Use of an inflating agent to engineer novel lactose carrier for inhalation and drug deposition in-vitro using three model drugs: Salbutamol, beclomethasone and fluticasone

Title : Use of an inflating agent to engineer novel lactose carrier for inhalation and drug deposition in-vitro using three model drugs: Salbutamol, beclomethasone and fluticasone

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to engineer a novel lactose carrier in the presence of an inflating agent in the crystallisation medium to produce large hollow spherical carrier particles for inhalation. Hollow spherical Engineered carrier and tomahawk shaped commercial carrier (control) were characterised using various analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray powder diffraction (X-RPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Both carriers were assessed for pulmonary drug deposition in-vitro with Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI) using various drugs: salbutamol sulphate (SS), beclomethasone di-propionate (BDP) and fluticasone propionate (FP). Engineered lactose performed better than commercial lactose for both hydrophobic corticosteroids BDP and FP and showed less performance than commercial lactose for hydrophilic water-soluble SS. Our study showed that morphological features of lactose carrier affects drug deposition, therefore carriers with different morphological features are not interchangeable. Drugs for inhalation have different physic-chemical properties and a lactose carrier may not perform equally well with all drugs, therefore finding a universal carrier for all drugs remains a challenge for DPIs.

Audience take away:
• This work is novel. 
• The use of various analytical techniques which can benefit scientists working within the pharmaceutical, biological and chemical sectors.
• Obtain an understanding of the influence of the physico-chemical properties of DPI formulations on aerosol performance

Biography:

Ursula Thevarajah is a PhD researcher at the University of Huddersfield working under the supervision of Dr El Hassane Larhrib. Prior to this, she obtained her masters in pharmaceutical and analytical science also at the University of Huddersfield. During her masters, she undertook her research project in formulation and delivery of dry powder inhalers to the lungs, which sparked her passion to further her studies with a PhD in the inhalation field. She worked on engineering a lactose carrier which could be used as a carrier in dry powder inhaler formulations.