Sonia Al-Qadi
Birzeit University, Palestine
Title: Inhalable powders loaded with chitosan nanoparticles for protein drug delivery
Biography
Biography: Sonia Al-Qadi
Abstract
This work aimed at developing inhalable powders of insulin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (INS-CS NPs), by microencapsulation method, and investigating their pulmonary absorption in vivo. To this end, INS-CS NPs were prepared by incorporating insulin (INS) into nanoparticlulate entities (NPs), consisting of the polysaccharide chitosan (CS) and the cross-linker sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP), usnig ionotropic gelation. Afterwards, INS-CS NPs were characterized with respect to morphology, size, zeta potential and loading capacity. Next, the inhalable powders were produced by co-spray drying the suspensions of INS-CS NPs with the sugar mannitol (thermoprotectant), resulting in microstructured powders with adequate aerodynamic properties for lung deposition. In vivo performance of INS-CS NPs spray-dried powders was assessed via monitoring plasma glucose levels, following intratracheal administration in rats. The spray-dried INS-CS NPs were successfully microencapsulated into mannitol microspheres, forming powders with appropriate aerodynamic properties for deep lung deposition. The IN-CS NPs/mannitol weight ratios as well as spray drying process parameters affected the properties of the microspheres obtained. Additionally, the NPs were easily recovered after reconstitution of the spray-dried powders in aqueous media. The in vivo study revealed that the microencapsulated INS-CS NPs induced a more pronounced and prolonged hypoglycaemic effect, as compared to the controls, including INS-loaded mannitol microspheres, native INS solution and the suspension of INS-CS NPs. Overall, besides the advantage of non-invasive administration and the desired stability of dry formulations, when compared to their liquid counterparts, inhalable micro/nanoparticulate systems may hold promise for lung delivery of therapeutic macromolecules for systemic or local effects (e.g., Cystic fibrosis, lung cancer).
