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. 2021 Sep 29;13(10):1581.
doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101581.

Probing Critical Physical Properties of Lactose-Polyethylene Glycol Microparticles in Pulmonary Delivery of Chitosan Nanoparticles

Nasser Alhajj  1   2 , Idanawati Naharudin  1   2 , Paolo Colombo  3   4 , Eride Quarta  4 , Tin Wui Wong  1   2   5
Affiliations

Probing Critical Physical Properties of Lactose-Polyethylene Glycol Microparticles in Pulmonary Delivery of Chitosan Nanoparticles

Nasser Alhajj et al. Pharmaceutics. .

Abstract

Pulmonary delivery of chitosan nanoparticles is met with nanoparticle agglomeration and exhalation. Admixing lactose-based microparticles (surface area-weighted diameter~5 μm) with nanoparticles mutually reduces particle agglomeration through surface adsorption phenomenon. Lactose-polyethylene glycol (PEG) microparticles with different sizes, morphologies and crystallinities were prepared by a spray drying method using varying PEG molecular weights and ethanol contents. The chitosan nanoparticles were similarly prepared. In vitro inhalation performance and peripheral lung deposition of chitosan nanoparticles were enhanced through co-blending with larger lactose-PEG microparticles with reduced specific surface area. These microparticles had reduced inter-microparticle interaction, thereby promoting microparticle-nanoparticle interaction and facilitating nanoparticles flow into peripheral lung.

Keywords: chitosan; lactose; microparticle; nanoparticle; pulmonary delivery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scanning electron microscopic images of lactose-PEG microparticles.
Figure 2
Figure 2
X-ray powder diffractograms of lactose and lactose-PEG microparticles.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scanning electron microscopic image of chitosan nanoparticles.
Figure 4
Figure 4
SEM micrographs of chitosan nanoparticle–lactose–PEG microparticle blends.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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