Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
Inhalational therapy is at the cutting age of modern drug delivery research which impacts the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. Pulmonary delivery of drugs gives the most direct access to drug target and delivery of powdered drugs via breath actuated dry powder inhaler (DPI) device provides the significant advantage over metered dose inhaler. Dry powders for inhalation are formulated either as loose agglomerates of micronised (<5um) drug particles or as carrier-based interactive mixtures. For the carrier-based interactive mixtures, particles with aerodynamic particle sizes of less than 5 um are mixed with large carriers for effective dispersion of micronized drugs to the deep lung. However, the delivery efficiency of drugs form currently available DPI system is not high, as in some cases only 12-40% of the inhaled dose (1) and the reason behind this in not clear. To improve the delivery of drugs, studies have demonstrated different techniques such as smoothing the carrier surface, use of ternary materials in the formulations, and addition of fine powders of various materials (glucose, lactose and sorbitol). The concentration of added fine particles and their size affect the performance of drug dispersion (2). In this context, importance of excipients in maximizing drug dispersion by manipulating the interactive mixtures will be explored.
The purpose of this research was to explore the concentration of fine excipients to maximise the dispersion of a model drug salbutamol sulphate (SS) from dry powder inhaler formulation. It may be expected that any development in DPI systems will earn enormous attention in pharmaceutical arena for the management of asthma and other lung disorders and will definitely have significant economic prospect by pharmaceutical entrepreneurs. Furthermore, outcome of this research will be published in high impact journals which would increase the strength of our research activity to attract external funding for future research.
Methods and techniques that will be developed in the course of this project:
- Micronization of particles by a Homogenizer
- Morphological characterization of particles by SEM, ESEM
- Particle size analysis by a Malvern Mastersizer
- Formulation of powdered drugs and in-vitro delivery studies using Twin-stage impinger (TSI)
- Analyse/Assay of drugs (UV and HPLC)
References:
- Hickey, A.J., 2004. Pharmaceutical Inhalation Aerosol technology (second edition), Marcel Dekker, NY, USA.
- Islam, N, Stewart, P., Larson, I. and Hartley, P. (2004): Studies on the effect of carrier size on drug dispersion from dry powder inhalation formulations, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 93(4), 1030-1038.
- Study level
- Honours
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor.
Dr Nazrul Islam
