Carrier particles for use in dry powder inhalers
AssigneeVectura Limited
InventorJohn Nicholas Staniforth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A powder for use in a dry powder inhaler includes active particles and carrier particles for carrying the active particles. The powder further includes additive material (4) on the surfaces of the carrier particles to promote the release of the active particles from the carrier particles on actuation of the inhaler. The powder is such that the active particles are not liable to be release from the carrier particles before actuation of the inhaler. The inclusion of additive material (4) in the powder has been found to give an increased respirable fraction of the active material
Claims49
A powder for use in a dry powder inhaler, the powder including active particles and carrier particles for carrying the active particles, the powder further including additive material on the surfaces of the carrier particles to promote the release of the active particles from the carrier particles on actuation of the inhaler, the powder being such that the active particles are not liable to be released from the carrier particles before actuation of the inhaler.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein the carrier particles are comprised of one or more crystalline sugars.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein substantially all (by weight) of the carrier particles have a diameter which lies between 20 μm and 1000 μm.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein the additive material consists of physiologically acceptable material.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein the additive material includes one or more compounds selected from amino acids and derivatives thereof, and peptides and polypeptides having a molecular weight from 0.25 to 1000 KDa, and derivatives thereof.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein the additive material includes one or more water soluble materials.
A powder according to any preceding claim, wherein the additive material includes or consists of one or more surface active materials.
A powder according to any preceding claim, wherein the additive material is an anti-adherent material.
A powder according to any preceding claim, wherein the additive material is an anti-friction agent.
A powder according to any preceding claim, wherein the additive material includes dipolar ions.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein the additive material is in the form of particles, the additive particles being attached to the surfaces of the carrier particles.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein the powder consists of not less than 0.1% by weight of additive particles based on the weight of the carrier particles.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein the additive material forms a discontinuous covering on the surfaces of the carrier particles.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein the mass median diameter of the active particles is not more than 10 μm.
A powder according to any preceding claim wherein the active particles include a β2-agonist.
A powder for use in a dry powder inhaler, the powder including active particles and carrier particles for carrying the active particles wherein the powder further includes additive material which is attached to the surfaces of the carrier particles to promote the release of the active particles from the carrier particles.
A method of producing a powder for use in dry powder inhalers, the method including the steps of
- (a) mixing carrier particles of a size suitable for use in dry powder inhalers with additive material such that the additive material becomes attached to the surfaces of the carrier particles.
- (b) treating the carrier particles to dislodge small grains from the surfaces of the carrier particles, without substantially changing the size of the carrier particles during the treatment and
- (c) mixing the treated particles with active particles such that active particles adhere to the surfaces of the carrier particles and/or the additive material.
Use of additive material attached to the surfaces of carrier particles for carrying active particles in a powder for use in a dry powder inhaler, for the promotion of the release of active particles from the surfaces of carrier particles during inhalation, the powder being such that the active particles are not liable to be released from the carrier particles before actuation of the inhaler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.