With the rapidly growing popularity and sophistication of inhalation therapy, there is an increasing demand for tailor-made inhalable drug particles capable of affording the most efficient delivery to the lungs and the most optimal therapeutic outcomes. To cope with this formulation demand, a wide variety of novel particle technologies have emerged over the past decade. The present review is intended to provide a critical account of the current goals and technologies of particle engineering for the development of pulmonary drug delivery systems. These technologies cover traditional micronization and powder blending, controlled solvent crystallization, spray drying, spray freeze drying, particle formation from liquid dispersion systems, supercritical fluid processing and particle coating. The merits and limitations of these technologies are discussed with reference to their applications to specific drug and/or excipient materials. The regulatory requirements applicable to particulate inhalation products are also reviewed briefly.

Particle Engineering for Pulmonary Drug Delivery

The present invention generally relates to the field of pharmaceutical sciences. More specifically, the present invention includes apparatus and devices for the preparation of pharmaceutical formulations containing large diameter synthetic membrane vesicles, such as multivesicular liposomes, methods for preparing such formulations, and the use of specific formulations for therapeutic treatment of subjects in need thereof. Formation and use of the pharmaceutical formulations containing large diameter synthetic membrane vesicles produced by using the apparatus and devices for therapeutic treatment of subjects in need thereof is also contemplated.

Method for formulating large diameter synthetic membrane vesicles

A breath-powered, dry powder inhaler, a cartridge, and a pulmonary drug delivery system are provided. The dry powder inhaler can be provided with or without a unit dose cartridge for using with the inhaler. The inhaler and/or cartridge can be provided with a drug delivery formulation comprising, for example, a diketopiperazine and an active ingredient, including, peptides and proteins such as insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 for the treatment of diabetes and/or obesity. The dry powder inhaler is compact; can be provided in various shapes and sizes, colors, and comprises a housing, a mouthpiece, a cartridge placement area, and a mechanism for opening and closing the medicament cartridge. The device is easy to manufacture, provides a pre-metered single unit dose, it is relatively easy to use, and can be reusable or disposable.

Dry powder inhaler and system for drug delivery

Methods are provided for making a dry powder blend pharmaceutical formulation comprising (i) forming microparticles which comprise a pharmaceutical agent; (ii) providing at least one excipient in the form of particles having a volume average diameter that is greater than the volume average diameter of the microparticles; (iii) blending the microparticles with the excipient to form a powder blend; and (iv) jet milling the powder blend to deagglomerate at least a portion of any of the microparticles which have agglomerated, while substantially maintaining the size and morphology of the individual microparticles. Jet milling advantageously can eliminate the need for more complicated wet deagglomeration processes, can lower residual moisture and solvent levels in the microparticles (which leads to better stability and handling properties for dry powder formulations), and can improve wettability, suspendability, and content uniformity of dry powder blend formulations.

Methods for making pharmaceutical formulations comprising deagglomerated microparticles

A dry process-based electro-chemical device and method for making a self-supporting dry electrode film for use therein is disclosed. Cost effective manufacture of electro-chemical devices such as batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells is enabled.

Dry particle based electro-chemical device and methods of making same

Methods and apparatus are provided for making particles comprising: (a) spraying an emulsion, solution, or suspension, which comprises a solvent and a bulk material (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent), through an atomizer and into a primary drying chamber, having a drying gas flowing therethrough, to form droplets comprising the solvent and bulk material dispersed in the drying gas; (b) evaporating, in the primary drying chamber, at least a portion of the solvent into the drying gas to solidify the droplets and form particles dispersed in drying gas; and (c) flowing the particles and at least a portion of the drying gas through a jet mill to deagglomerate or grind the particles. By coupling spray drying with “in-line” jet milling, a single step process is created from two separate unit operations, and an additional collection step is advantageously eliminated. The one-step, in-line process has further advantages in time and cost of processing.

Methods and apparatus for making particles using spray dryer and in-line jet mill

FIELD: medicine; ultrasonic diagnostics. ^ SUBSTANCE: clinical research is conducted to develop specific medicine forms using polymer microspheres with inserted perfluorocarbon. Medicine forms include microspheres of biologically compatible polymer, preferably with lipids incorporated in polymer, and containing perfluorocarbon, which transits to gaseous form at human body temperature. Patient receives microspheres in effective amount for improvement of ultrasonic imaging of ventricle chambers for longer than 5 minutes, dosage varying from 0.025 to 8.0 mg of microspheres per kg of body weight. Preferable dosage varies from 0.05 to 4.0 mg of microspheres per kg of body weight. Medicine form is usually stored in ampoule. Medicine in dry powder form is recovered with sterile water before application by adding water to ampoule or syringe and shaking it to obtain isosmotic or isotonic microsphere suspension. ^ EFFECT: improved image of ultrasonic imaging of cardiovascular area for long time period. ^ 33 cl, 5 tbl, 5 ex

Contrast medium for ultrasonic imaging

FIELD: technological processes. ^ SUBSTANCE: suggested method includes the following stages: (a) spraying of emulsion, solution or suspension, which contain dissolvent and basic material, through the sprayer into primary drying chamber for making of drops, which contain dissolvent and basic material; (b) evaporation in primary drying chamber, of at least some part of dissolvent into drying gas for solidification of drops and formation of particles, dispersed in drying gas; and (c) passage of particles and of at least part of drying gas through jet mill for deagglomeration and grinding of particles. Combination of spraying drier with parallel jet grinding provides for single-stage method with simultaneous equipment operation. ^ EFFECT: processing time is reduced as well as technology cost at the high quality of produced powders. ^ 42 cl, 3 dwg, 13 tbl ^ id8027583

Julie A. Straub

Papers

Methods and apparatus for making particles using spray dryer and in-line jet mill

Contrast medium for ultrasonic imaging

Methods and device for particles making by means of spray drier and jet mill working together