Excipients for Novel Inhaled Dosage Forms: An Overview

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Respiratory Medicine
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Pulmonary drug delivery targets lung diseases like cystic fibrosis, asthma, and lung cancer.
• It offers noninvasive systemic absorption, lower doses, and fewer side effects than other routes.
• Challenges include mechanical/chemical barriers and limited FDA-approved excipients for inhaled products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review excipients used in novel inhaled drug dosage forms.
• To discuss the role of excipients in various inhalation devices (pMDIs, DPIs, nebulizers).
• To highlight strategies for overcoming pulmonary delivery challenges through excipient selection.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific articles and FDA-approved excipients.
• Analysis of excipient function in different inhaled dosage forms.
• Examination of excipient compatibility with various inhalation devices.

Main Results:

• Identified key excipients enabling physical and chemical stability of inhaled formulations.
• Demonstrated how excipients facilitate efficient drug delivery via pMDIs, DPIs, and nebulizers.
• Highlighted the critical role of excipient choice in novel inhaled product development.

Conclusions:

• Excipients are crucial for developing effective and stable pulmonary drug delivery systems.
• Careful selection of excipients is vital for overcoming inhalation challenges and optimizing therapeutic outcomes.
• Further research into novel excipients can expand options for inhaled therapeutics.