Key Considerations When Choosing A Device For Dry Powder Nasal Delivery

Nasal drug delivery is an effective method for administering both local and systemic drugs, offering advantages such as ease of use compared to injections, better patient compliance, and suitability for compounds unstable in gastrointestinal fluids. It also provides a rapid route to the brain for treating certain neurological conditions. Despite challenges like rapid clearance, poor bioavailability, limited dosage capacity, and potential for microbiological spoilage, most approved nasal drug products are liquid-based sprays.

Dry powder nasal formulations, however, offer several advantages over liquid forms. These powders are more stable, less prone to spoilage, and can deliver higher drug dosages with enhanced bioavailability. Techniques like spray drying and particle engineering, combined with mucoadhesive additives, can improve nasal residence time and absorption.

Despite these benefits, there are few approved nasal powder products, primarily due to the limited availability of suitable dry powder nasal devices. Success in nasal powder delivery requires careful co-development of both the drug formulation and the delivery device, ensuring compatibility from the earliest stages of product development. Aligning formulation strategies, such as particle engineering, with device performance can shorten the path to clinical trials and increase the chances of success.

This article builds on previous discussions about the benefits of nasal delivery and the challenges of developing dry powder formulations by focusing on key devices that can be used for delivering dry powder nasal dosage forms.