title: Dry powder inhalations containing thymopentin and its immunomodulating effects in Wistar rats.
abstract: Thymopentin (TP5), a synthetic pentapeptide, has been used in clinic as a modulator for immunodeficiences through intramuscular administration. The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate dry powder inhalations (DPIs) for pulmonary delivery of TP5. Dry powder inhalations containing leucine (a dispersibility enhancer), mannitol, and lactose (bulking agents) were prepared by spray-drying from aqueous formulations. The formulation components on the aerosolisation characteristics of spray-dried powders were investigated through the use of various amount of leucine, lactose and mannitol. Following spray-drying, resultant powders were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction and tapped density measurements, and the aerosolisation performance was determined using Twin Stage Impinger. The immunosuppression Wistar rats model was constructed to evaluate the immunomodulating effects of TP5 DPIs in vivo. The results of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio) analyses suggest that TP5 DPIs have modulating effects. On an overall evaluation, TP5 pulmonary delivery DPIs may be feasible for the future clinical application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 325 Guo He Road, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xueying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Cang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Guodong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D011208:Powders; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D016305:Thymopentin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011208:Powders; D016305:Thymopentin