Inhalable spray dried human platelet lysate powders

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Pulmonary Drug Delivery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Human platelet lysate (PL) contains growth factors and biomolecules beneficial for tissue regeneration and immunomodulation.
• Inhaled delivery maximizes therapeutic potential by directly targeting airways.
• Developing stable, inhalable PL formulations is crucial for lung condition treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop inhalable spray-dried PL powders using trehalose and leucine as excipients.
• To characterize the physical, chemical, and aerosol properties of the developed powders.
• To evaluate the biological activity and immunomodulatory effects of the PL powders.

Main Methods:

• Spray drying was employed to produce PL powders with and without excipients (trehalose, leucine).
• Powder characterization included residual solvent content, crystallinity, particle size, and morphology.
• Protein content, moisture adsorption, aerosol performance (fine particle fraction - FPF), and immunomodulatory activity (nitric oxide and IL-6 levels) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Spray-dried PL powders with excipients exhibited lower residual moisture and reduced moisture adsorption compared to pure PL.
• The formulation with 60% leucine yielded the highest FPF (34%) and demonstrated preserved immunomodulatory activity.
• Spray drying largely maintained protein content (approx. 90% recovery), with trehalose further enhancing preservation.

Conclusions:

• Spray drying is a feasible method for producing inhalable and biologically viable PL powders.
• Excipients, particularly leucine, enhance the aerosol performance and stability of PL powders.
• These findings provide a proof of concept for developing platelet-based inhalable powders for lung conditions.