Inhaled nanomedicines using a vibrating mesh nebuliser

Inhaled nanomedicines using a vibrating mesh nebuliser: particle size considerations

Mireia Puig-Sellart, Gemma Keegan, Sandy Munro
PharmSci International Conference 2023, Reading, UK, 5-7 September 2023

Investigating the effect of different solid particle sizes on nebulisation efficiency
Vibrating-mesh nebulisers have a reputation for having a gentle and successful aerosolization process while preserving the integrity of biologic formulations. The main component of a vibrating-mesh nebuliser is the oscillating membrane. This is formed by thousands of micron-sized pores that oscillate to generate a fine mist. These pores have the potential to be blocked depending on the formulation, especially if it is not a homogeneous solution. In this experiment, poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles (PLGA-NPs) of three varied sizes (100, 200 and 500 nm) were nebulised. The aim was to understand the impact of particle size and concentration on nebulisation using the FOX® vibrating-mesh nebuliser. PLGA-NPs of 100 and 200 nm size were successfully nebulised over a wide concentration range (from 0.1 to 10 mg/ml) in terms of percentage aerosolised and nebulisation time. Particles of larger size (500 nm) showed a long nebulisation time which might correlate with membrane blockages. A substantial proportion of the nanomedicines in the market and under development have a particle size around 100-200 nm. The result of this study showed that the FOX® vibrating-mesh nebuliser can be a suitable platform to successfully deliver these types of nanomedicines to the lungs.

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