CAN DRY POWDER AEROSOLS, WHICH CONTAIN EXTRA-FINE DRUG PARTICLES, IMPROVE DRUG DEPOSITION IN THE LUNGS?

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the use of extra-fine particles aerosols to target the small airways in the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Using previously presented deposition data, it was unclear, whether particles less than 1 μm, can increase drug deposition in smaller airways. A. H. Boer manuscript summarizes and compares Symbicort® TurbuHaler®, Seretide Diskus®, and Foster® NEXThaler® dry powder inhalers, and proved that particles in 1–3 μm diameter have significant deposition in lungs.