Heterogeneous particle deaggregation and its implication for therapeutic aerosol performance.

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Previous studies reported aerosolization performance of dry powder blends for asthma and COPD treatments.
• Understanding interparticulate and surface forces is crucial for optimizing dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel method, Powder Aerosol Deaggregation Equations (PADE), for characterizing dry powder formulation performance.
• To enable a fundamental understanding of interparticulate and surface forces governing aerosolization.
• To support the rational design and improve the efficiency and reproducibility of DPIs.

Main Methods:

• In vitro aerosolization tests were conducted on dry powder blends across a defined shear stress range (0.624-13.143 N/m²).
• Formulations were characterized using aerodynamic measurements.
• Powder Aerosol Deaggregation Equations (PADE) and linear regression analyses were applied to evaluate deaggregation performance.

Main Results:

• A new PADE method was developed, providing a framework to describe dry powder formulation performance within a specific shear stress range.
• The PADE method allows for a fundamental understanding of the forces at the particle interface responsible for deaggregation.
• The study suggests an analogy between aerosol performance and surface molecular adsorption, implying potential for mechanistic evaluation of particulate systems.

Conclusions:

• The PADE method offers a predictive tool for aerosolization performance efficiency and reproducibility in dry powder formulations.
• This approach facilitates the rational design of DPIs by elucidating underlying interparticulate and surface forces.
• The findings open avenues for mechanistic evaluation of particulate systems, drawing parallels with surface adsorption phenomena.