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Snappy solution to drug delivery
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15/09/2008
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Tom Shelley reports on some of the technology behind a simple-looking device to administer drugs more efficiently
A low-cost, hand-held snap action device uses a vortex to deliver drugs to the upper nasal passages.
This allows drugs that have to be delivered directly to the blood stream to be administered without needles and without loss of material, as well as potentially making life much easier for vets.
The new drug delivery system is the invention of pharmacist Ian Harrison, now chief science officer of Alchemy Healthcare, the Oxford company set up to exploit the technology.
Many drugs are ineffective when taken orally, as they are broken down by the human or animal digestive system. This is particularly true of proteins and peptides. Furthermore, they take time to get into the bloodstream, which is not good in a medical emergency or onset of a sudden headache.
Harrison’s breakthrough solution is a small, hand-held device, cheap enough to be disposable, which, on squeezing, releases powder from a pressurised cartridge in a puff of air that is formed into a vortex. This ensures the powder is delivered within a very narrow cone, with the powder normally consisting of the drug, plus a lactose-based carrier.
Harrison demonstrated a prototype device at the recent Venturefest event in Oxford. He explained that it stops lumps forming in the 15 micron-sized powders for which it is intended, thus delivering the drug to the right place. He also said it ensures a more accurate dosage than other methods. The device Eureka saw was small enough to sit on the palm of the hand. This model was single shot, but the intention is to have a multi-dose version. Although originally developed for drug powder formulations, it could also be used for delivering a wide variety of medications, including vaccines.
Development has been assisted by a £150,000 grant from SEEDA (South East England Development Agency), but the next stage is technical validation, which is where some serious money will need to be spent. Two patents protect the concept.
Pointers
* Device uses finger tip snap compression to deliver a puff of air and powder that is formed into a vortex
* It delivers medication directly to the upper nasal passages, allowing drugs to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream while avoiding wastage and uncertainty in dosage
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Author
Tom Shelley
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