Understanding the Importance of Capsules in Dry Powder Inhalers

Abstract

Pulmonary drug delivery is currently the focus of research and development because of its potential to produce maximum therapeutic benefit to patients by directing the drug straight to the lung disease site. Among all the available delivery options, one popular, proven and convenient inhaler device is the capsule-based dry powder inhaler (cDPI) for the treatment of an increasingly diverse range of diseases. cDPIs use a hard capsule that contains a powder formulation which consists of a mixture of a micronized drug and a carrier usually the lactose, known for its good lung tolerance. The capsule is either inserted into the device during manufacturer or by the patient prior to use. After perforating, opening or cut the capsule in the device, patients take a deep and rapid breath to inhale the powder, using air as the vector of drug displacement. The system is simple, relatively cheap and characterized by a lower carbon footprint than that of pressurized metered dose inhalers. This article reviews cDPI technology, focusing particularly on the importance of capsule characteristics and their function as a drug reservoir in cDPIs.

Keywords: capsule; dry powder inhaler; inhalation; pulmonary drug delivery.

Figure 1

Different types of capsule-based dry powder inhalers with corresponding capsule perforation or opening mechanism; from the top: RS01, HandiHaler, Podhaler and Twister.

Figure 2

Capsule process production (courtesy supplied by Qualicaps).

Figure 3

Water vapor adsorption and desorption isotherm curve obtained at 25 °C by Quali-V-I Extra Dry capsules (Qualicaps^®, Tokyo, Japan). These data are obtained by means of a volumetric method as per USP41<1241> All data were obtained [33], https://ondrugdelivery.com/quali-v-extra-dry-a-novel-capsule-for-delivering-hygroscopic-pharmaceutical-drugs, accessed date: 5 October 2021.

Figure 4

Single-pin puncture curves. Graphs of the displacement of a single angular pin versus the force for both hypromellose and gelatin capsules equilibrated at 33% relative humidity (Adapted from Ref. [36], published by Elsevier, 2013).