Using Filters to Estimate Regional Lung Deposition with Dry Powder Inhalers

Purpose To develop an in vitro method to rapidly evaluate regional lung doses delivered by pharmaceutical inhalers. Currently, cascade impactor measurements are used, but these are resource intensive and require significant post processing of in vitro data to arrive at regional deposition estimates. Methods We present a specialized filter apparatus that mimics tracheobronchial (TB) deposition of pharmaceutical aerosols emitted by commercially available dry powder inhalers (DPIs). The filter housing includes an electrostatic neutralizer to eliminate artificial electrostatic filtration effects. Regional deposition (tracheobronchial and alveolar) for four DPIs (Onbrez Breezhaler, Flovent Diskus, Pulmicort Turbuhaler, and Asmanex Twisthaler) was estimated using cascade impactor measurements and an in silico regional deposition model. These estimates were compared to direct measurements of regional deposition as provided by the TB filter mimic and an absolute filter placed downstream of the TB filter housing, representing the alveolar dose. Results The two methods were shown to provide similar estimates of extrathoracic, tracheobronchial, and alveolar deposition, as well as total recovery of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Conclusions Because of its design, the TB filter apparatus makes it possible to estimate regional deposition with inhalers directly using variable inhalation profiles without any additional equipment or changes to the experimental configuration. This method may be useful to expedite development of both innovative and generic drug products as it provides regional respiratory tract deposition estimates using fewer resources than exisiting methods.