Pollen Shape Particles for Pulmonary Drug Delivery: In Vitro Study of Flow and Deposition Properties

Abstract

Pollen shape hydroxyapatite (HA) particles have been synthesized in this study. The flow and deposition properties of these pollen shape particles are compared with needle, cube and plate shape particles of similar size range of around 5 μm. The flow properties of the particles are characterized by the angle of slide (θ) method. The deposition properties of the particles are studied in vitro by using an eight-staged Anderson cascade impactor with a Rotahaler®. Pollen shape particles exhibits better flow behavior, higher emitted dose and higher fine particle fraction compare to particles of other shapes. The surface structure of the pollen shape particles increases the distance between particles, hence reduce the interparticle forces and aggregation tendency.