A Personalized Approach to Respiratory Drug Delivery: uMIST ^® Spray Technology Electrically Controls and Adjusts the Location of Drug Deposition in the Respiratory Tract.  

Caitlin F Stewart, Paul Ravenhill, James Brown, Jon DeBohun, Richard Hoolahan, Tom Morris & Tom Podkolinkski

uMIST Technologies Ltd, The Nook, Kingsmill Industrial Estate, Cullompton. Devon. EX15 1BS

Summary

This work presents proof-of-concept evidence demonstrating the ability of the uMIST^® spray platform to electrically control and adjust the location of drug deposition in the respiratory tract. A common bronchodilator, salbutamol sulphate, was selected to demonstrate the fine control of drug deposition in an artificial lung model. Salbutamol nebules were delivered using the spray technology set to deliver different mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMADs) of 5, 6 and 7-µm and assessed by Next Generation Cascade (NGI). Results demonstrated the fine-control of drug deposition with MMADs of 5.7, 6.5 and 7.1-µm recorded respectively. A supplementary study conducted to assess potential treatment times, showed that flow rates of 72 mL/hr can be achieved whilst generating fine particles with narrow bandwidths (Dv.50, 5.81±0.54-µm). These findings highlight the potential of uMIST^® aimed to deliver optimal drug concentrations to the intended site of absorption, thereby limiting systemic toxicity, and improving therapeutic efficacy.  Overall, these results support further development of uMIST^® spray platform as a targeted delivery approach across a range of respiratory drug delivery platforms and applications.

Key Message

The uMIST^® spray platform shows the capability to actively control and adjust the exact location of drug deposition in the respiratory tract, whilst delivering high inhalable doses. Results show that spray technology could be a promising solution to personalised respiratory drug delivery.