PEPTIDE AND PROTEIN DRUG DELIVERY USING PROTEIN COATED MICROCRYSTALS

摘要

A novel method of producing stable protein microcrystals suitable for pulmonary drug delivery is described. The precipitation of an aqueous solution containing a peptide or a protein and a water-soluble excipient into a water miscible organic solvent results in the formation of compact protein layers organised over the surface of micron sized crystals. The morphology & size of the crystals is dependent on many variables including the support material, the protein, the ratio of those components, the precipitating solvent and the water content of the final precipitating solution. Stability testing on the protein microcrystals was carried out using DVS, DSC and HPLC. No stability problems were evident.