Pulmonary drug delivery Flashcards
(93 cards)
In addition to pulmonary delivery, aerosols have been used as what types of topical dosage forms?
sublingual, dermal, rectal, vaginal
Define aerosols
Products that depend on the power of a compressed or liquefied gas to expel the contents from the container
What product forms can be delivered by aerosols?
Preparations like suspensions, emulsions, creams, powders
Can also be dispensed as a fine or wet spray, a foam, a semisolid, or dry particles
Define Pharmaceutical aerosols
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.
MDIs
Metered dose inhaler; the general aerosol for oral inhalation
t/f: aerosols are mainly for pulmonary drug delivery
False; mostly topical. Not many for inhalation
Active ingredients in aerosols take 3 main forms
Spray, dry powder, foa
List 2 types of propellants
liquefied gas, compressed gas
List advantages to pharmaceutical aerosols (inhaled) compared to other dose forms
- 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
Why is pulmonary a good alternative route when a drug exibits erratic PK with oral or parenteral admin?
- avoids drug degradation in the GI tract
- avoids first-pass metabolism
- direct systemic absorption
- fast onset of action
The minimal side effects of pulmonary drugs are largely due to the low dose administered: T/F
often is true.
Why are we not worried about contamination of aerosols?
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.
What’s a main advantage of topical aerosols?
Topical aerosols, sprays, foams can reduce drug irritation an expand drug contact to the application sites.
Why are aerosols considered more efficient?
No waste or need for using other applicators
What are some disadvantages to aerosols?
- local actions
- admin techniques
- patient compliance
- limited applications
- special drug properties
- unique production leading to high unit cost
- explosive and flammable
- environmental hazards
Is pulmonary drug delivery considered to be a mainstream route of admin? Why or why not?
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.
List 5 basic drug characteristic required for aerosol development
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
List the various divisions of the lungs (airways)
Bronchi, bronchioles, terminal bronchioles, respiratory bronchioles, and alveolar ducts in between
The deeper the airway passages go, the larger the diameters and the smaller the surface areas are: T/F
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)
Describe the epithelium of the airways
A continuous sheet of cells lining the lumenal surface of the airways, which separates the internal envr of the body from the external envr.
T/F: under normal physiological conditions, it is harder for larger molecules to pass through the airways epithelium
True! If the epithelium is damaged, however, then enhanced penetration of substances will exist in the airways
Describe the rate of absorption in the airway passagges
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
What are common medical conditions that may made use of inhaled aerosols?
- asthma
- allergies
- inflammation
- COPD
What are common drug types that are administered to the lungs?
- Corticosteroids
- bronchodilators (ex: LABAs)
- Non-steroid anti-inflammatory compounds
=> POTENTIAL formulations of proteins and peptides