Large hollow nanoparticle aggregates as aerosol carrier particles of nanoparticulate drug for dry powder inhaler (DPI) applications : strength of aggregates and particle deposition pattern

• Main Author: Kunn, Hadinoto Ong.
• Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Format: Research Report
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering::Chemical processes
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/42735
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The emerging trend in the drug discovery process towards identification of poorly-soluble compounds as the lead drug candidates is a consequence of the inherent bias in the high-throughput drug screening method towards lipophilic molecules. Over 40% of the newly discovered drug molecules that are currently in the pharmaceutical pipeline exhibit a poor aqueous solubility that limits their therapeutic efficacy. In addition, approximately 17% of the drug products that are available in the market exhibit a low bioavailability as a result of the poor solubility of their solid dosage form formulation necessitating the use of high and frequent dosings. The systemic bioavailability of poorly-soluble compounds can be greatly enhanced by encapsulating the drug molecules into biocompatible nanoparticulate carriers as a result of the higher dissolution rate.