2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Establishing design principles for spray dried nanofibrillar supraparticles towards modular pulmonary drug delivery systems
Project/Area Number |
21K20495
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Research Institution | Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University |
Principal Investigator |
Kamarainen Tero 大阪医科薬科大学, 薬学部, 特任研究員 (20909890)
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Project Period (FY) |
2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
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Keywords | Tannic acid / Beta-lactoglobulin / Amyloid nanofibril |
Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Disintegration of rod-like tannic acid particles under tip sonication was confirmed based on unpublicized results. These small particles can be used in future supraparticles studies. However, varying process conditions was deemed a more viable route to acquiring the smallest needle-like tannic acid particles envisioned to be used in the spray drying experiments with amyloid nanofibrils (ANF). Delivery of dialysis membranes used to purify the protein that is used to make amyloid nanofibrils (ANF) and the membranes for purifying ANFs were delayed multiple times. On April 2022 both arrived, protein purification and ANF synthesis was undertaken rapidly afterwards. The sample looks promising but the size of the ANFs need to be confirmed with transmission electron microscopy to move forward.
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Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Preparation of amyloid nanofibrils (ANF) is the most important step in this project as they are the main material used in all subsequent experiments. Therefore the delays in acquiring dialysis membranes delayed also the preparation of the ANFs. Multiple suppliers and borrowing was considered during the wait period. I made progress in the disintegration of the tannic acid particles but not much work was possible. In April 2022, more hours was put into this project to catch up after dialysis membranes arrived so that ANFs could be prepared and spray drying trials could begin as soon as possible. As the project calls for 30% time investment, I deem that the project is slightly delayed. However, due to the flexibility of research work, rapid progress was possible after membranes arrived.
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Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Next step is to acquire transmission electron microscopy (TEM) training on May 23 and characterize the size of the prepared amyloid nanofibrils (ANF) using TEM. If ANFs are fully formed, ANF suspension will be characterized and the first spray drying (SD) trials can commence by spray drying ANFs mixed with silica nanoparticles (NP) to assess whether ANFs are stable during SD. If ANFs prove too fragile for SD, stabilizing by crosslinking or coating with a polymer, e.g. chitosan, will be tried, or ANF precursor protein will be changed to e.g. lysozyme. If ANFs are stable, a systematic variation of SD process conditions will be carried out with silica NPs, then particle surface chemistry and shape will be varied in similar SD experiments to assess ANFs' supraparticle formation properties.
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Causes of Carryover |
Due to the material delivery delays, much of the chemical and other costs did not manifest. The budget for laboratory chemicals and consumables itself has not changed and therefore purchases are projected to occur during the next fiscal year.
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