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The Interaction Between the Oropharyngeal Geometry and Aerosols via Pressurised Metered Dose Inhalers

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the effect of oropharyngeal geometry on inhaled aerosol characteristics via pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), both with or without spacers.

Methods

Seven adult oropharyngeal models with different centreline lengths, total volumes, and degrees of constriction were employed as induction ports for a laser diffraction particle size analyser and cascade impactor. Particle size change over time, mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD), average median volume diameter (DV50), inhaled doses, and oropharyngeal depositions (percentage of the nominal dose) for aerosols via suspension and ultrafine pMDIs with or without spacers at 30 l/min airflow were determined.

Results

Variations in oropharyngeal geometry caused significant variations in inhaled particle size distributions, doses, oropharyngeal drug depositions, and particle size change over time when pMDIs were used without spacers. However, inhaled aerosol characteristics had marginal variations for the ultrafine pMDI plus large volume spacer (MMAD range: 0.69–0.78 µm, DV50 range: 1.27–1.36 µm, inhaled dose range: 46.46–52.92%). It was found that the amounts of inhaled aerosol particles with aerodynamic size of less than 0.83 µm via pMDIs plus large volume spacer were slightly affected by the oropharyngeal geometry.

Conclusion

Inhaling ultrafine aerosols via spacers may reduce the effect of oropharyngeal geometry on inhaled aerosol properties.

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Acknowledgment

We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Sympatec Ltd, Waterfold House, Bury, BL9 7BR for providing use of the Sympatec HELOS BF/MAGIC® system with the Inhaler 2000 module to perform this study. We would like to thank Mr. Jonathan Veal and Mr. Anthony Dunmore for their technical assistance. The original MRI data to manufacture the oropharyngeal models were obtained from a study that was sponsored by AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood, and this study was reported previously (15).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK

    T. Ehtezazi & I. Saleem

  2. AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood, Pharmaceutical & Analytical R&D, LE11 5RH, Loughborough, UK

    I. Shrubb

  3. School of Engineering, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK

    D. R. Allanson & I. D. Jenkinson

  4. Department of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK

    C. O’Callaghan

Authors
  1. T. Ehtezazi
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  2. I. Saleem
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  3. I. Shrubb
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  4. D. R. Allanson
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  5. I. D. Jenkinson
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  6. C. O’Callaghan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Ehtezazi.

Electronic supplementary material

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On-line Supplementary Material

A) Midsaggital magnetic resonance images of subjects while inhaling via inhalers. B) Cross sectional area distributions of the 2C, 4A, 5A, and 6B oropharyngeal geometries via a circular mouthpiece and low airflow resistance device. C) Cross sectional area distributions of the 1C, 3A, and 7B oropharyngeal geometries via a rectangular mouthpiece and low airflow resistance device. Open circular symbols present the 1C geometry, filled circular symbols show the 2C geometry, open square symbols depict the 3A geometry, filled triangle symbols depict the 4A geometry, filled square symbols illustrate the 5A geometry, filled diamond symbols present the 6B geometry, and open diamond symbols illustrate the 7B geometry.

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Ehtezazi, T., Saleem, I., Shrubb, I. et al. The Interaction Between the Oropharyngeal Geometry and Aerosols via Pressurised Metered Dose Inhalers. Pharm Res 27, 175–186 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-009-9994-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-009-9994-z

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