Howe C, Momin MAM, Farkas DR, Bonasera S, Hindle M, Longest PW. Advancement of the Infant Air-Jet Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI): Evaluation of Different Positive-Pressure Air Sources and Flow Rates.
Pharm Res 2021;
38:1615-1632. [PMID:
34462876 DOI:
10.1007/s11095-021-03094-w]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
In order to improve the delivery of dry powder aerosol formulations to the lungs of infants, this study implemented an infant air-jet platform and explored the effects of different air sources, flow rates, and pulmonary mechanics on aerosolization performance and aerosol delivery through a preterm nose-throat (NT) in vitro model.
METHODS
The infant air-jet platform was actuated with a positive-pressure air source that delivered the aerosol and provided a full inhalation breath. Three different air sources were developed to provide highly controllable positive-pressure air actuations (using actuation volumes of ~10 mL for the preterm model). While providing different flow waveform shapes, the three air sources were calibrated to produce the same flow rate magnitude (Q90: 90th percentile of flow rate). Multiple air-jet DPI designs were coupled with the air sources and evaluated with a model spray-dried excipient enhanced growth formulation.
RESULTS
Compared to other designs, the D1-Single air-jet DPI provided improved performance with low variability across all three air sources. With the tested D1-Single air-jet and Timer air source, reducing the flow rate from 4 to 1.7 L/min marginally decreased the aerosol size and significantly increased the lung delivery efficiency above 50% of the loaded dose. These results were not impacted by the presence of downstream pulmonary mechanics (resistance and compliance model).
CONCLUSIONS
The selected design was capable of providing an estimated >50% lung delivery efficiency of a model spray-dried formulation and was not influenced by the air source, thereby enabling greater flexibility for platform deployment in different environments.
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