Development of salmon calcitonin (sCT) nanoporous / nanoparticulate microparticles for pulmonary delivery

Abstract

The studies in this thesis focus on the development and production by spray drying of porous microparticulate systems designed for the pulmonary delivery of a therapeutic peptide - salmon calcitonin. The nanoporous/nanoparticulate microparticles (NPMPs) developed are composite systems comprising stabilising excipient, trehalose and raffinose with bioactive. In all cases the physicochemical characteristics were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), gas chromatography with flame ionisation detector (GC-FID), infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and dynamic vapour sorption (DVS). Particle morphology was visualised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Other micromeritic characteristics of NPMPs, i.e., specific surface area, particle size, bulk and tap densities were also assessed. In-vitro deposition of powders was evaluated using a Next Generation Impactor (NGI). Studies directed at elucidating the pharmacokinetics of salmon calcitonin from particles administered by powder insufflation in rats were also performed.