Air classifier technology (ACT) in dry powder inhalation. Part 1: Introduction of a novel force distribution concept (FDC) explaining the performance of a basic air classifier on adhesive mixtures

Air classifier technology (ACT) is introduced as part of formulation integrated dry powder inhaler development (FIDPI) to optimise the de-agglomeration of inhalation powders. Carrier retention and de-agglomeration results obtained with a basic classifier concept are discussed. The theoretical cut-off diameter for lactose of the classifier used, is between 35 and 15μm for flow rates ranging from 20 to 70l/min. Carrier retention of narrow size fractions is higher than 80% for flow rates between 30 and 60l/min, inhalation times up to 6s and classifier payloads between 0 and 30mg. The de-agglomeration efficiency for adhesive mixtures, derived from carrier residue (CR) measurement, increases both with increasing flow rate and inhalation time. At 30l/min, 60% fine particle detachment can be obtained within 3s circulation time, whereas at 60l/min only 0.5s is necessary to release more than 70%. More detailed information of the change of detachment rate within the first 0.5s of inhalation is obtained from laser diffraction analysis (LDA) of the aerosol cloud. The experimental results can be explained with a novel force distribution concept (FDC) which is introduced to better understand the complex effects of mixing and inhalation parameters on the size distributions of adhesion and removal forces and their relevance to the de-agglomeration in the classifier. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved