitate the development of inhaled anti-microbial therapies. The newer mesh nebulisers have achieved minimal drug residue, higher aerosolisation efficiencies and rapid administration compared to traditional jet nebulisers. Novel particle engineering and intelligent device design also make dry powder inhalers appealing for the delivery of high-dose antibiotics. In view of the fact that no new antibiotic entities against multi-drug resistant bacteria have come close to commercialisation, advanced formulation strategies are in high demand for combating respiratory 'super bugs'.

Amphotericin B topical microemulsion: formulation, characterization and evaluation

The present studies were designed to develop a microemulsion (ME) formulation of Amphotericin B (Amp B) for the treatment of invasive fungal infections. The oil phase was selected on the basis of drug solubility whereas the surfactant and co-surfactant were screened and selected on the basis of their oil solubilizing capacity as well as their efficiency to form ME. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed and on the basis of ME existence ranges various formulations of Amp B were developed. The influence of surfactant and co-surfactant mass ratio (Smix) on the ME formation and permeation of ME through excised rat skin was studied. The optimized formulation (ME 7) consisting of 0.1% (w/w) Amp B, 5% (w/w) Isopropyl Myristate and 35% (w/w) Smix (3:1, Tween 80 and Propylene glycol), has shown a globule size of 84.20 ± 2.13 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.164 ± 0.031, pH 7.36 ± 0.02 and conductance of 229.3 ± 1.95 μS. ME 7 exhibited 2-fold higher drug permeation as compared to plain drug solution. Besides this, the formulation was also evaluated for drug content, stability, skin retention, skin sensitivity and anti-fungal activity. In vitro anti-fungal activity in Trichophyton rubrum fungal species have shown that ME7 has higher zone of inhibition and the formulation was found stable at 2-8°C and at room temperature (25 ± 2°C) for the period of three months. The results indicate that, the investigated ME may be used as a promising alternative for Amp B therapy.

Hydrogels for controlled pulmonary delivery

A significant number of research articles have focused on pulmonary delivery as an alternative administration route owing to no first-pass metabolism, low protease activity, thin epithelium barrier and large surface area in the lung system. Controlled release in the pulmonary delivery system further reduces loading dose, frequency of dosing and systemic side effects, and also increases duration of action and patient compliance. Compared with other microparticles used in controlled-release pulmonary administration, hydrogels (3D polymeric matrix networks) have recently been investigated due to their swelling and mucoadhesive properties that could help bypass pulmonary delivery barriers. This review introduces controlled-release drug delivery to the lung, followed by a summary of currently available approaches for controlled-release pulmonary drug delivery. Lastly, the origin, advantages, detailed applications and concerns of hydrogels in pulmonary delivery are discussed.

Therapeutic liposomal dry powder inhalation aerosols for targeted lung delivery

Therapeutic liposomal powders (i.e., lipospheres and proliposomes) for dry powder inhalation aerosol delivery, formulated with phospholipids similar to endogenous lung surfactant, offer unique opportunities in pulmonary nanomedicine while offering controlled release and enhanced stability. Many pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer, tuberculosis (TB), cystic fibrosis (CF), bacterial and fungal lung infections, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could greatly benefit from this type of pulmonary nanomedicine approach that can be delivered in a targeted manner by dry powder inhalers (DPIs). These delivery systems may require smaller doses for efficacy, exhibit reduced toxicity, fewer side effects, controlled drug release over a prolonged time period, and increased formulation stability as inhaled powders. This state-of-the-art review presents these novel aspects in depth.

Physicochemical properties and antifungal activity of amphotericin B incorporated in cholesteryl carbonate esters

The antifungal activity of amphotericin B (AmB) incorporated in three cholesteryl carbonate esters (CCEs), sodium cholesteryl carbonate, cholesteryl palmityl carbonate, and dicholesteryl carbonate, was examined to assess their potential for use in a dry powder aerosol. Formulations containing dissolved AmB were stable for 6 months. The particle size varied inversely with liquid crystalline content with observed mass median aerodynamic diameters ranging from 4 to 8 μ m. This was consistent with the visual appearance of the liquid crystals as being low density and free flowing at room temperature. When dispersed in water, the presence of the CCE reduced the rate and extent of AmB release, consistent with the estimated liquid crystal/water partition coefficient. Nevertheless, the rate of AmB release was always sufficient to kill the fungus as established with bioactivity studies. AmB formulated with CCE as a dry powder appears to be promising for use in treating lung fungal infections.

Development of liposomal salbutamol sulfate dry powder inhaler formulation

The purpose of our study was to develop a formulation of liposomal salbutamol sulfate (SBS) dry powder inhaler (DPI) for the treatment of asthma. Liposomes of high encapsulation efficiency (more than 80%) were prepared by a vesicular phospholipid gel (VPG) technique. SBS VPG liposomes were subjected to lyophilization using different kinds of cryoprotectants in various mass ratios. Coarse lactose (63-106 microm) in different mass ratios was used as a carrier. Magnesium stearate (0.5%) was added as a lubricator. The dry liposomal powders were then crushed by ball milling and sieved through a 400-mesh sieve to control the mean particle size at about 10 microm. The effects of different kinds of cryoprotectants and the amount of lactose carrier on the fine particle fraction (FPF) of SBS were investigated. The results showed that the developed formulation of liposomal dry powder inhaler was obtained using lactose as a cryoprotectant with a mass ratio of lyophilized powder to carrier lactose at 1 : 5; 0.5% magnesium stearate was used as a lubricator. The value of FPF for SBS was 41.51+/-2.22% for this formulation. Sustained release of SBS from the VPG liposomes was found in the in vitro release study. The study results offer the promising possibility of localized pulmonary liposomal SBS delivery in the anhydrous state.

Nanomedicine in pulmonary delivery

The lung is an attractive target for drug delivery due to noninvasive administration via inhalation aerosols, avoidance of first-pass metabolism, direct delivery to the site of action for the treatment of respiratory diseases, and the availability of a huge surface area for local drug action and systemic absorption of drug. Colloidal carriers (ie, nanocarrier systems) in pulmonary drug delivery offer many advantages such as the potential to achieve relatively uniform distribution of drug dose among the alveoli, achievement of improved solubility of the drug from its own aqueous solubility, a sustained drug release which consequently reduces dosing frequency, improves patient compliance, decreases incidence of side effects, and the potential of drug internalization by cells. This review focuses on the current status and explores the potential of colloidal carriers (ie, nanocarrier systems) in pulmonary drug delivery with special attention to their pharmaceutical aspects. Manufacturing processes, in vitro/in vivo evaluation methods, and regulatory/toxicity issues of nanomedicines in pulmonary delivery are also discussed.

A review on the clinical use of inhaled amphotericin B

BACKGROUND

Despite the systemic toxicity of amphotericin B (AMB), it still has a place in treatment or prophylactic regimes of fungal infections.

METHODS

A strategy for minimizing the potential of systemic side effects is to bring it in direct contact with the body site most likely to be infected, such as the administration of AMB as an aerosol. Nebulized amphotericin has been used in humans since 1959. However, due to a lack of sufficient data regarding efficacy, its use is still not established. Little is known about the optimal dose, frequency, duration of administration, and the pharmacokinetics of inhaled AMB in humans.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

In this review, published data regarding inhaled AMB are summarized, including available descriptions regarding preparation, dose, efficacy, and toxicity, and its place in therapy is discussed. The results from the studies that were reviewed in this article indicate that inhaled AMB may have a place in the prophylactic regimens of patients with prolonged neutropenia and in lung transplant recipients. Furthermore, nebulized (liposomal) AMB may have a place in the treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in patients with corticosteroid-dependent ABPA.

Aerosol drug delivery in lung transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Inhaled drug delivery after lung transplantation provides a unique opportunity for direct treatment of a solid organ transplant. At present, no inhaled therapies are approved for this population though several have received some development. Primary potential applications include inhaled immunosuppressive and anti-infective drugs.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this article is to review potential applications of inhaled medications for lung transplant recipients, the techniques used to develop inhaled drugs and the challenges of aerosol delivery in this specific population.

METHODS

The results of relevant studies are reviewed and two developmental examples are presented.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

Inhaled medications may provide significant advantages for lung transplant recipients. Past studies with inhaled cyclosporine and amphotericin-B provide useful guidance for clinical development of new preparations.

Recent advances in liposomal dry powder formulations: preparation and evaluation

Liposomal drug dry powder formulations have shown many promising features for pulmonary drug administration, such as selective localization of drug within the lung, controlled drug release, reduced local and systemic toxicities, propellant-free nature, patient compliance, high dose carrying capacity, stability and patent protection. Critical review of the recent developments will provide a balanced view on benefits of liposomal encapsulation while developing dry powder formulations and will help researchers to update themselves and focus their research in more relevant areas. In liposomal dry powder formulations (LDPF), drug encapsulated liposomes are homogenized, dispersed into the carrier and converted into dry powder form by using freeze drying, spray drying and spray freeze drying. Alternatively, LDPF can also be formulated by supercritical fluid technologies. On inhalation with a suitable inhalation device, drug encapsulated liposomes get rehydrated in the lung and release the drug over a period of time. The prepared LDPF are evaluated in vitro and in vivo for lung deposition behavior and drug disposition in the lung using a suitable inhaler device. The most commonly used liposomes are composed of lung surfactants and synthetic lipids. Delivery of anticancer agents for lung cancer, corticosteroids for asthma, immunosuppressants for avoiding lung transplantation rejection, antifungal drugs for lung fungal infections, antibiotics for local pulmonary infections and cystic fibrosis and opioid analgesics for pain management using liposome technology are a few examples. Many liposomal formulations have reached the stage of clinical trials for the treatment of pulmonary distress, cystic fibrosis, lung fungal infection and lung cancer. These formulations have given very promising results in both in vitro and in vivo studies. However, modifications to new therapies for respiratory diseases and systemic delivery will provide new challenges in conducting well-designed inhalation toxicology studies to support these products, especially for chronic diseases.

Chapter 9 - Nanoliposomal dry powder formulations

Liposomal dry powder formulations (DPFs) have proven their superiority over conventional DPFs due to favorably improved pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of entrapped drugs, and thus, reduced local and systemic toxicities. Nanoliposomal DPFs (NLDPFs) provide stable, high aerosolization efficiency to deep lung, prolonged drug release, slow systemic dilution, and avoid macrophage uptake of encapsulated drug by carrier-based delivery of nano-range liposomes. This chapter describes methods of preparation of nanoliposomes (NLs) and NLDPFs, using various techniques, and their characterization with respect to size distribution, flow behavior, in vitro drug release profile, lung deposition, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity, and in vivo pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Some examples have been detailed for better understanding of the methods of preparation and evaluation of NLDPFs by investigators.

Disease guided optimization of the respiratory delivery of microparticulate formulations

BACKGROUND

Inhalation of microparticulate dosage forms can be effectively used in the treatment of respiratory and systemic diseases.

OBJECTIVE

Disease states investigated for treatment by inhalation of microparticles were reviewed along with the drugs' pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and physical chemical properties to identify the advantages of microparticulate inhalation formulations and to identify areas for further improvement.

METHODS

Microbial infections of the lung, asthma, diabetes, lung transplantation and lung cancer were examined, with a focus on those systems intended to provide a sustained release.

CONCLUSION

In developing microparticulate formulations for inhalation in the lung, there is a need to understand the pharmacology of the drug as the key to revealing the optimal concentration time profile, the disease state, and the pharmacokinetic properties of the pure drug as determined by IV administration and inhalation. Finally, in vitro release studies will allow better identification of the best dosing strategy to be used in efficacy and safety studies.

Development of spray dried liposomal dry powder inhaler of Dapsone

This investigation was undertaken to evaluate practical feasibility of site specific pulmonary delivery of liposomal encapsulated Dapsone (DS) dry powder inhaler for prolonged drug retention in lungs as an effective alternative in prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) associated with immunocompromised patients. DS encapsulated liposomes were prepared by thin film evaporation technique and resultant liposomal dispersion was passed through high pressure homogenizer. DS nano-liposomes (NLs) were separated by ultra centrifugation and characterized. NLs were dispersed in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) pH 7.4 containing different carriers like lactose, sucrose, and hydrolyzed gelatin, and 15% L-leucine as antiadherent. The resultant dispersion was spray dried and spray dried formulation were characterized to ascertain its performance. In vitro pulmonary deposition was assessed using Andersen Cascade Impactor as per USP. NLs were found to have average size of 137 +/- 15 nm, 95.17 +/- 3.43% drug entrapment, and zeta potential of 0.8314 +/- 0.0827 mV. Hydrolyzed gelatin based formulation was found to have low density, good flowability, particle size of 7.9 +/- 1.1 microm, maximum fine particle fraction (FPF) of 75.6 +/- 1.6%, mean mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) 2.2 +/- 0.1 microm, and geometric standard deviation (GSD) 2.3 +/- 0.1. Developed formulations were found to have in vitro prolonged drug release up to 16 h, and obeys Higuchi's Controlled Release model. The investigation provides a practical approach for direct delivery of DS encapsulated in NLs for site specific controlled and prolonged release behavior at the site of action and hence, may play a promising role in prevention of PCP.

Biodistribution in mice and severity of damage in rat lungs following pulmonary delivery of 9-nitrocamptothecin liposomes

This study was designed to investigate in vitro release, in vivo tissue distribution and the damage to the lungs of 9-nitrocamptothecin (9-NC) liposomes. In vitro release of 9-NC from liposomes was carried out in phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS) pH 7.4. The tissue distribution of 9-NC liposomes and 9-NC solution was determined after pulmonary delivery to mice. The tissue distribution of 9-NC liposomes after intravenous administration was also studied. The changes of pulmonary edema index and histology of lungs in rats were investigated to evaluate the severity of the damage after pulmonary delivery. The results showed that 9-NC was continuously released from liposomes in PBS pH 7.4 for 24h at 37 degrees C. After pulmonary delivery, the mean residence time (MRT) of 9-NC liposomes in the lungs was 3.4 times as long as that of 9-NC solution and the total AUC0-t of all tissues in mice of the liposomes was 2.2-fold higher than that of the solution, indicating that the liposomes had sustained-release characteristics. Following intravenous administration and pulmonary delivery, the targeting efficiency (Te) to the lung of 9-NC liposomes was 0.14 and 2.02, respectively, which showed that intratracheal instillation can deliver the drug mainly to the lung and decrease the accumulation of the drug in other tissues at different concentrations. The pulmonary edema index and the histological changes of the lungs in 9-NC liposome group were significantly different from those in 9-NC solution group. The lung damage by liposomes was less severe than that by solution. Pulmonary delivery of 9-NC liposomes could directly deliver the drug to the lung and make the drug accumulate in the lung with sustained-release characteristics, changing the disposition behavior in vivo, decreasing the toxic and side effects on other tissues and reduce the severity of damage to lungs following intratracheal instillation.

The Influence of Fine Excipient Particles on the Performance of Carrier-Based Dry Powder Inhalation Formulations

The inclusion of a small amount of fine particle excipient in a carrier-based dry powder inhalation system is a well researched technique to improve formulation performance and is employed in the pharmaceutical industry. The removal of intrinsic fines from a lactose carrier has been found to decrease formulation performance, whereas adding fines of many different materials into formulations increased performance. Changing the particle size of these fines, the amount added and the technique by which they were prepared also affected formulation behaviour. Despite this body of research, there is disagreement as to the mechanism by which fines improved formulation performance, with two main hypotheses presented in the literature. The first hypothesis suggested that fines prevent the drug from adhering to the strongest binding sites on the carrier, whilst the second proposed that fine particles of drug and excipient form mixed agglomerates that are more easily dispersed and deaggregated during aerosolisation. The evidence in support of each hypothesis is limited and it is clear that future research should aim to produce stronger mechanistic evidence. The investigation of interparticulate interactions using techniques such as atomic force microscopy and inverse gas chromatography may prove useful in achieving this aim.

Inhalable alginate nanoparticles as antitubercular drug carriers against experimental tuberculosis

Pharmacokinetic and chemotherapeutic studies have been carried out with aerosolised alginate nanoparticles encapsulating isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF) and pyrazinamide (PZA). The nanoparticles were prepared by cation-induced gelification of alginate and were 235.5 +/- 0 nm in size, with drug encapsulation efficiencies of 70-90% for INH and PZA and 80-90% for RIF. The majority of particles (80.5%) were in the respirable range, with mass median aerodynamic diameter of 1.1 +/- 0.4 microm and geometric standard deviation of 1.71 +/- 0.1 microm. The relative bioavailabilities of all drugs encapsulated in alginate nanoparticles were significantly higher compared with oral free drugs. All drugs were detected in organs (lungs, liver and spleen) above the minimum inhibitory concentration until 15 days post nebulisation, whilst free drugs stayed up to day 1. The chemotherapeutic efficacy of three doses of drug-loaded alginate nanoparticles nebulised 15 days apart was comparable with 45 daily doses of oral free drugs. Thus, inhalable alginate nanoparticles can serve as an ideal carrier for the controlled release of antitubercular drugs.