March 4, 2008

Professors Have High Hopes for "Smart Inhaler System"

Kleinstreuer (right) and Seelecke (left) invented an inhaler system that allows for drugs to go to locations in the lung where they are needed, and nowhere else. (Photos: submitted)

With asthma and lung cancer cases among young children increasing dramatically over the past twenty years, new technologies to combat diseases are in high demand.

Two NC State researchers have come up with a new device that may prove to be an important development in the fight against respiratory and systemic diseases: employing optimal drug-aerosol targeting.

Dr. Clement Kleinstreuer, a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Dr. Stefan Seelecke,

Clement Kleinstreuer(right) and Stefan Seelecke(left) invented an inhaler system that allows for drugs to go to locations in the lung where they are needed, and nowhere else.

	Pictured is a solid model of the SmartInhaler mouthpiece with an aerosol injection nozzle. (Photo: submitted)

an associate professor in the same department, have developed a novel smart inhaler system (SIS) that will enable drug-aerosol delivery to specific target locations in the lung. The inhaler’s ability to target specific lung sites or regions with drug aerosols may have important applications for the way respiratory diseases as well as systemic ailments, such as diabetes, are treated in the future.

"When you use a traditional inhaler, you’re going to deposit particles in the throat and perhaps at every bifurcation," Seelecke said. "About 80 percent of the particles don’t end up where you want them to go, and, moreover, they attack the healthy tissue as well."

Among the device’s advantages is the ability to avoid depositing drugs on healthy lung tissue. Earlier traditional inhalers could at best distinguish whether a target was in the upper (bronchial) or lower (alveolar) region of the lung, potentially causing healthy areas of the lung to be hit with the drug. This increases the potential for harmful side effects in the lungs. The new inhaler is special because it allows for drugs to go where they are needed, and nowhere else. Seelecke said that this aspect of the inhaler would be particularly helpful in the treatment of lung cancer patients.

"For example, when undergoing chemotherapy for a lung tumor, a patient is treated with a very aggressive drug that attacks healthy tissue as well as cancerous tissue," Seelecke said. "You need some device that makes sure the inhaled medication goes where you want it to go, and that’s what we hope this device will help us do in the future."

This targeted drug-aerosol delivery is also remarkable because of the monetary savings offered by the SIS device. The inhaler has a very high deposition efficiency, which means less drug will be wasted during treatment.

The inhaler works through the use of a small nozzle, which can be adjusted to change where the particles go in the respiratory system.

"When a patient comes in for treatment, we can take a CT scan so you know what the exact geometry of their lungs is," Seelecke said. "Then we’ll be able to determine patient-specifically where you need to adjust the nozzle to release from."

According to Kleinstreuer, the invention has already passed two of the three hurdles it needs to pass before it can begin being marketed to inhaler device as well as pharmaceutical companies.

Kleinstreuer said that the first proof was in "virtual reality", where he and his students used computer simulations to test the SIS-underlying methodology. The next phase was testing a major part of the SIS in a lab. To do this, a departmental colleague, Prof. Bill Roberts and his MS student, used a glass replica of the human respiratory system. During the test, lasers were used to track the trajectory of the particles through the glass respiratory system. After a successful laboratory test provided a proof-of-concept for the invention, the SIS is left to pass what will the most challenging of the three.

"The third phase is working with research MDs to perform clinical trials with patients," Kleinstreuer said. "In order to get ready for that major task, we need support from investors to assure that all three proofs will be successfully completed."

The invention was first patented in March 2007. Kleinstreuer said that the two are seeking funding, which they need to complete SIS prototypes before clinical trials can begin.

—daniel—

To learn more about this invention, watch the video at http://urweb.tv/UNC/smartinhaler.html.

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