[nanoPost] Nanoscale drug therapies

Company USA

The company focuses on developing nano-scale inhaled, nasal, injectable, and oral delivery systems for improved drug therapies.

The proprietary powder processing techniques developed improve the delivery of drugs that cannot normally be taken orally. Non-invasive delivery systems, such as improved oral, inhaled and nasal delivery are of particular importance for numerous drugs entering the marketplace which can only be administered by injection.

Many traditional drugs when given orally exhibit poor and/or highly variable bioavailability and are often accompanied by significant gastro-intestinal side effects.

Their technologies address these issues by:

- Providing a means to use non-invasive routes of administration rather than injection.

- Enhancing the systemic absorption (bioavailability) of insoluble compounds and macromolecules.

- Improving the consistency of absorption.

- Reducing the amount of dose required and potentially the frequency of dosing.

From a Pharmaceutical perspective the technologies provide:

- Innovative methods to manufacture nanoparticle formulations with controlled particle size, morphology and surface properties to improve handling, dispersion and absorption.

- Sustained-release profiles up to 24 hours to improve patient compliance with drug regimens.

- Specific formulations to improve stability and shelf life.

APPLICATIONS

Oral Applications

Typically, tablets or capsules are used to deliver greater than 90% of pharmaceuticals to patients. Factors that affect the efficacy of a drug include the solubility, bioavailability, biological half-life, dose and dosing regimen, and shelf-life, as well patient factors including diet and health condition. Technologies that can improve oral delivery of drugs by controlling the release and absorption in the GI tract are in great demand, and improved powder processing is one strategy that can overcome these obstacles. In vivo studies have shown that sustained-release and improved bioavailability of pressed powders for improved tablet processing of next generation pharmaceuticals.

The company's particle delivery systems are able to:

Improve the oral bioavailability of insoluble and poorly absorbed drugs that require injection (antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatories, and nutritionals).

Enable oral delivery of macromolecules (peptide/protein).

Provide pharmaceutical life-cycle management opportunities.

Inhaled / Nasal Applications

Novel dry powder formulations for inhaled or nasal delivery have been produced. They have exhibited improved therapeutic endpoints compared to conventional dry or liquid formulations for low molecular-weight compounds for local or systemic delivery; biologically active peptides; and vaccines against infectious pathogens. Formulation and delivery of novel nanoparticles offers advantages, including:

higher shelf-life stability

better control of particle size and deposition efficiency

control of cell uptake and targeting

controlled release-rates

increased systemic bioavailability

Topical Applications

Nanoparticles in topical gels and creams are being developed as an alternative carrier system to emulsions and liposomes. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), produced by exchanging a portion of the liquid oil part of an emulsion with a lipid solid at room temperature, have been shown to deliver molecules deeper into the skin than traditional mixtures. Formulation and delivery of novel nanoparticles and microparticles for topical delivery offers several advantages including:

Increase in loading capacity.

Potential for decreased skin irritation.

Stabilization of sensitive actives.

Controlled-release.

Physical and chemical long-term stability.

Injectable Applications

Nanoparticle and microparticle suspensions offer an advanced approach to the delivery of insoluble drugs and formulations for sustained release. Advantages include:

Low excipient loads

Smaller dose volumes

Better control of particle size and dispersion efficiency

Controlled release-rates

Capability for sterile filtering

Increased efficacy and systemic bioavailability