Dry Powder Inhalers
Nanopharm has assembled some of the industry’s most comprehensive dry powder inhalation expertise and development capabilities. From materials characterization, process development, carrier selection, aerodynamic performance testing and access to Aptar’s advanced dry powder inhaler (DPI) technologies, Nanopharm brings the experience needed to create high-performance, robust, and compliant DPI products for its customers.
Nanopharm Dry Powder Inhaler Expertise
Nanopharm are experts in dry powder inhaler (DPI) product development. Efficient inhalation of a drug in a dry powder format is one of the most complicated drug delivery routes. Variability of patient inhalation dynamics, device resistance and aerosolization mechanisms along with control of the aerodynamic particle size are critical considerations affecting the delivered dose to the lungs and are all accounted for in Nanopharm’s DPI development programs.
DPIs can offer enhanced drug stability and higher dosing compared to pMDIs, nebulizers and SMIs.
Nanopharm utilizes multiple approaches to powder generation, from traditional micronized carrier blends through to particle engineering technologies including spray drying or lyophilization accompanied by appropriate downstream processing and development of filling processes.
Nanopharm offers a range of specialized DPI product development capabilities including inhaler technology and aerosol testing (Aerosol Particle Size Distribution) / (Delivered Dose Uniformity), microstructural characterizations, and unique in-vitro and in-silico modeling with simulation tools providing predictive regional lung deposition and Pharmacokinetics (PK).
With access to Aptar Pharma’s advanced DPI drug delivery systems, Nanopharm is uniquely positioned to provide complete dry powder inhaler product development services.
Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) Advantages
Drug delivery by Dry Powder Inhaler technology (DPI) can offer a range of unique advantages. These include enhanced drug stability and the ability to deliver higher doses compared to other inhaled dosage forms such as pMDIs or liquid formats like nebulizers or soft mist inhalers (SMI). Multi-dose DPIs can also improve patient convenience and help treat chronic conditions and lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, infectious diseases, and pulmonary arterial hypertension, aside from the traditional asthma and COPD indications.
Dry Powder Inhaler Product Development Services
The Dry Powder Inhalator (DPI) delivery route is complex. The route from the inhaler device to the lung target is long with many variables and must consider the variability of each patient’s unique anatomy. Control and understanding of the powder’s properties is critical in formulation development to ensure the correct dose of drug powder is reliably delivered to the lungs. Nanopharm has decades of expertise in designing formulations that utilize the right carriers to deliver the micronized drug particles to the lung. Drug particles must be very small in order to reach the deep part of the lungs, and therefore their delivery can be significantly impacted by particle charge and their cohesive-adhesive properties, which must be controlled. For higher doses or drugs that are too sensitive for micronization approaches, Nanopharm can also develop inhaled formulations using particle engineering technologies such as spray drying or lyophilization, alongside any necessary downstream processing to help control the aerosolization and filling performance. Our scientists are also experienced in developing the drug delivery device’s filling process which can prove a complex challenge, as we understand that the filling process itself can influence the device aerosolization performance – not just the manufacturing efficiency. All of these factors are considered by Nanopharm’s experienced DPI product development teams with the goal of delivering scalable and effective dry powder inhalation products to our customers’ requirements.
Nanopharm offers a range of specialized DPI analytical capabilities. We have created unique in-vitro and in-silico modeling and simulation tools specifically for inhaled drug product development. From capturing and simulating patient breath profiles, performing realistic aerosol testing (Aerosol Particle Size Distribution) / (Delivered Dose Uniformity) with breathing simulators and anatomical throat models, performing microstructural characterizations (to understand the particle-particle interactions and how they impact aerosolization), and ultimately simulating regional lung deposition and local pharmacokinetics with our Simhalation platform, Nanopharm has unique capabilities to efficiently develop robust DPI products.
Advanced DPI Devices
As an Aptar Pharma company, Nanopharm has access to their portfolio of advanced dry powder inhaler systems. Nanopharm brings in depth knowledge of the Aptar DPI’s capabilities aiding in efficient drug delivery system selection, formulation development, and product design.
One such option is Aptar Pharma’s Orbital™ Dry Powder Inhaler which was designed for the reliable delivery of high doses of dry powder formulations to the lungs. The Orbital™ inhaler provides reproducible dosing that can be fine-tuned by Nanopharm scientists to meet specific product requirements. Aptar Pharma’s ProHaler® multi-dose dry powder inhaler is designed for lower doses of drugs that treat respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
