Degradation of lipid based drug delivery formulations during nebulization

Abstract

Encapsulating pharmaceuticals in protective lipid based nanoparticles, and nebulizing them towards the target area in the body offers a range of clinical advantages. However, the process of nebulization might possibly damage sensitive nanoparticle structures, such as liposomes, resulting in loss of active pharmaceutical ingredients. We compare this loss for two types of lung inhalation devices: high-frequency piezo-actuated vibrating mesh nebulizers and non-actuated continuous jet nebulizers. We find that vibrating mesh nebulizers cause model liposomes to release more than ten times as much encapsulated material as the continuous jet nebulizers because the energies involved in nebulization are much larger. This result highlights the importance of applying a mild nebulization technology when administering shear-sensitive drug formulations such as lipid nanoparticle based drugs to the lungs.

Biolistic Delivery of MOF-Protected Liposomes

“…We hypothesized that liposomes might be challenging to deliver through the skin biolistically due to their bubble-like construction. Their poor resistance against vibration, 22 shear stress, and lack of rigidity might cause the liposomes to leak or not penetrate the surface effectively. Liposomes of various surface charges were successfully protected in ZIF for biolistic delivery and shown that neither the processes of ZIF encapsulation nor the biolistic delivery disrupts the liposome's size or lamellarity.…”