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A complementary combination of delivery device and drug formulation for inhalation therapy in preschool children

Karen G Schüepp1, Sunalene Devadson, Christina Roller

  • 1Swiss Paediatric Respiratory Research Group, Division of Respirtatory Medicine, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.

Swiss Medical Weekly
|April 24, 2004
PubMed

Insights

A new perforated vibrating membrane nebuliser significantly improved lung drug delivery in preschool children. This optimized device delivered 36-38% budesonide to the lungs, a substantial increase from conventional nebulisers (max 8%).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Drug Delivery
  • Pharmacokinetics

Background:

  • Inhalation therapy in preschool children often suffers from low lung drug deposition.
  • Conventional nebulisers show limited efficiency in delivering medication to the lungs of young children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the lung delivery efficiency of an optimized combination of a perforated vibrating membrane nebuliser and budesonide formulation in preschool children.
  • To compare this novel system with a conventional nebuliser for budesonide delivery.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving six three-year-old children.
  • Radiolabelled budesonide solutions were administered using a conventional nebuliser (MMD 4.2 mm) and a perforated vibrating membrane nebuliser (MMD 2.5 mm).
  • Lung deposition was quantified for both devices.

Main Results:

  • The perforated vibrating membrane nebuliser achieved significantly higher lung deposition of budesonide (36% and 38%).
  • Conventional nebulisers demonstrated markedly lower lung deposition, with a maximum of 8%.

Conclusions:

  • Optimized combinations of delivery devices and drug formulations can substantially improve inhaled therapy efficacy in preschool children.
  • Perforated vibrating membrane nebulisers represent a promising advancement for efficient inhalation therapy in this pediatric population.

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