A novel dry powder inhalable formulation incorporating three first-line anti-tubercular antibiotics

Characteristics and release of isoniazid from inhalable alginate/carrageenan microspheres

Aim: Inhalable microspheres made of polymers as a targeted drug delivery system have been developed to overcome the limitation of current treatments in Tuberculosis. Materials & methods: Isoniazid inhalable microspheres were created using a gelation ionotropic method with sodium alginate, carrageenan and calcium chloride in four different formulations. Result: The particle morphology has smooth surfaces and round spherical shapes with sizes below 5 μm; good flowability. The drug loading and entrapment efficiency values ranged from 1.69 to 2.75% and 62.44 to 85.30%, respectively. The microspheres drug release followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, indicating Fickian diffusion. Conclusion: Isoniazid inhalable microspheres achieved as targeted lung delivery for tuberculosis treatment.

Drug combinations for inhalation: Current products and future development addressing disease control and patient compliance

Pulmonary delivery is an alternative route of administration with numerous advantages over conventional routes of administration. It provides low enzymatic exposure, fewer systemic side effects, no first-pass metabolism, and concentrated drug amounts at the site of the disease, making it an ideal route for the treatment of pulmonary diseases. Owing to the thin alveolar-capillary barrier, and large surface area that facilitates rapid absorption to the bloodstream in the lung, systemic delivery can be achieved as well. Administration of multiple drugs at one time became urgent to control chronic pulmonary diseases such as asthma and COPD, thus, development of drug combinations was proposed. Administration of medications with variable dosages from different inhalers leads to overburdening the patient and may cause low therapeutic intervention. Therefore, products that contain combined drugs to be delivered via a single inhaler have been developed to improve patient compliance, reduce different dose regimens, achieve higher disease control, and boost therapeutic effectiveness in some cases. This comprehensive review aimed to highlight the growth of drug combinations by inhalation over time, obstacles and challenges, and the possible progress to broaden the current options or to cover new indications in the future. Moreover, various pharmaceutical technologies in terms of formulation and device in correlation with inhaled combinations were discussed in this review. Hence, inhaled combination therapy is driven by the need to maintain and improve the quality of life for patients with chronic respiratory diseases; promoting drug combinations by inhalation to a higher level is a necessity.

Co-Delivery of D-LAK Antimicrobial Peptide and Capreomycin as Inhaled Powder Formulation to Combat Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

INTRODUCTION

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) posed a severe challenge to tuberculosis (TB) management. The treatment of MDR-TB involves second-line anti-TB agents, most of which are injectable and highly toxic. Previous metabolomics study of the Mtb membrane revealed that two antimicrobial peptides, D-LAK120-A and D-LAK120-HP13, can potentiate the efficacy of capreomycin against mycobacteria.

AIMS

As both capreomycin and peptides are not orally available, this study aimed to formulate combined formulations of capreomycin and D-LAK peptides as inhalable dry powder by spray drying.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 16 formulations were prepared with different levels of drug content and capreomycin to peptide ratios. A good production yield of over 60% (w/w) was achieved in most formulations. The co-spray dried particles exhibited spherical shape with a smooth surface and contained low residual moisture of below 2%. Both capreomycin and D-LAK peptides were enriched at the surface of the particles. The aerosol performance of the formulations was evaluated with Next Generation Impactor (NGI) coupled with Breezhaler®. While no significant difference was observed in terms of emitted fraction (EF) and fine particle fraction (FPF) among the different formulations, lowering the flow rate from 90 L/min to 60 L/min could reduce the impaction at the throat and improve the FPF to over 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this study showed the feasibility of producing co-spray dried formulation of capreomycin and antimicrobial peptides for pulmonary delivery. Future study on their antibacterial effect is warranted.

Engineering the right formulation for enhanced drug delivery

Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) can be used with a wide range of drugs such as small molecules and biologics and offer several advantages for inhaled therapy. Early DPI products were intended to treat asthma and lung chronic inflammatory disease by administering low-dose, high-potency drugs blended with lactose carrier particles. The use of lactose blends is still the most common approach to aid powder flowability and dose metering in DPI products. However, this conventional approach may not meet the high demand for formulation physical stability, aerosolisation performance, and bioavailability. To overcome these issues, innovative techniques coupled with modification of the traditional methods have been explored to engineer particles for enhanced drug delivery. Different particle engineering techniques have been utilised depending on the types of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (e.g., small molecules, peptides, proteins, cells) and the inhaled dose. This review discusses the challenges of formulating DPI formulations of low-dose and high-dose small molecule drugs, and biologics, followed by recent and emerging particle engineering strategies utilised in developing the right inhalable powder formulations for enhanced drug delivery.

Dissolution and Absorption of Inhaled Drug Particles in the Lungs

Dry powder inhalation therapy has been effective in treating localized lung diseases such asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), cystic fibrosis and lung infections. In vitro characterization of dry powder formulations includes the determination of physicochemical nature and aerosol performance of powder particles. The relationship between particle properties (size, shape, surface morphology, porosity, solid state nature, and surface hydrophobicity) and aerosol performance of an inhalable dry powder formulation has been well established. However, unlike oral formulations, there is no standard dissolution method for evaluating the dissolution behavior of the inhalable dry powder particles in the lungs. This review focuses on various dissolution systems and absorption models, which have been developed to evaluate dry powder formulations. It covers a summary of airway epithelium, hurdles to developing an in vitro dissolution method for the inhaled dry powder particles, fine particle dose collection methods, various in vitro dissolution testing methods developed for dry powder particles, and models commonly used to study absorption of inhaled drug.

Improved Aerosolization Stability of Inhalable Tobramycin Powder Formulation by Co-Spray Drying with Colistin

PURPOSE

Tobramycin shows synergistic antibacterial activity with colistin and can reduce the toxic effects of colistin. The purpose of this study is to prepare pulmonary powder formulations containing both colistin and tobramycin and to assess their in vitro aerosol performance and storage stability.

METHODS

The dry powder formulations were manufactured using a lab-scale spray dryer. In vitro aerosol performance was measured using a Next Generation Impactor. The storage stability of the dry powder formulations was measured at 22°C and two relative humidity levels - 20 and 55%. Colistin composition on the particle surface was measured using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

RESULTS

Two combination formulations, with 1:1 and 1:5 molar ratios of colistin and tobramycin, showed fine particle fractions (FPF) of 85%, which was significantly higher than that of the spray dried tobramycin (45%). FPF of the tobramycin formulation increased significantly when stored for four weeks at both 20% and 55% RH. In contrast, FPF values of both combination formulations and spray dried colistin remained stable at both humidity levels. Particle surface of each combination was significantly enriched in colistin molecules; 1:5 combination showed 77% by wt. colistin.

CONCLUSIONS

The superior aerosol performance and aerosolization stability of 1:1 and 1:5 combination formulations of colistin and tobramycin could be attributed to enrichment of colistin on the co-spray dried particle surface. The observed powder properties may be the result of a surfactant-like assembly of these colistin molecules during spray drying, thus forming a hydrophobic particle surface.

Studies of the Specific Activity of Aerosolized Isoniazid against Tuberculosis in a Mouse Model

The aerosol inhalation delivery of isoniazid in mice was investigated, and the specific activity of the aerosol form of isoniazid was studied with the mouse model of tuberculosis infection, the M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Aerosol delivery was performed using a laminar-flow horizontal nucleation chamber. The inhalation dose was measured in real-time mode using a diffusion aerosol spectrometer. The mean particle diameter was 0.6 ± 0.03 μm, and the inhalation dose was 5–9 mg/kg. Pharmacokinetic measurements were carried out in nose-only and whole-body chambers. Isoniazid concentration in blood serum and its mass in the lungs were measured as a function of time using high-performance liquid chromatography. Studies of the specific activity of aerosolized isoniazid reveal that treatment with the aerosol lead to the complete recovery of the experimental tuberculosis infection as early as after 28 days after the start of inhalation treatment, while in the animals from the group receiving isoniazid per-orally, sole revivable tuberculosis mycobacteria were detected. Histologic examinations show that only a few macrophagal (nonspecific) granulomas without mycobacteria were detected in the spleen after per-oral and aerosol treatment, the number of granulomas on the 28th day being three times smaller in the latter case. The results show that the developed technique of isoniazid aerosol inhalation may have clinical potential.

A facile one-step jet-millingapproach for the preparation of proliposomal dry powder for inhalationaseffective delivery system for anti-TBtherapeutics

Objective: Physicochemical characterization and assessmentof aerosol dispersion performance of anti-TB proliposome dry powders for inhalation (DPIs) prepared using a single-step jet-milling (JM) approach. Significance: Conventional tuberculosis treatment involves isoniazid and rifampicin as first-line agents in extended oral multi-drug regimes. Liposomal DPIs are emerging as promising alternatives for targeted delivery of anti-TB agents to alveolar macrophages harboring Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, traditional approaches for liposomal DPI preparation are tedious, time consuming and require sophisticated/expensive equipment. The proposed JM technique for preparation of proliposome DPIs could obviate these limitations and facilitate use of these drugs for more effective and safer treatment. Methods: Proliposome DPIs containing isoniazid and/or rifampicin, cholesterol and cholesterol sulfate were successfully prepared via JM (injection pressure, 7.4 bar; milling pressure, 3.68 bar). Their physicochemical, content uniformity, and in vitro aerosol dispersion performance were assessed using scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering/Zeta potential, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, high performance liquid chromatography, and the Next Generation Impactor. Results: The DPIs exhibited consistent, spherically shaped, smooth particles. Drug particles were evenly distributed with acceptable content uniformity. Drug crystallinity was not significantly affected by milling and the formulations had minimal (<2.0%) water content. After reconstitution of theDPIs, the hydrodynamic size was about 370.9 - 556.2nm and charge was-12.3 - -47.3mV. Furthermore, the proliposome DPIs presented emitted dose (69.04 - 89.03%), fine particle fraction,< 4.4 µm (13.7 - 57.8%), and mass median aerodynamic diameter (<3.0 µm), which satisfied the requirements for deep lung delivery. Conclusion: The proposed approach was suitable for preparation of proliposome DPIs that could be deployed for local targeting of the lower respiratory tract for treatment of tuberculosis.

A review of formulations and preclinical studies of inhaled rifampicin for its clinical translation

Inhaled drug delivery is a promising approach to achieving high lung drug concentrations to facilitate efficient treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and to reduce the overall duration of treatment. Rifampicin is a good candidate for delivery via the pulmonary route. There have been no clinical studies yet at relevant inhaled doses despite the numerous studies investigating its formulation and preclinical properties for pulmonary delivery. This review discusses the clinical implications of pulmonary drug delivery in TB treatment, the drug delivery systems reported for pulmonary delivery of rifampicin, animal models, and the animal studies on inhaled rifampicin formulations, and the research gaps hindering the transition from preclinical development to clinical investigation. A review of reports in the literature suggested there have been minimal attempts to test inhaled formulations of rifampicin in laboratory animals at relevant high doses and there is a lack of appropriate studies in animal models. Published studies have reported testing only low doses (≤ 20 mg/kg) of rifampicin, and none of the studies has investigated the safety of inhaled rifampicin after repeated administration. Preclinical evaluations of inhaled anti-TB drugs, such as rifampicin, should include high-dose formulations in preclinical models, determined based on allometric conversions, for relevant high-dose anti-TB therapy in humans.

Development of excipients free inhalable co-spray-dried tobramycin and diclofenac formulations for cystic fibrosis using two and three fluid nozzles

This study aims to investigate the effect of physicochemical properties and aerosol performance of two (2FN) and three-fluid nozzles (3FN) on the inhalable co-formulation of tobramycin and diclofenac dry powders. Combination formulations of tobramycin and diclofenac at 2:1 and 4:1 w/w ratios were prepared at a laboratory scale using a spray dryer in conjunction with a 2FN or 3FN. Powder size, morphology, solid-state characteristics, and aerodynamic and dissolution properties were characterised. The nozzle types and the formulation composition influenced the yield, particle size, solid-state properties, aerosolization behaviour and dissolution of the co-spray dried formulations. In particular, using the 2FN the co-spray dried formulation of tobramycin and diclofenac at 2:1 w/w showed smaller particle size (D50, 3.01 ± 0.06 μm), high fine particle fractions (FPF) (61.1 ± 3.6% for tobramycin and 65.92 ± 3 for diclofenac) and faster dissolution with approx. 70% diclofenac released within 3 h and approx. 90% tobramycin was released within 45 min. However, the 3FN for the co-spray dried formulation of tobramycin and diclofenac at a 2:1 w/w ratio showed a larger particle size (D50, 3.42 ± 0.02 μm), lower FPF (40.6 ± 3.4% for tobramycin and 36.9 ± 0.84 for diclofenac) and comparative slower dissolution with approx. 60% diclofenac was released within 3 h and 80% tobramycin was released within 45 min. A similar trend was observed when the tobramycin to diclofenac ratio was increased to 4:1 w/w. Overall results suggest that spray drying with 2FN showed a superior and viable approach to producing excipients-free inhalable co-spray dried formulations of tobramycin and diclofenac. However, the formulation produced using the 3FN showed higher enrichment of hydrophobic diclofenac and an ability to control the tobramycin drug release in vitro.

Dry powder inhalers of antitubercular drugs

Despite advancements in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, tuberculosis remains a major health problem globally. Patients do not widely accept the conventional approach to treating tuberculosis (TB) due to prolonged treatment periods with multiple high doses of drugs and associated side effects. A pulmonary route is a non-invasive approach to delivering drugs, hormones, nucleic acid, steroids, proteins, and peptides directly to the lungs, improving the efficacy of the treatment and consequently decreasing the adverse effect of the treatment. This route has been successfully developed for the treatment of various respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis (TB), lung cancer, and other pulmonary infections. The major approaches of inhalation delivery systems include nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), and dry powder inhalers (DPIs). However, dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are more advantageous due to their stability and ability to deliver a high dose of the drug to the lungs. The present review analyzes the modern therapeutic approach of inhaled dry powders, with a special focus on novel drug delivery system (NDDS) based DPIs for the treatment of TB. The article also discussed the challenges of preparing inhalable dry powder formulations for the treatment of TB. The clinical development of inhalable anti-TB drugs is also reviewed.

Recent Developments in Drug Delivery for Treatment of Tuberculosis by Targeting Macrophages

Tuberculosis (TB) is among the greatest public health and safety concerns in the 21st century, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes TB, infects alveolar macrophages and uses these cells as one of its primary sites of replication. The current TB treatment regimen, which consist of chemotherapy involving a combination of 3-4 antimicrobials for a duration of 6-12 months, is marked with significant side effects, toxicity, and poor compliance. Targeted drug delivery offers a strategy that could overcome many of the problems of current TB treatment by specifically targeting infected macrophages. Recent advances in nanotechnology and material science have opened an avenue to explore drug carriers that actively and passively target macrophages. This approach can increase the drug penetration into macrophages by using ligands on the nanocarrier that interact with specific receptors for macrophages. This review encompasses the recent development of drug carriers specifically targeting macrophages actively and passively. Future directions and challenges associated with development of effective TB treatment is also discussed.

Spray freeze drying to solidify Nanosuspension of Cefixime into inhalable microparticles

PURPOSE

Spray-freeze drying (SFD) incorporating diverse carbohydrates and leucine was employed to obtain dried nanosuspension of cefixime with improved dissolution profile, good dispersibility, and excellent inhalation performance.

METHODS

Nanoprecipitation was utilized to prepare nanoparticles (NPs). Nanosuspensions of cefixime were solidified via SFD to access inhalable microparticles. The aerosolization efficiencies were evaluated through twin stage impinger (TSI). Laser light scattering and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided assistance to determine the particle size/size distribution and morphology, respectively. Amorphous/ crystalline states of materials were examined via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Release profiles of candidate preparations were evaluated.

RESULTS

The fine particle fraction (FPF) ranged from 18.96 ± 0.76 to 79.28 ± 0.45%. The highest value resulted from trehalose with NP/carrier ratio of 1:1 and leucine 20%. The particle size varied from 5.24 ± 0.97 to 10.17 ± 1.01 μm. The most and the least size distribution were achieved in mannitol and trehalose containing formulations, respectively. The majority of samples demonstrated ideally spherical morphology with diverse degrees of porosity and without needle-shaped structure. Percentages of release in F₇ and F₈ were 89.33 ± 0.88% and 93.54 ± 1.02%, respectively, via first 10 min.

CONCLUSION

SFD of nanosuspensions can be established as a platform for the pulmonary delivery of poorly water-soluble molecules of cefixime. Trehalose and raffinose with a lower ratio of NP to the carrier and higher level of leucine could be introduced as favorable formulations for further respiratory delivery of cefixime.

Spray-freeze-dried inhalable composite microparticles containing nanoparticles of combinational drugs for potential treatment of lung infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The multi-drug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an overwhelming cause of terminal and persistent lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Antimicrobial synergy has been shown for colistin and ivacaftor, and our study designed a relatively high drug-loading dry powder inhaler formulation containing nanoparticles of ivacaftor and colistin. The ivacaftor-colistin nanosuspensions (Iva-Col-NPs) were prepared by the anti-solvent method with different stabilizers. Based on the aggregation data, the formulation 7 (F7) with DSPG-PEG-OMe as the stabilizer was selected for further studies. The F7 consisted of ivacaftor, colistin and DSPG-PEG-OMe with a mass ratio of 1:1:1. The F7 powder formulation was developed using the ultrasonic spray-freeze-drying method and exhibited a rough surface with relatively high fine particle fraction values of 61.4 ± 3.4% for ivacaftor and 63.3 ± 3.3% for colistin, as well as superior emitted dose of 97.8 ± 0.3% for ivacaftor and 97.6 ± 0.5% for colistin. The F7 showed very significant dissolution improvement for poorly water soluble ivacaftor than the physical mixture. Incorporating two drugs in a single microparticle with synchronized dissolution and superior aerosol performance will maximize the synergy and bioactivity of those two drugs. Minimal cytotoxicity in Calu-3 human lung epithelial cells and enhanced antimicrobial activity against colistin-resistant P. aeruginosa suggested that our formulation has potential to improve the treatment of CF patients with lung infections.

A triple combination 'nano' dry powder inhaler for tuberculosis: in vitro and in vivo pulmonary characterization

Inhalation route of drug delivery is the most favorable for pulmonary infections wherein direct drug delivery is desired to the lungs. Tuberculosis is one such infection suffering from poor therapeutic efficacy because of low patient compliance due to high drug dosing and lengthy treatment protocols. The current research work was undertaken to develop a dry powder inhaler (DPI) for administration of three first-line antitubercular antibiotics directly to the lungs to improve the treatment rates. Nanoformulations of isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampicin were prepared, spray-dried to obtain a dry powder system, and blended with inhalation grade lactose to develop the DPI. The DPI was evaluated for its flow properties, pulmonary deposition, dissolution profile, and stability. The DPI possessed excellent flow properties with a fine particle fraction of 45% and a mass median aerodynamic diameter of approximately 5 µm indicating satisfactory lung deposition. In vitro drug release exhibited a sustained release of the formulations. In vivo studies showed a prolonged deposition in the lung at elevated concentrations compared to oral therapy. Stability studies proved that the formulation remained stable at accelerated and long-term stability conditions. The DPI could complement the existing oral therapy in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy in patients.

Administration of dry powders during respiratory supports

Inhaled drugs are routinely used for the treatment of respiratory-supported patients. To date, pressurized metered dose inhalers and nebulizers are the two platforms routinely employed in the clinical setting. The scarce utilization of the dry powder inhaler (DPI) platform is partly due to the lack of in vivo data that proves optimal delivery and drug efficacy are achievable. Additionally, fitting a DPI in-line to the respiratory circuit is not as straightforward as with the other aerosol delivery platforms. Importantly, there is a common misconception that the warm and humidified inspiratory air in respiratory supports, even for a short exposure, will deteriorate powder formulation compromising its delivery and efficacy. However, some recent studies have dispelled this myth, showing successful delivery of dry powders through the humidified circuit of respiratory supports. Compared with other aerosol delivery devices, the use of DPIs during respiratory supports possesses unique advantages such as rapid delivery and high dose. In this review, we presented in vitro studies showing various setups employing commercial DPIs and effects of ventilator parameters on the aerosol delivery. Inclusion of novel DPIs was also made to illustrate characteristics of an ideal inhaler that would give high lung dose with low powder deposition loss in tracheal tubes and respiratory circuits. Clinical trials are urgently needed to confirm the benefits of administration of dry powders in ventilated patients, thus enabling translation of powder delivery into practice.

Inhaled fixed-dose combination powders for the treatment of respiratory infections

INTRODUCTION

Respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. As an alternative to systemic drug administration, inhaled drug delivery can produce high drug concentrations in the lung tissue to overcome resistant bacteria. The development of inhaled fixed-dose combination powders (I-FDCs) is promising next step in this field, as it would enable simultaneous drug-drug or drug-adjuvant delivery at the site of infection, thereby promoting synergistic activity and improving patient compliance.

AREAS COVERED

This review covers the clinical and pharmaceutical rationales for the development of I-FDCs for the treatment of respiratory infections, relevant technologies for particle and powder generation, and obstacles which must be addressed to achieve regulatory approval.

EXPERT OPINION

I-FDCs have been widely successful in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; however, application of I-FDCs towards the treatment of respiratory infections carries additional challenges related to the high dose requirements and physicochemical characteristics of anti-infective drugs. At present, co-spray drying is an especially promising approach for the development of composite fixed-dose anti-infective particles for inhalation. Though the majority of fixed-dose research has thus far focused on the combination of multiple antibiotics, future work may shift to the additional inclusion of immunomodulatory agents or repurposed non-antibiotics.

Scope and limitations on aerosol drug delivery for the treatment of infectious respiratory diseases

The rise of antimicrobial resistance has created an urgent need for the development of new methods for antibiotics delivery to patients with pulmonary infections in order to mainly increase the effectiveness of the drugs administration, to minimize the risk of emergence of resistant strains, and to prevent patients reinfection. Since bacterial resistance is often related to antibiotic concentration, their pulmonary administration could eradicate strains resistant to the same drug at the concentration achieved through the systemic circulation. Pulmonary administration offers several advantages; it directly targets the site of the infection which allows the inhaled dose of the drug to be reduced compared to that administered orally or parenterally while keeping the same local effect. The review article is made with an objective to compile information about various existing modern technologies developed to provide greater patient compliance and reduce the undesirable side effect of the drugs. In conclusion, aerosol antibiotic delivery appears as one of the best technologies for the treatment of pulmonary infectious diseases and able to limit the systemic adverse effects related to the high drug dose and to make life easier for the patients.

Development and Evaluation of a Reconstitutable Dry Suspension Containing Isoniazid for Flexible Pediatric Dosing

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of childhood death. Despite the startling statistics, it is neglected globally as evidenced by treatment and clinical care schemes, mostly extrapolated from studies in adults. The objective of this study was to formulate and evaluate a reconstitutable dry suspension (RDS) containing isoniazid, a first-line anti-tubercular agent used in the treatment and prevention of TB infection in both children and adults. The RDS formulation was prepared by direct dispersion emulsification of an aqueous-lipid particulate interphase coupled with lyophilization and dry milling. The RDS appeared as a cream-white free-flowing powder with a semi-crystalline and microparticulate nature. Isoniazid release was characterized with an initial burst up to 5 minutes followed by a cumulative release of 67.88% ± 1.88% (pH 1.2), 60.18% ± 3.33% (pH 6.8), and 49.36% ± 2.83% (pH 7.4) over 2 hours. An extended release at pH 7.4 and 100% drug liberation was achieved within 300 minutes. The generated release profile best fitted the zero order kinetics (R2 = 0.976). RDS was re-dispersible and remained stable in the dried and reconstituted states over 4 months and 11 days, respectively, under common storage conditions.

Inhalable dry powders of rifampicin highlighting potential and drawbacks in formulation development for experimental tuberculosis aerosol therapy

Introduction: Recently, tuberculosis was reported as the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Standard therapy includes administration of four first-line antibiotics, i.e. rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide over a period of at least 26 weeks, which in case of rifampicin oftentimes is accompanied by unwanted side effects and variable bioavailability that compromise a positive therapeutic outcome. As the main site of infection is the lungs, it is desirable to develop a therapeutic formulation to be administered via the pulmonary route.Areas covered: This work presents a literature review on studies investigating inhalable dry powder formulations including rifampicin in the context of an experimental tuberculosis therapy, with a special focus on aerosol performance.Expert opinion: It was found that formulation approaches involving different strategies and functional excipients are under investigation but as of now, no formulation has managed to leap into commercial clinical testing. Reasons for this might not primarily be associated with a lack of suitable candidates, but amongst others a lack of suitable in vitro models to assess the efficacy, therapeutic benefit, and cost-effectiveness of the candidate formulations.

Development of an Excipient-Free Peptide Dry Powder Inhalation for the Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis

The caveolin scaffolding domain peptide (CSP) is being developed for the therapeutic intervention of a lethal lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. While direct respiratory delivery of CSP7 (a 7-mer fragment of CSP) is considered an effective route, proper formulation and processing of the peptide are required. First, air-jet milling technology was performed in order to micronize the neat peptide powder. Next, the fine particles were subjected to a stability study with physical and chemical characterizations. In addition, the in vivo efficacy of processed CSP7 powder was evaluated in an animal model of lung fibrosis. The results revealed that, with jet milling, the particle size of CSP7 was reduced to a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 1.58 ± 0.1 μm and 93.3 ± 3.3% fine particle fraction, optimal for deep lung delivery. A statistically significant reduction of collagen was observed in diseased lung tissues of mice that received CSP7 powder for inhalation. The particles remained chemically and physically stable after micronization and during storage. This work demonstrated that jet milling is effective in the manufacturing of a stable, excipient-free CSP7 inhalation powder for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Inhalable Dry Powder of Bedaquiline for Pulmonary Tuberculosis: In Vitro Physicochemical Characterization, Antimicrobial Activity and Safety Studies

Bedaquiline is a newly developed anti-tuberculosis drug, conditionally approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for treating drug-resistant tuberculosis in adults. Oral delivery of bedaquiline causes severe side effects such as increased hepatic aminotransferase levels and cardiac arrhythmias (prolongation of QT-interval). This study aimed to develop inhalable dry powder particles of bedaquiline with high aerosolization efficiency to reduce the side-effects of oral bedaquiline. Bedaquiline (with or without l-leucine) powders were prepared using a Buchi Mini Spray-dryer. The powders were characterized for physicochemical properties and for their in vitro aerosolization efficiency using a next-generation impactor (NGI). The formulation with maximum aerosolization efficiency was investigated for physicochemical and aerosolization stability after one-month storage at 20 ± 2 °C/30 ± 2% relative humidity (RH) and 25 ± 2 °C/75% RH in an open Petri dish. The cytotoxicity of the powders on A549 and Calu-3 cell-lines was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The powders were also evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aerodynamic diameter of the l-leucine-containing powder was 2.4 µm, and the powder was amorphous in nature. The aerosolization efficiency (fine-particle fraction) of l-leucine-containing powder (fine-particle fraction (FPF): 74.4%) was higher than the bedaquiline-only powder (FPF: 31.3%). l-leucine containing powder particles were plate-shaped with rough surfaces, but the bedaquiline-only powder was spherical and smooth. The optimized powder was stable at both storage conditions during one-month storage and non-toxic (up to 50 µg/mL) to the respiratory cell-lines. Bedaquiline powders were effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and had a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.1 µg/mL. Improved aerosolization may help to combat pulmonary tuberculosis by potentially reducing the side-effects of oral bedaquiline. Further research is required to understand the safety of the optimized inhalable powder in animal models.

A Spray-Dried Combination of Capreomycin and CPZEN-45 for Inhaled Tuberculosis Therapy

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the single most serious infectious disease attributable to a single-causative organism. A variety of drugs have been evaluated for pulmonary delivery as dry powders: capreomycin sulfate has shown efficacy and was safely delivered by inhalation at high doses to human volunteers, whereas CPZEN-45 is a new drug that has also been shown to kill resistant TB. The studies here combine these drugs-acting by different mechanisms-as components of single particles by spray-drying, yielding a new combination drug therapy. The spray-dried combination powder was prepared in an aerodynamic particle size range suitable for pulmonary delivery. Physicochemical storage stability was demonstrated for a period of 6 months. The spray-dried combination powders of capreomycin and CPZEN-45 have only moderate affinity for mucin, indicating that delivered drug will not be bound by these mucins in the lung and available for microbicidal effects. The pharmacokinetics of disposition in guinea pigs demonstrated high local concentrations of drug following direct administration to the lungs and subsequent systemic bioavailability. Further studies are required to demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of the combination to confirm the therapeutic potential of this novel combination.

Inhaled Antibiotics for Mycobacterial Lung Disease

Mycobacterial lung diseases are an increasing global health concern. Tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria differ in disease severity, epidemiology, and treatment strategies, but there are also a number of similarities. Pathophysiology and disease progression appear to be relatively similar between these two clinical diagnoses, and as a result these difficult to treat pulmonary infections often require similarly extensive treatment durations of multiple systemic drugs. In an effort to improve treatment outcomes for all mycobacterial lung diseases, a significant body of research has investigated the use of inhaled antibiotics. This review discusses previous research into inhaled development programs, as well as ongoing research of inhaled therapies for both nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease, and tuberculosis. Due to the similarities between the causative agents, this review will also discuss the potential cross-fertilization of development programs between these similar-yet-different diseases. Finally, we will discuss some of the perceived difficulties in developing a clinically utilized inhaled antibiotic for mycobacterial diseases, and potential arguments in favor of the approach.

Characterization and Formulation of Isoniazid for High-Dose Dry Powder Inhalation

Tuberculosis is a major health problem and remains one of the main causes of mortality. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the pulmonary delivery of antibiotics to treat tuberculosis. Isoniazid is one of these antibiotics. In this study, we aimed to characterize isoniazid and formulate it into a dry powder for pulmonary administration with little or no excipient, and for use in the disposable Twincer^® inhaler. Isoniazid was jet milled and spray dried with and without the excipient l-leucine. Physiochemical characterization showed that isoniazid has a low Tg of −3.99 ± 0.18 °C and starts to sublimate around 80 °C. Milling isoniazid with and without excipients did not result in a suitable formulation, as it resulted in a low and highly variable fine particle fraction. Spray drying pure isoniazid resulted in particles too large for pulmonary administration. The addition of 5% l-leucine resulted in a fraction <5 µm = 89.61% ± 1.77% from spray drying, which dispersed well from the Twincer^®. However, storage stability was poor at higher relative humidity, which likely results from dissolution-crystallization. Therefore, follow up research is needed to further optimize this spray dried formulation.

Sodium Hyaluronate Nanocomposite Respirable Microparticles to Tackle Antibiotic Resistance with Potential Application in Treatment of Mycobacterial Pulmonary Infections

Tuberculosis resistant cases have been estimated to grow every year. Besides Mycobacterium tuberculosis, other mycobacterial species are responsible for an increasing number of difficult-to-treat infections. To increase efficacy of pulmonary treatment of mycobacterial infections an inhalable antibiotic powder targeting infected alveolar macrophages (AMs) and including an efflux pump inhibitor was developed. Low molecular weight sodium hyaluronate sub-micron particles were efficiently loaded with rifampicin, isoniazid and verapamil, and transformed in highly respirable microparticles (mean volume diameter: 1 μm) by spray drying. These particles were able to regenerate their original size upon contact with aqueous environment with mechanical stirring or sonication. The in vitro drugs release profile from the powder was characterized by a slow release rate, favorable to maintain a high drug level inside AMs. In vitro antimicrobial activity and ex vivo macrophage infection assays employing susceptible and drug resistant strains were carried out. No significant differences were observed when the powder, which did not compromise the AMs viability after a five-day exposure, was compared to the same formulation without verapamil. However, both preparations achieved more than 80% reduction in bacterial viability irrespective of the drug resistance profile. This approach can be considered appropriate to treat mycobacterial respiratory infections, regardless the level of drug resistance.

Excipient-free isoniazid aerosol administration in mice: Evaporation-nucleation particle generation, pulmonary delivery and body distribution

Excipient-free isoniazid aerosol formation and pulmonary delivery in mice are studied. An evaporation-nucleation route is used for the generation of isoniazid aerosol. Particle diameters and number concentrations are measured with an aerosol spectrometer consisting of a diffusion battery, condensation chamber, and photoelectric counter. The pulmonary delivery of isoniazid particles is studied in both nose-only (NO) and whole-body (WB) inhalation chambers for the particle mean diameter and number concentration to be 600 nm and 6 × 10⁶ cm^-3, respectively. It is found that the rate of drug systemic absorption in the WB chamber is 27% higher than that for the NO one because of an additional consumption of drug orally from the fur in the WB chamber. The particle deposition efficiency ε in the mouse respiratory tract is measured as a function of mean diameter. The quantity ε is equal to 0.7 for the particle diameter d = 10 nm and decreases to 0.2 with the diameter increasing to 300 nm, and then, at d > 300 nm the deposition efficiency increases with diameter to 0.5 at d = 2000 nm. The bioavailability of the aerosol form of isoniazid (72 ± 10%) is very close to that for the per-oral form (61 ± 10%).

Nanomedicines as Drug Delivery Carriers of Anti-Tubercular Drugs: From Pathogenesis to Infection Control

In spite of advances in tuberculosis (TB) chemotherapy, TB is still airborne deadly disorder as a major issue of health concern worldwide today. Extensive researches have been focused to develop novel drug delivery systems to shorten the lengthy therapy approaches, prevention of relapses, reducing dose-related toxicities and to rectify technologically related drawbacks of anti-tubercular drugs. Moreover, the rapid emergence of drug resistance, poor patient compliance due to negative therapeutic outcomes and intracellular survival of Mycobacterium highlighted to develop carrier with optimum effectiveness of the anti-tubercular drugs. This could be achieved by targeting and concentrating the drug on the infection reservoir of Mycobacterium. In this article, we briefly compiled the general aspects of Mycobacterium pathogenesis, disease treatment along with progressive updates in novel drug delivery carrier system to enhance therapeutic effects of drug and the high level of patient compliance. Recently developed several vaccines might be shortly available as reported by WHO.

High dose dry powder inhalers to overcome the challenges of tuberculosis treatment

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health burden. The emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and drug resistance has complicated global TB control. Pulmonary delivery of drugs using dry powder inhalers (DPI) is an emerging approach to treat TB. In comparison with the conventional pulmonary delivery for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), TB requires high dose delivery to the lung. However, high dose delivery depends on the successful design of the inhaler device and the formulation of highly aerosolizable powders. Particle engineering techniques play an important role in the development of high dose dry powder formulations. This review focuses on the development of high dose dry powder formulations for TB treatment with background information on the challenges of the current treatment of TB and the potential for pulmonary delivery. Particle engineering techniques with a particular focus on the spray drying and a summary of the developed dry powder formulations using different techniques are also discussed.

In vivo nose-to-brain delivery of the hydrophilic antiviral ribavirin by microparticle agglomerates

Nasal administration has been proposed as a potential approach for the delivery of drugs to the central nervous system. Ribavirin (RBV), an antiviral drug potentially useful to treat viral infections both in humans and animals, has been previously demonstrated to attain several brain compartments after nasal administration. Here, a powder formulation in the form of agglomerates comprising micronized RBV and spray-dried microparticles containing excipients with potential absorption enhancing properties, i.e. mannitol, chitosan, and α-cyclodextrin, was developed for nasal insufflation. The agglomerates were characterized for particle size, agglomeration yield, and ex vivo RBV permeation across rabbit nasal mucosa as well as delivery from an animal dry powder insufflator device. Interestingly, permeation enhancers such as chitosan and mannitol showed a lower amount of RBV permeating across the excised nasal tissue, whereas α-cyclodextrin proved to outperform the other formulations and to match the highly soluble micronized RBV powder taken as a reference. In vivo nasal administration to rats of the agglomerates containing α-cyclodextrin showed an overall higher accumulation of RBV in all the brain compartments analyzed as compared with the micronized RBV administered as such without excipient microparticles. Hence, powder agglomerates are a valuable approach to obtain a nasal formulation potentially attaining nose-to-brain delivery of drugs with minimal processing of the APIs and improvement of the technological and biopharmaceutical properties of micronized API and excipients, as they combine optimal flow properties for handling and dosing, suitable particle size for nasal deposition, high surface area for drug dissolution, and penetration enhancing properties from excipients such as cyclodextrins.

Delivering drugs to the lungs: The history of repurposing in the treatment of respiratory diseases

The repurposing of drug delivery by the pulmonary route has been applied to treatment and prophylaxis of an increasingly wide range of respiratory diseases. Repurposing has been most successful for the delivery of inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Repurposing utilizes the advantages that the pulmonary route offers in terms of more targeted delivery to the site of action, the use of smaller doses, and a lower incidence of side-effects. Success has been more variable for other drugs and treatment indications. Pulmonary delivery is now well established for delivery of inhaled antibiotics in cystic fibrosis (CF), and in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Other inhaled treatments such as those for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), lung transplant rejection or tuberculosis may also become routine. Repurposing has progressed in parallel with the development of new drugs, inhaler devices and formulations.

Electrohydrodynamic atomization and spray-drying for the production of pure drug nanocrystals and co-crystals

In recent years, nanotechnology has offered attractive opportunities to overcome the (bio)pharmaceutical drawbacks of most drugs such as low aqueous solubility and bioavailability. Among the numerous methodologies that have been applied to improve drug performance, a special emphasis has been made on those that increase the dissolution rate and the saturation solubility by the reduction of the particle size of pure drugs to the nanoscale and the associated increase of the specific surface area. Different top-down and bottom-up methods have been implemented, each one with its own pros and cons. Over the last years, the latter that rely on the dissolution of the drug in a proper solvent and its crystallization or co-crystallization by precipitation in an anti-solvent or, conversely, by solvent evaporation have gained remarkable impulse owing to the ability to adjust features such as size, size distribution, morphology and to control the amorphous/crystalline nature of the product. In this framework, electrohydrodynamic atomization (also called electrospraying) and spray-drying excel due to their simplicity and potential scalability. Moreover, they do not necessarily require suspension stabilizers and dry products are often produced during the formation of the nanoparticles what ensures physicochemical stability for longer times than liquid products. This review overviews the potential of these two technologies for the production of pure drug nanocrystals and co-crystals and discusses the recent technological advances and challenges for their implementation in pharmaceutical research and development.

Protective effect of sodium stearate on the moisture-induced deterioration of hygroscopic spray-dried powders

Amorphous powders are thermodynamically unstable, significantly impacting the processing, storage and performance of a product. Therefore, stabilization of the amorphous contents is in demand. In this study, disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) powder was chosen as a model drug because it is amorphous and highly hygroscopic after spray drying. Sodium stearate (NaSt) was co-spray dried with DSCG at various concentrations (10, 50 and 90% w/w) to investigate its effect against moisture-induced deterioration on the in vitro aerosolization performance of DSCG. Particle size distribution and morphology were measured by laser diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Physicochemical properties of the powders were analysed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and dynamic vapour sorption (DVS). Particle surface chemistry was analysed by the time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). In vitro dissolution behaviours of the spray-dried (SD) powders were tested by the Franz cell apparatus. In vitro aerosolization performance of SD formulations stored at different relative humidity (RH) was evaluated by a multi-stage liquid impinger (MSLI), using an Osmohaler® at 100 L/min. Results showed that adding NaSt in the formulation not only increased the aerosolization performance of DSCG significantly, but also effectively reduced the deleterious impact of moisture. No significant difference was found in the fine particle fraction (FPF) of formulations containing NaSt before and after storage at both 60% and 75% RH for one week. However, after one month storage at 75% RH, SD formulation containing 10% NaSt showed a reduction in FPF, while formulations containing 50% or 90% NaSt showed no change. The underlying mechanism was that NaSt increased the crystallinity of the powders and its presence on the particle surface reduced particle aggregations and cohesiveness. However, NaSt at high concentration could reduce dissolution rate, which needs to be taken into consideration.

Critical physicochemical and biological attributes of nanoemulsions for pulmonary delivery of rifampicin by nebulization technique in tuberculosis treatment

The study investigated aerosolization, pulmonary inhalation, intracellular trafficking potential in macrophages and pharmacokinetics profiles of rifampicin-oleic acid first-generation nanoemulsion and its respective chitosan- and chitosan-folate conjugate-decorated second and third-generation nanoemulsions, delivered via nebulization technique. The nanoemulsions were prepared by conjugate synthesis and spontaneous emulsification techniques. They were subjected to physicochemical, drug release, aerosolization, inhalation, cell culture and pharmacokinetics analysis. The nanoemulsions had average droplet sizes of 40-60 nm, with narrow polydispersity indices. They exhibited desirable pH, surface tension, viscosity, refractive index, density and viscosity attributes for pulmonary rifampicin administration. All nanoemulsions demonstrated more than 95% aerosol output and inhalation efficiency greater than 75%. The aerosol output, aerosolized and inhaled fine particle fractions were primarily governed by the size and surface tension of nanoemulsions in an inverse relationship. The nanoemulsions were found to be safe with third-generation nanoemulsion exhibiting higher cell internalization potential, reduced plasma drug concentration, and higher lung drug content.

Biodegradable nitric oxide precursor-loaded micro- and nanoparticles for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms

Bacteria in biofilms are more difficult to eradicate than planktonic bacteria and result in treatment challenges for many chronic infectious diseases. Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous molecule that offers potential as an alternative to conventional antibiotics; however its sustained topical delivery to biofilms is not readily achieved. With this in mind, we report the development of biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) based microparticles (MP) and nanoparticles (NP) for encapsulation of the NO precursor isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN) and the controlled delivery to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) biofilms. Firstly, water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsification/solvent evaporation methods for PLGA NP and MP syntheses were experimentally optimised with respect to particle size and ISMN loading/encapsulation efficiency. The influence of various experiment parameters, such as the volume of inner aqueous phase, concentration of surfactants, mixing time on the particle size, drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were investigated systematically. Both PLGA MP and NP formulations enabled sustained ISMN release in physiological media over 3 to 5 days. PLGA MP with diameters of ∼3 μm and ISMN loading of 2.2% (w/w) were identified as the optimum delivery system and demonstrated significant antibacterial activity in S. aureus biofilms. This behaviour is considered to be due to targeted biofilm delivery through a combination of effective penetration and sustained release of ISMN.

In vitro evaluation of novel inhalable dry powders consisting of thioridazine and rifapentine for rapid tuberculosis treatment

Thioridazine is an orally administered antipsychotic drug with potential for treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). However, drug-induced adverse cardiac effects have been reported when thioridazine was used at an efficacious oral dose of 200mg/day to treat TB. Pulmonary delivery of thioridazine could be a rational approach to reduce dose-related side effects while enabling high drug concentrations at the primary site of infection. The present study compares in vitro aerosol performance, storage stability, and in vitro antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of two inhalable powders composed of thioridazine and a first-line anti-TB drug, rifapentine. Formulation 1 is a combination of amorphous thioridazine and crystalline rifapentine, while Formulation 2 consisted of both drugs as amorphous forms. Both thioridazine-rifapentine formulations were found suitable for inhalation with a total fine particle fraction (<5μm) of 68-76%. The two powders had similar MIC90 to rifapentine alone, being 0.000625μg/mL and 0.005μg/ml against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra and M. tuberculosis H37Rv, respectively. In contrast, thioridazine alone had a MIC90 of 12.5μg/mL and 500μg/mL, against M. tuberculosis H37Ra and M. tuberculosis H37Rv, respectively, demonstrating no synergistic anti-TB activity. However, thioridazine and rifapentine in a ratio of 1:3 enhanced the killing of M. tuberculosis H37Ra within the human monocyte-derived macrophages (THP-1) compared to the single drug treatments. Both powders showed an acceptable half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 31.25μg/mL on both THP-1 and human lung epithelial (A549) cells. However, Formulation 1 showed greater chemical stability than Formulation 2 after three months of storage under low humidity (vacuum) at 20±3°C. In conclusion, we have demonstrated a novel inhalable powder consisted of amorphous thioridazine and crystalline rifapentine (Formulation 1) with a good aerosol performance, potent anti-TB activity and storage stability, which deserves further in vivo investigations.

The formulation of nanomedicines for treating tuberculosis

Recent estimates indicate that tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death worldwide, alongside the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The current treatment is effective, but is associated with severe adverse-effects and noncompliance to prescribed regimens. An alternative route of drug delivery may improve the performance of existing drugs, which may have a key importance in TB control and eradication. Recent advances and emerging technologies in nanoscale systems, particularly nanoparticles (NPs), have the potential to transform such approach to human health and disease. Until now, several nanodelivery systems for the pulmonary administration of anti-TB drugs have been intensively studied and their utility as an alternative to the classical TB treatment has been suggested. In this context, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent progress in nanodelivery systems for pulmonary administration of anti-TB drugs. Additionally, more convenient and cost-effective alternatives for the lung delivery, different types of NPs for oral and topical are also being considered, and summarized in this review. Lastly, the future of this growing field and its potential impact will be discussed.

Sharpening nature's tools for efficient tuberculosis control: A review of the potential role and development of host-directed therapies and strategies for targeted respiratory delivery

Centuries since it was first described, tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global public health issue. Despite ongoing holistic measures implemented by health authorities and a number of new oral treatments reaching the market, there is still a need for an advanced, efficient TB treatment. An adjunctive, host-directed therapy designed to enhance endogenous pathways and hence compliment current regimens could be the answer. The integration of drug repurposing, including synthetic and naturally occurring compounds, with a targeted drug delivery platform is an attractive development option. In order for a new anti-tubercular treatment to be produced in a timely manner, a multidisciplinary approach should be taken from the outset including stakeholders from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory bodies keeping the patient as the key focus. Pre-clinical considerations for the development of a targeted host-directed therapy are discussed here.

Dry powder inhalable formulations for anti-tubercular therapy

Tuberculosis (TB) is an intracellular infectious disease caused by the airborne bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite considerable research efforts, the treatment of TB continues to be a great challenge in part due to the requirement of prolonged therapy with multiple high-dose drugs and associated side effects. The delivery of pharmacological agents directly to the respiratory system, following the natural route of infection, represents a logical therapeutic approach for treatment or vaccination against TB. Pulmonary delivery is non-invasive, avoids first-pass metabolism in the liver and enables targeting of therapeutic agents to the infection site. Inhaled delivery also potentially reduces the dose requirement and the accompanying side effects. Dry powder is a stable formulation of drug that can be stored without refrigeration compared to liquids and suspensions. The dry powder inhalers are easy to use and suitable for high-dose formulations. This review focuses on the current innovations of inhalable dry powder formulations of drug and vaccine delivery for TB, including the powder production method, preclinical and clinical evaluations of inhaled dry powder over the last decade. Finally, the risks associated with pulmonary therapy are addressed. A novel dry powder formulation with high percentages of respirable particles coupled with a cost effective inhaler device is an appealing platform for TB drug delivery.