Preparation and solidification of redispersible nanosuspensions.
To test the feasibility of preparing redispersible powders from nanosuspensions without further addition of drying protectants, Lovastatin was processed into nanosuspensions and subsequently converted into a powder form using a spray-drying process. The effects of spray-drying process parameters and stabilizers on the properties of the spray-dried powders were evaluated. The inlet air temperature was found to have the most pronounced impact; a low-inlet air temperature consistently yielded dried powders with improved redispersibility. This was attributed to the low Peclet number associated with a low-inlet air temperature, making nanoparticles less prone to aggregation and coalescence during spray drying, as evidenced by the well-defined boundary shown between nanoparticles in the SEM photomicrographs of the spray-dried microparticles. The influence of atomization pressure is significant particularly at a low-inlet air temperature. The redispersibility index value of the powder is dependent on the type of stabilizers used in the nanosuspension formulation. Spray-dried powders with acceptable redispersibility were prepared with drug concentration as high as 3%. In conclusion, with optimized process parameters and selected stabilizers, spray drying is a feasible process in the solidification of nanosuspensions with high drug loading and acceptable redispersibility.
School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
Xin
X
Zhang
School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
Jian
J
Guan
School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
Rui
R
Ni
Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064.
Luk Chiu
LC
Li
School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China. Electronic address: maoshirui@syphu.edu.cn.
Shirui
S
Mao
D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D003890:Desiccation; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D004355:Drug Stability; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D033362:Powder Diffraction; D011208:Powders; D012995:Solubility; D013499:Surface Properties; D013535:Suspensions
D011208:Powders; D013535:Suspensions; D008148:Lovastatin
Peclet number; dissolution; drying; high-pressure homogenization method; nanosuspensions; nanotechnology; redispersibility; spray drying; stabilization