Lactose carrier particles

Ternary components are fine particles added to the binary drug-carrier mixture to modify the strong interparticulate interactions that often lead to low levels of detachment from the carrier. Ternary components, like carrier particles, must be inert and safe for inhalation. The addition of fine ternary components has increased the FPF of various drug particles. Ternary components examined include magnesium stearate, lactose (discussed below), L-leucine, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, and... 

Chan LW, Lim LT, Heng PW. Immobilization of fine particles on lactose carrier by precision coating and its effect on the performance of dry powder formulations. J Pharm Sci 2003 92(5) 975-984. 

The most frequently employed approach to overcoming the problems associated with particle size is to use a carrier particle such as lactose. When the micronized drug is blended with a carrier of much larger size range (usually 20-100 pm), many of the drug particles become loosely associated with the lactose surface. 

Fig. 50 Three types of disodium cromoglycate formulations for DPIs soft pellets of the pure micronized drug (A), micro-nized drug particles adhered to a-lactose monohydrate crystals as a carrier (B) and combined soft pellets from micronized disodium cromoglycate and fine a-lactose monohydrate particles (C). (From Ref...

See adhesive mixmre. Carrier particles in marketed formulations are exclusively alpha lactose monohydrate crystals, mainly in size distributions between 20 and... 

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