Pulmonary drug delivery Flashcards

1
Q

In addition to pulmonary delivery, aerosols have been used as what types of topical dosage forms?

A

sublingual, dermal, rectal, vaginal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define aerosols

A

Products that depend on the power of a compressed or liquefied gas to expel the contents from the container

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What product forms can be delivered by aerosols?

A

Preparations like suspensions, emulsions, creams, powders

Can also be dispensed as a fine or wet spray, a foam, a semisolid, or dry particles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Define Pharmaceutical aerosols

A

Aerosol products containing pharmacologically active ingredients dissolved, suspended, or emulsified in a propellant or a mixture of solvent and propellant, and intended for administration orally as fine solid particles or liquid mists through the pulmonary airways, or for admin. into one of the body cavities (nose, rectum, vagina) or for topical admin to the skin.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

MDIs

A

Metered dose inhaler; the general aerosol for oral inhalation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

t/f: aerosols are mainly for pulmonary drug delivery

A

False; mostly topical. Not many for inhalation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Active ingredients in aerosols take 3 main forms

A

Spray, dry powder, foa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

List 2 types of propellants

A

liquefied gas, compressed gas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

List advantages to pharmaceutical aerosols (inhaled) compared to other dose forms

A
  • Good alternative to parenterals when aerosol given by inhalation
  • noninvasive and hence accepted by patients
  • fast onset of action
  • Direct systemic absorption (avoids 1st pass)
  • low dose
  • minimal side effects
  • accurate doses (due to use of metered valves)
  • good stability
  • minimal potential for contamination
  • tamper-proof
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Why is pulmonary a good alternative route when a drug exibits erratic PK with oral or parenteral admin?

A
  • avoids drug degradation in the GI tract
  • avoids first-pass metabolism
  • direct systemic absorption
  • fast onset of action
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

The minimal side effects of pulmonary drugs are largely due to the low dose administered: T/F

A

often is true.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why are we not worried about contamination of aerosols?

A

No danger of envr contamination due to complete closure of the containers (tamper-proof). No moisture, bacteria, air and foreign particles can enter the container as long as adequate pressure is maintained within the container.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What’s a main advantage of topical aerosols?

A

Topical aerosols, sprays, foams can reduce drug irritation an expand drug contact to the application sites.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why are aerosols considered more efficient?

A

No waste or need for using other applicators

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are some disadvantages to aerosols?

A
  • local actions
  • admin techniques
  • patient compliance
  • limited applications
  • special drug properties
  • unique production leading to high unit cost
  • explosive and flammable
  • environmental hazards
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Is pulmonary drug delivery considered to be a mainstream route of admin? Why or why not?

A

No. Special storage conditions have to be met bcause aerosols are under pressure. Therefore, not every drug compound can be formulation into an aerosol preparation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

List 5 basic drug characteristic required for aerosol development

A

1) No or low irritation to drug absorption site
2) Reasonable solubility in respiratory fluids
3) Be therapeutically effective at a low dose
4) Physical/chemical compatibility (btw drug and propellant) and exhibit passive drug transport through resp. membranes
5) pH range: 5.5-7.5

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

List the various divisions of the lungs (airways)

A

Bronchi, bronchioles, terminal bronchioles, respiratory bronchioles, and alveolar ducts in between

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

The deeper the airway passages go, the larger the diameters and the smaller the surface areas are: T/F

A

False! The deeper the passageways go, the smaller the diameters (alveolar diameters are small) and the larger the surface areas are (alveolar diameters are smaller, but there’s so many of them that the area is large)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe the epithelium of the airways

A

A continuous sheet of cells lining the lumenal surface of the airways, which separates the internal envr of the body from the external envr.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

T/F: under normal physiological conditions, it is harder for larger molecules to pass through the airways epithelium

A

True! If the epithelium is damaged, however, then enhanced penetration of substances will exist in the airways

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Describe the rate of absorption in the airway passagges

A

Drug absorption mechanisms in central airways and alveolus are different. The rate of absorption from the alveolus is approx 2X faster than in the central airways; suggesting greater membrane permeability in alveoli than in the tracheobronchial region

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What are common medical conditions that may made use of inhaled aerosols?

A
  • asthma
  • allergies
  • inflammation
  • COPD
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are common drug types that are administered to the lungs?

A
  • Corticosteroids
  • bronchodilators (ex: LABAs)
  • Non-steroid anti-inflammatory compounds
    => POTENTIAL formulations of proteins and peptides
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Divide the CV system into two components and describe

A

Components: pulmonary circulation and systemic circulation

  • Pulm: carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs and returns O2 blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
  • Systemic: carrie O2 blood from the left ventricle to body tissues and returns deO2 from the body to the right atrium.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are 5 things that may occur to a drug once it reaches the alveoli?

A

A drug may:

1) be diluted/diffused laterally in surfactant
2) be taken up by alveolar macrophages
3) diffuse throuogh the interstitium and be removed by lymphatic capillaries
4) be biotransformed by enzymes
5) reach systemic circulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What are 5 things that may occur to a drug once it reaches the central airways?

A

A drug may:

1) interact with the mucus layer
2) be removed by the mucociliary escalator
3) have limited access through the epithelium, interact with epithelium components
4) be removed by diffusion into submucosal blood vessels
5) reach smooth muscle cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What is the healthcare cost associated with lung diseases/disorders?

A

12.2 billion (1993)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is one of the most important factors that can influence drug absorption and bioavailability in the lungs?

A

Drug deposition in the airways

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Associate particle sizes to drug deposition sites

A
  • Oropharynx: >10um
  • Central airways (tracheobronchial): >5um
  • peripheral airways (alveolus): <3um
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

In practice, what % of an inhaled dose ends up in the GI tract?

A

85-95%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What is one way to ensure the drug goes to the lungs rather than Gi once inhaled?

A

Selection of an appropriate aerosol with a uniform small particle size may permit drug deposition to the central or peripheral airways, benefiting drug target for local or systemic actions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

How does rate and depth of breathing affect drug deposition in the airways?

A
  • rapid, shallow breathing promotes central deposition of a drug
  • Slow, deep inspiration leads to peripheral (alveolar) airway deposition.
  • Furthermore, the rate and volume of ventilation determines the residence time of the drug in the lungs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

holding your breath at the end of inspiration of an aerosol facilitates drug disposition through sedimentation and diffusion: T/F

A

True!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What happens if a drug gets caught in the mucus layer of the central airways?

A

It will be expelled from the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Compare bioavailability of a drug given by inhalation and by IV

A

IV: 100%
Inhaled: ~68%

  • some drug is lost in inhalation due to mucus and macrophages, so bioavailability is less
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

How can we adjust aerosols or inhalation devices to improve drug deposition in the airways?

A
  • Can synchronize drug delivery rate from the device with the person’s breathing (ie drug releases when they inspire)
  • Use of a spacer device can slow down aerosol cloud, evaporate volatile components, and improve pulmonary delivery
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

How can we adjust drug particles to increase drug deposition in the lungs?

A
  • reduce particle size (the smaller the better)
  • reduce particle size distribution
  • increase drug density
  • control hygroscopic growth of particles
39
Q

aerosol preparations of drugs are most commonly used for what?

A

For the Tx of diseases involving airway obstruction

40
Q

In general, current therapeutic uses of aerosols exploit what?

A

Exploit the ability of an aerosol to deliver a high concentration of a drug locally to the airways without eliciting the side effects.

41
Q

Pharmaceutical aerosols rely on what 3 different functional components to deliver the drug content

A
  • Propellants
  • Valves or actuators
  • containers
42
Q

Define propellant

A

A liquefied gas with a vapor pressure greater than atmospheric pressure at a temperature of 40 degrees Celcius

43
Q

Propellant is the heart of an aerosol: T/F

A

T

44
Q

most common propellants for oral/nasal inhalation

A

dichlorodifluoromethane (Propellant 12), trichloromonofluoromethane (propellant 11), dichlorotetrafluoroethane (Propellant 114)
=> CFCs are propellants of choice, essentially

45
Q

Name the types of compounds that are typically propellants

A
  • CFCs
  • HFCs
  • hydrocarbons
46
Q

Most common propellants for topical aerosols

A

hydrocarbons like butane, isobutene, pentane

47
Q

disadvantage to CFCs

A

Believed to destroy the ozone layer in the atmosphere, resulting in an increase in the incidence of skin cancer

48
Q

Describe hydrocarbons

A

Are also liquefied gases, normally used for topical aerosol preparations.

  • Are environmentally acceptable
  • relatively inexpensive
  • disadvantage: are flammable and explosive
49
Q

Compare hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to CFCs

A

HCFCs and HFCs belong to the broader CFC category, but can break down in the atmosphere at a faster rate than the CFCs, thus resulting in a lower ozone-destroying effect.

50
Q

Liquefied gas and compressed gas are the two types of propellants: List the example of the only compressed gas propellant currently in use and describe it briefly

A

Nitrogen is the mostly used compressed gas as an aerosol propellant. It is inexpensive, nontoxic and nonreactive. Normally used for topical aerosol products

51
Q

Advantages to CFC propellants

A
  • low toxicity
  • nonflammable
  • inertness
  • good boiling/vapour points
  • heavy density
52
Q

T/F: development of novel propellants is a research area of high interest

A

F: unlikely we will develop new propellants. Will focus instead on developing new devices and promote admin skills

53
Q

Purpose of metered valves

A

Designed to deliver very accurately measured drug doses

54
Q

Describe the two basic types of metered valves available

A
  • one for inverted use

- one for upright use

55
Q

What chamber within the valve is directly responsible for the measurement of the drug dose in an MDI?

A

the metering chamber

56
Q

Most inhalation devices deliver drug doses in what range?

A

50-75 uL

57
Q

Describe the upright position vs inverted

A
  • Upright: propellant sits on top of the drug product (whether compressed gas or liquefied propellant)
  • Inverted: Drug product will have contact with valve and is more mixed with the propellant and surfactants/co-solvents
58
Q

Most common containers for aerosols

A
  • glass bottles
  • stainless steal cans
  • aluminum cans
  • tinplated steel cans (need interior coating to prevent leeching)
59
Q

What is the reason to have a plastic coating over a glass container?

A

If the container is dropped, it prevents glass from flying everywhere.
Also serves as protecting layer for drugs sensitive to UV light

60
Q

What can we do to prevent the drug from reacting with an aluminum or steel container?

A

An internal vinyl or epoxy resin coating is applied to the interior wall of the container

61
Q

Which container is more expensive: glass, Al, steel?

A

Al and steel

62
Q

Describe solution aerosols

A

Consist of therapeutically active ingredients in pure propellant, or a mixture of propellant and solvents

63
Q

T/F: most propellants are polar compounds

A

False, think CFC, HFC. They’re nonpolar

64
Q

Why might we need to add a co-solvent to a pharm. aerosol preparation?

A

For solution aerosols, recall that propellants are nonpolar compounds, thus can be poor solvents for some commonly used polar drugs. Selecting a good co-solvent can help that

65
Q

Most commonly used co-solvent

A

Ethanol

66
Q

List other examples of co-solvents

A
  • ethanol*
  • polyethylene glycol
  • dipropylene glycol
  • ethyl acetate
  • acetone
  • glycol ethers

=> think polar, water soluble

67
Q

Describe the ‘breakdown’ of solution aerosols for both inhaled and topiical application

A
  • 50-90% propellant and 10-50% drug for topical application

- up to 99.5% propellant for oral/nasal application (remember low dose)

68
Q

Why do we want such a high % of propellant in solution aerosols for inhalation?

A

The greater the amnt of propellant present, the greater will be the degree of dispersion and the finer the spray.

69
Q

Average particle size for topical and inhaled aerosols

A

inhalation: 5-10um or less (<3)
topical: 50-100um (10X bigger)

70
Q

Describe some quality control factors/parameters to take into account in drug manufacturing

A
  • drug content
  • delivery rate and amnt
  • dose uniformity
  • particle size
  • total discharge numbers (ie if it is made to dispense 100 doses, it has to do so)
  • pressure testing
  • water content
71
Q

Factors to consider for aerosol formulations

A
  • therapeutic purposes
  • drug properties
  • stability
  • compatibility
  • production cost
  • solutions or suspension or emulsions
  • capsules/devices
  • solutions/devices
72
Q

When developing solution-type aerosols, what factors have to be taken into account? (5)

A

1) Effect of solvent-propellant blends on the solubility and stability of the active drug
2) particle size and surface tension of droplets
3) irritation potentials of various additives such as antioxidants, preservatives
4) Esophageal irritability of the formulation
5) toxicity and pharmacological activity of all solubilizing agents

73
Q

When are suspension aerosols useful?

A

For meds that are insoluble in the propellant or propellant-cosolvent mixture, or when a co-solvent is not desirable

74
Q

Suspension aerosols are easier to formulate than solutions: T/F

A

False, suspensions are harder to formulate

75
Q

Common problems with suspension aerosols

A
  • caking
  • agglomeration
  • particle size growth
  • clogging of valve
76
Q

Moisture content of suspension aerosol must be kept below what

A

200-300 ppm

77
Q

Ideal particle size range for suspension aerosols (inhalation vs topical)

A
  • inhalation: 1-10um

- topical: 40-50um

78
Q

How does the desirable drug solubility differ for suspension aerosols

A

Normally good solubility is desirable, but for suspension aerosols, solubility of active drug in propellants should be as minimal as possible. If it is soluble, it will lead to particle size growth through aggregation, clotting, etc.

79
Q

What is the main cause of irritation in the respiratory tract?

A

highly insoluble drug particles

80
Q

List surfactants for oral inhalation

A
  • polysorbates
  • sorbitan esters
  • lecithin drivatives
  • oleyl alcohol
  • ethanol
81
Q

List surfactants for topical aerosols

A
  • isopropyl myristate
  • mineral oil

While not actually surfactants, are frequently incorporated for their lubricating properties

82
Q

Describe an emulsion aerosol

A

Mixing of two immiscible liquids, so no particle matter should be present like a suspension. Think water and oil

83
Q

emulsion aerosols are composed of what

A
  • active ingredients
  • aqueous or nonaqueous vehicle
  • surfactant
  • propellant
84
Q

Emulsion aerosols are good for delivering drugs for COPD: T/F

A

False. Are normally used for external usage, especially on skin surface

85
Q

Give an example of an emulsion aerosol

A
  • whipped cream! Think ‘foam’
86
Q

Advantage to emulsion aerosols

A

This formulation can prevent drug materials from becoming airborne from the aerosol, decreasing the potential of being inhaled by the user

87
Q

What is the point of particle delivery with a propellant?

A

We want the propellant to evaporate quick, and we will be delivered nothing but the drug product

88
Q

Describe particle delivery without a propellant

A
  • Usually will consist of the drug electrostatically bound to a carrier
  • the carrier-drug aggregate will flow together and hit a membrane in the device when you inhale, causing them to break apart and allow for particle dispersion.
89
Q

Lactose is a common carrier used for particle delivery without a propellant: T/F

A

True

90
Q

Example of particle delivery without a propellant

A

Spinhaler and rotahaler: put the capsule inside and it disperses it. Contains a mesh membrane to release the drug from carrier

91
Q

How to use metered dose inhalers

A
  • shake inhaler
  • breathe out
  • press canister, inhale deeply and slowly
  • hold breath for 10s, exhale
  • wait 30s before next dose
92
Q

How to use: other inhalers (like propellant-free ones)

A
  • Load drug capsule
  • release drug contents
  • breathe out
  • breathe in deeply
  • hold breath for 10s, exhale
  • get next dose ready
93
Q

Future direction aerosols

A

1) use for local and systemic drug actions
2) Good alternative dose form for drugs poorly or erratically absorbed orally or parenterally
3) better undeerstant bioceutics and PK of drugs aerosolized into the airways
4) Invent better devices and improve valves, actuators, containers
5) increase patient and consumer education of product to increase therapeutic outcomes