Elan Drug Technologies

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Inhaled Delivery

Benefits of NanoCrystal^® technology in Pulmonary Delivery

 

More precise delivery to target site (upper versus lower lung):

• site of delivery driven by aerosol particle size (smaller particles get deposited lower in the bronchial tree, medium higher up, larger particles get swallowed)
• NanoCrystal^® formulation allows aerosol particle size to be driven by liquid droplet or dry powder particle size—easy to manipulate— and not drug particle size which tends to be hard to manipulate
• use of NanoCrystal^® technology improves delivery efficiency to double that of conventional formulations

Increased coverage of physiological surface area at site:

• NanoCrystal^® particles cover a large surface area with drug in contrast to conventional suspensions that have islands of concentrated drug          

Faster aerosolisation time for liquids and suitability for use with ultrasonic nebulisers:

• time to aerosolise a therapeutic dose reduced from 10 - 15 minutes to 2 seconds
• NanoCrystal^® formulations can take advantage of an ultrasonic nebuliser, whereas conventional suspensions would take too long to nebulise          

NanoCrystal^® formulations do not require preservatives:

• certain drugs formulated with NanoCrystal^® technology can be passed through a .22um sterilising filter        

To achieve optimal drug delivery to the lung, it is important to ensure that the drug is incorporated into particles of the appropriate aerodynamic size, shape and density. NanoCrystal^® technology affords the opportunity to preferentially deliver drugs to the upper respiratory pathways, for the treatment of such diseases as asthma, or delivery to the deep lung for greater systematic availability or local effect in the deep lung. Delivery to the upper airways requires an aerodynamic particle size of 3µm to 5µm in diameter; in contrast, for distribution to the deep lung, particles must be less than 3µm in diameter.



NanoCrystal^® technology facilitates:

• higher reproducible production of particles with optimal aerodynamic properties for pulmonary delivery
• preparations for inhalation in either liquid droplets or powders
• use of a wide range of drug molecules
• potential to enhance efficacy through greater coverage of target tissues
• faster nebulisation times
• suitable for use with ultrasonic and compressed air nebulisers

Therapeutic quantities of drug can be quickly administered by ultrasonic nebulisers…

….with a much higher portion of the emitted dose being deposited in the lung.