Pulmonary Drug Delivery

R&D CENTRE'S EXPERTISE

MedPharm has considerable expertise in the formulation and aerosolization of proteins and peptides with a view to maintaining biological activities, whilst improving pulmonary deposition and absorption of these drugs.

MedPharm can develop engineered particles for the delivery to the lung and has a significant expertise in:

• Protein and peptide formulation stabilisation,
• Pressurised HFA formulations,
• Interaction of drugs with lactose and others carriers,
• Powders for inhalation and other routes of administration,
• Altering powder morphology and density,
• Encapsulation.

(See Publications )

Below is a list of the technologies available to MedPharm in order to characterise and optimise the preformulations and formulations:

Particle size analysis and Morphology Characterisation

• Light Microscopy and Image Analysis.
• Electron Microscopy including X-ray microanalysis.
• Laser difffraction (Malvern 2600)
• Determination of aerodynamic size using Time of Flight Aerosol Beam Spectrometry (Aerosizer)
• Determination of Particle size using Impactors (Twin-Stage Impinger, Five-stage liquid impinger, Andersen Cascade Impactor)

Powder flow characterisation

• Including avalanche flow determination (Aeroflow)

Characterisation of crystallinity

• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (including modulated DSC)
• Thermogravimetric Analysis.

Formulation screening and optimisation

• Micronization of drug.
• Pilot batch formulation of dry powder and pressurised MDI.
• Spray drying and freeze drying.
• Pressurised aerosol filling.