Towards an inhalative in vivo application of immunomodulating gelatin nanoparticles in horse-related preformulation studies.

The study presents a novel system for the pulmonary application of immunotherapy in horses using gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) loaded with immunomodulating agents, delivered through different types of nebulisers.

Introduction and Objectives

• The researchers focused on studying the potential of a non-invasive route of delivering active ingredients through the lungs using biocompatible and biodegradable carriers like gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs).
• A key aspect of the study was to understand and further examine the field of nanoparticle-based immunotherapy.
• The goal was to develop a novel system for administering immunotherapy in horses via their lungs using GNPs.

Methods

• Gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) were loaded with cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN), a type of immunomodulator.
• These CpG-ODN-loaded and plain GNPs were aerosolised using three different types of nebulisers, specifically a conventional pressured metered-dose inhaler (pMDI), and active or passive vibrating-mesh (VM) nebulisers.
• The size and concentration of the GNPs post-aerosolisation, as well as the amount of second-stage particle deposition in an impinger, were all measured and recorded.

Results and Findings

• The sizes of GNPs after aerosolisation with active and passive VM nebulisers were found to be 248.2 ± 7.34 and 222.3 ± 1.42 nm, respectively.
• The concentrations of GNPs post-aerosolisation were consistent and a second-stage particle deposition in an impinger accounted for up to 65.68 ± 11.2% of the nebulised dose.
• VM nebulisers were found to be more effective than pMDIs, producing higher fine particle fractions.
• Nebulised CpG-ODN-loaded GNPs remained active, promoting the release of IL-10 (225.2 ± 56.3 pg/ml), a key anti-inflammatory cytokine, in the in-vitro sample from equine alveolar lymphocytes.

Conclusion

• The study successfully established a novel system of in vivo pulmonary application of GNP-mediated immunotherapy in horses.
• The results suggest the potential of VM nebulisers in effectively delivering nanoscale particle therapy for diseases that need immunological intervention.