Dry Powder Inhalers: An Overview

Abstract

Dry powder inhaler products have played an important role in the treatment and prevention of asthma and more recently chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The considerations that go into formulation development to support these products cover a unique range of disciplines including analytical and physical chemistry, aerosol physics, device technology, process engineering and industrial design. An enormous research effort has been expended in the last half century to provide understanding of this complex dosage form. The guiding principles in considering the development of dry powder inhaler products encompass requirements for disease therapy, advantages and limitations of adopting certain technological approaches, and desirable features to facilitate patient use, which are all embodied in the target product profile.

Keywords: aerosol; dose-metering systems; drug formulation; inhalation devices; inhaler design; milling; spray drying.