- Author(s):
- Organization(s):
CR Competence AB Medicon Valley Inhalation Consortium Respiron Consulting AB
This article examines the critical role of formulation science in the development of tomorrow’s miniaturized devices for liquid inhalation.
To achieve a true step-change in nebulization, next-generation nebulizers need to be designed in such a way that they (1) are inconspicuous during patient use, (2) allow for the patient to conveniently carry the device in everyday life, (3) administer the dose in a shorter time, and (4) preferably do so with only one or two inhalations. When these requirements are fulfilled, the user-friendliness of nebulizers is comparable to that of dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs). However, these requirements also translate as a dramatic and technically challenging miniaturization of the device, compared to conventional technology.