Glycine microparticles loaded with functionalized nanoparticles for pulmonary delivery

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Pulmonary delivery of nanoparticles faces challenges including anatomical barriers and loss of active compounds.
• Excipients are crucial for facilitating nanoparticle delivery to the lungs, but suitable options are still under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce novel spray-dried glycine microparticle-based excipients for pulmonary nanoparticle delivery.
• To characterize the morphology, porosity, and aerodynamic properties of these novel excipients loaded with nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a microfluidic jet spray dryer to produce glycine microparticles.
• Loading glycine microparticles with glycine-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (GSPIONs).
• Evaluating the characteristics of the microparticles and their aerodynamic performance compared to a commercial excipient (Lactohale200™).

Main Results:

• Spherical, uniform, cenospheric (hollow-core) glycine microparticles with a "coral-like" surface were produced (average diameter 60 ± 10 μm, 29 ± 0.8% porosity).
• Effective loading of GSPIONs into the glycine microparticles was achieved.
• Nanoparticle loading increased microparticle porosity and enhanced aerodynamic performance compared to Lactohale200™.

Conclusions:

• Spray-dried glycine microparticles represent a feasible and effective excipient system for pulmonary delivery of nanoparticles.
• This approach offers improved aerodynamic properties for lung delivery compared to conventional dense excipients.
• The developed microparticle-based excipients show promise for enhancing the efficacy of inhaled nanoparticle therapeutics.