Toward intradermal vaccination: preparation of powder formulations by collapse freeze-drying

Pharm Dev Technol. 2014 Mar;19(2):213-22. doi: 10.3109/10837450.2013.769567. Epub 2013 Feb 25.

Abstract

Intradermal powder immunization is an emerging technique in vaccine delivery. The purpose of this study was to generate powder particles for intradermal injection by freeze-drying and subsequent cryo-milling. Two different freeze-drying protocols were compared, a moderate freeze-drying cycle and an aggressive freeze-drying cycle, which induced a controlled collapse of the sugar matrix. Ovalbumin served as model antigen. The influence of collapse drying and cryo-milling on particle morphology and protein stability was investigated. Cryo-milling generated irregularly shaped particles of size 20-70 µm. The recovery of soluble monomer of ovalbumin was not changed during freeze-drying and after cryo-milling, or after 12 months of storage at 2-8 °C. A slight increase in higher molecular weight aggregates was found in formulations containing the polymer dextran after 12 months of storage at 50 °C. Light obscuration measurements showed an increase in cumulative particle counts after cryo-milling that did not further increase during storage at 2-8 °C for 12 months. The applicability of the cryo-milling process to other therapeutic proteins was shown using recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. Collapse freeze-drying and subsequent cryo-milling allows the generation of particles suitable for intradermal powder injection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Freeze Drying / methods*
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / administration & dosage*
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Ovalbumin / administration & dosage*
  • Ovalbumin / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Powders / administration & dosage*
  • Powders / chemistry
  • Protein Stability
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Vaccination / methods

Substances

  • Powders
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Ovalbumin