Formulation of inhalable beclomethasone dipropionate-mannitol composite particles through low-temperature supercritical assisted atomization

Instant Formulation of Inhalable Beclomethasone Dipropionate-Gamma-Cyclodextrin Composite Particles Produced Using Supercritical Assisted Atomization

Medical composites derived from Gamma-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) and beclomethasone dipropionate-gamma-cyclodextrin (BDP-γ-CD) are synthesized over supercritical-assisted atomization (SAA) herein. Carbon dioxide, which serves the dual function of spraying medium and co-solute, is incorporated in this process along with the ethanolic solvent. Results indicate that, for fine spherical particles, optimized aerosol performance could be obtained with 50.0% (w/w) ethanolic solvent, precipitator, and saturator at 373.2 K and 353.2 K, respectively, and carbon dioxide-to-γ-CD flow ratio of 1.8 in the presence of 10 wt% leucine (LEU) as dispersion enhancer. It is also noted that γ-CD solution at low concentration typically renders better aerosol performance of the particles. During drug particle-derivation, the solubility of drug BDP elevated considerably due to the formation of inclusion complexes, further assisted by the ethanolic solvent which increases the lipophilicity of BDP. Meanwhile, the in vitro aerosolization and dissolution performance of drug composites derived from varied γ-CD-to-BDP mass ratio (Z) were also evaluated. It was found that high Z promises higher fine particle fraction in the obtained drug composite while the dissolution rate of active ingredient (BDP) exhibits positive correlation to the content of water-soluble excipient (γ-CD) in the formulation. This study offers a new avenue for instant drug formulation with promising pulmonary delivery over the SAA technique.

Sustained-Release Powders Based on Polymer Particles for Pulmonary Delivery of Beclomethasone Dipropionate in the Treatment of Lung Inflammation

Inhaled corticosteroids are the mainstay in the management of lung inflammation associated to chronic lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nonetheless, available inhalation products are mostly short-acting formulations that require frequent administrations and do not always produce the desired anti-inflammatory effects. In this work, the production of inhalable beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) dry powders based on polymeric particles was attempted. As starting material, the PHEA-g-RhB-g-PLA-g-PEG copolymer was chosen, obtained by grafting 0.6, 2.4 and 3.0 mol%, respectively, of rhodamine (RhB), polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene glycol 5000 (PEG) on alpha,beta-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)DL-aspartamide (PHEA). The drug was loaded into the polymeric particles (MP) as an inclusion complex (CI) with hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrin (HP-β-Cyd) (at a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1) or as free form. The spray-drying (SD) process to produce MPs was optimized by keeping the polymer concentration (0.6 wt/vol%) constant in the liquid feed and by varying other parameters such as the drug concentration. The theoretical aerodynamic diameter (d_aer) values among the MPs are comparable and potentially suitable for inhalation, as confirmed also through evaluation of the experimental mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD_exp). BDP shows a controlled release profile from MPs that is significantly higher (more than tripled) than from Clenil^®. In vitro tests on bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) and adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) showed that all the MP samples (empty or drug-loaded) were highly biocompatible. None of the systems used induced apoptosis or necrosis. Moreover, the BDP loaded into the particles (BDP-Micro and CI-Micro) was more efficient than free BDP to counteract the effects of cigarette smoke and LPS on release of IL-6 and IL-8.

Immediate Release Formulation of Inhaled Beclomethasone Dipropionate-Hydroxypropyl-Beta-Cyclodextrin Composite Particles Produced Using Supercritical Assisted Atomization

In this study, the enhanced solubilization performance of a poorly soluble drug, beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), was investigated using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and ethanol. The enhanced solubility of the drug was determined using the phase solubility method and correlated as a function of both HP-β-CD and ethanol concentrations. The effective progress of drug solubility originated from the formation of cyclodextrin and BDP inclusion complexes and increase in the lipophilicity of the medium, by aqueous ethanol, for hydrophobic BDP. BDP and HP-β-CD composite particles were produced using supercritical assisted atomization (SAA) with carbon dioxide as the spraying medium, 54.2% (w/w) aqueous ethanol as the solvent, and an optimal amount of the dispersion enhancer leucine. The effect of the mass ratio of HP-β-CD to BDP (Z) on the in vitro aerosolization and in vitro dissolution performance of BDP-HP-β-CD composite particles was evaluated. The aerosolization performance showed that the fine particles fraction (FPF) of the composite particles increased with increasing mass ratio. The water-soluble excipient (HP-β-CD) effectively enhance the dissolution rate of BDP from composite particles. This study suggests that BDP-HP-β-CD composite particles produced using SAA can be employed in immediate-release drug formulations for pulmonary delivery.

Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery System: The Magic Bullet for the Treatment of Chronic Pulmonary Diseases

Chronic pulmonary diseases encompass different persistent and lethal diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), cystic fibrosis (CF), asthma, and lung cancers that affect millions of people globally. Traditional pharmacotherapeutic treatment approaches (i.e., bronchodilators, corticosteroids, chemotherapeutics, peptide-based agents, etc.) are not satisfactory to cure or impede diseases. With the advent of nanotechnology, drug delivery to an intended site is still difficult, but the nanoparticle's physicochemical properties can accomplish targeted therapeutic delivery. Based on their surface, size, density, and physical-chemical properties, nanoparticles have demonstrated enhanced pharmacokinetics of actives, achieving the spotlight in the drug delivery research field. In this review, the authors have highlighted different nanoparticle-based therapeutic delivery approaches to treat chronic pulmonary diseases along with the preparation techniques. The authors have remarked the nanosuspension delivery via nebulization and dry powder carrier is further effective in the lung delivery system since the particles released from these systems are innumerable to composite nanoparticles. The authors have also outlined the inhaled particle's toxicity, patented nanoparticle-based pulmonary formulations, and commercial pulmonary drug delivery devices (PDD) in other sections. Recently advanced formulations employing nanoparticles as therapeutic carriers for the efficient treatment of chronic pulmonary diseases are also canvassed.

Characterization and Aerosolization Performance of HydroxyPropyl-Beta-Cyclodextrin Particles Produced Using Supercritical Assisted Atomization

In this study, hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) particles were produced using supercritical assisted atomization (SAA) with carbon dioxide as the spraying medium or co-solute and aqueous ethanol solution as the solvent. The effects of several key factors on the morphology and size of the HP-β-CD particles were investigated. These factors included the solvent effect, temperatures of the precipitator and saturator, concentration of the HP-β-CD solution, and flow rate ratio of carbon dioxide to the HP-β-CD solution. The conducive conditions for producing fine spherical particles were 54.2% (w/w) aqueous ethanol as the solvent; precipitator and saturator temperatures of 373.2 K and 353.2 K, respectively; a flow rate ratio of carbon dioxide to HP-β-CD solution of 1.8; and low concentrations of HP-β-CD solution. The addition of leucine (LEU) enhanced the aerosol performance of the HP-β-CD particles, and the fine particle fraction (FPF) of the HP-β-CD particles with the addition of 13.0 mass% LEU was 1.8 times higher than that of the HP-β-CD particles without LEU. This study shows that LEU can act as a dispersion enhancer and that HP-β-CD particles produced using SAA can be used as pulmonary drug carriers.