TY - JOUR AU - Elbehairy, Dalia M. AU - Osman, Rihab AU - Sammour, Omaima PY - 2016/06/01 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - INHALED TASTE MASKED SPRAY DRIED KETOTIFEN MICROPARTICLES: FORMULATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VITRO PULMONARY DEPOSITION JF - International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences JA - Int J Pharm Pharm Sci VL - 8 IS - 6 SE - Original Article(s) DO - UR - https://journals.innovareacademics.in/index.php/ijpps/article/view/11336 SP - 166-174 AB - <p><strong>Objective: </strong>Preparation and characterization of inhalable taste masked microparticles (MPs) loaded with the anti-asthmatic bitter drug, ketotifen (KT).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>MPs were prepared by a spray-drying technique. The effects of addition of different excipients namely: mannitol, leucine and hyaluronic acid (HA) on the physicochemical properties of KT spray dried powders were determined. Powder taste was evaluated on volunteers. DSC and x-ray diffraction were done to investigate thermal and crystallographic properties of the powders. The surface morphology and shape of KT-loaded hyaluronic acid MPs were examined using scanning electron microscope, <em>in vitro</em> pulmonary deposition and inhalation indices were determined using a twin stage glass impinger (TSI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Leucine improved the powder flow properties. Mannitol, at all tested ratios, produced brownish discoloration in spray dried powders (SDP) upon storage even in dessicator. At a drug to HA ratio of 1:2, the bitter taste of KT had significantly improved besides obtaining a high respirable particle fraction. This selected ratio showed good physicochemical stability for up to 9 mo.<strong></strong></p><p class="Default"><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The developed KT spray dried particles may offer a good platform for the targeted pulmonary delivery of the drug overcoming the major biological barriers.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Ketotifen, Microparticles, Pulmonary delivery, Hyaluronic acid, Taste masking, Spray drying</p> ER -