Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences (SJAMS) ISSN 2320-6691 (Online)

Sch. J. App. Med. Sci., 2016; 4(8D):2976-2985 ISSN 2347-954X (Print)

©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publisher
(An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources)
www.saspublishers.com DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i08.048

Review Article

Formulation and Product Development of Nasal Spray: An Overview

Santosh Thorat
Lupin Research Park, Hinjewadi, Pune, 411057, India

*Corresponding author
Santosh Thorat
Email: [email protected]

Abstract: The intranasal delivery is preferable route for administration of the drug for local, systemic as well as central
nervous system drug delivery. Advantages of nasal spray dosage form such as it is cost-effective, easy to use/carry and
self-administrable, it has high patient compliance make this dosage form growing opportunity for nasal drug
delivery. This article outlined the relevant aspects of nasal anatomy, physiology and histology, and the biological,
physicochemical and pharmaceutical factors that must be considered during the formulation development of nasal spray.
It is intuitively expected that this review will help to understand nasal formulation and it’s in- vitro characteristics.
Keywords: Nasal Spray, Nasal drug delivery system, formulation and in-vitro characterization.

INTRODUCTION: Only relatively recently have specially-

Intranasal drug delivery is recognized to be a designed devices emerged that can target the
useful and reliable alternative to oral and parenteral delivery of sprays or po wders to the olfactory
routes. The nasal route of drug delivery can be used for region of the nose, thereby enabling delivery of the
both local and systemic drug delivery. For instance, drug directly to the central nervous system.
localized nasal drug delivery is usually used to treat
conditions related to the nasal cavity, such as The present review outlines anatomical,
congestion, rhinitis, sinusitis and related allergic physiological and histological features of nasal cavity
conditions. A diverse range of drugs including and the major factors affecting nasal drug delivery, the
corticosteroids, anti-histamines, anti-cholinergic and properties of drugs and formulation characteristics that
vasoconstrictors can be administered locally. In recent determine decisively the pharmacokinetics of nasal
years, achieving a systemic drug action using the nose preparations. Along with this article examines nasal
as the entry portal into the body has received more spray formulation parameters, excipients,
attention. Also, the nasal delivery seems to be a characterization and their influence on key in-vitro
favorable way to circumvent the obstacles for blood- tests.
brain barrier (BBB) allowing the direct drug delivery in
the biophase of central nervous system (CNS)-active Advantages of Nasal Drug Delivery System [2]:
compounds. It has also been considered to the 1. Intranasal administration offers several
administration of vaccines. practical advantages from the viewpoint of
patients (non-invasiveness, essentially
Now a day’s multiple types of formulation painless, ease drug delivery and favorable
are used to administer drug by nasal rout, which tolerability profile)
includes nasal spray, nasal drop, nasal powder, nasal 2. Rapid drug absorption.
gels & nasal insert etc. Administration of drugs
through the nose in the spray dosage form is a non-
3. Quick onset of action.
invasive method that gives rapid onset of drug 4. Hepatic first – pass metabolism is absent.
action. Because the nasals spray dosage form is 5. The bioavailability of larger drug molecules
cost-effective, easy to use/carry and self-administrable, can be improved by means of absorption
it has high patient compliance. Therefore, nasal drug enhancer or other approach.
delivery has become a popular route of drug admin- 6. Better nasal bioavailability for smaller drug
istration and has strong growth opportunity [1]. molecules.

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Limitations: but, at the same time, the absorption of substances
1. Dose is limited because of relatively small area including drugs becomes very difficult in this region.
available for the absorption of drug.
2. Time available for drug absorption is limited. 2) Atrium
3. Diseased condition of nose impairs drug Atrium is the intermediate area between nasal
absorption. vestibule and respiratory region. Its anterior section is
4. The absorption enhancers used to improve constituted by a stratified squamous epithelium and the
nasal drug delivery system may have posterior area by pseudostratified columnar cells
histological toxicity which is not yet clearly presenting microvilli.
established.
5. Absorption surface area is less when compared 3) Respiratory region
to GIT. It is divided in superior, middle and inferior
6. Nasal irritation turbinate’s which are projected from the lateral wall.
7. Certain surfactants used as chemical enhancers These specialized structures are responsible for
may disrupt and even dissolve Membrane in humidification and temperature regulation of inhaled
high concentration. air. Between them there are spaces, called meatus,
which are passageways where airflow is created to
Nasal Anatomy and Physiology [3, 4]: assure a close contact of the inhaled air with the
Nasal cavity is lined with mucus layer and hairs respiratory mucosal surface. The inferior and middle
which are involved in those functions, trapping inhaled meatus receive nasolacrimal ducts and paranasal sinuses
particles and pathogens. Moreover, resonance of which are air-filled pockets located inside the bones of
produced sounds, mucociliary clearance MMC, the face and around the nasal cavity. The nasal
immunological activities and metabolism of respiratory mucosa, considered the most important
endogenous substances are also essential functions of section for delivering drugs systemically, is constituted
nasal structures. The human nasal cavity has a total by the epithelium, basement membrane and lamina
volume of 15-20 mL and a total surface area of propria. Nasal mucus is indispensable for several
approximately 150 cm2. The nasal halves consist of four physiological functions, such as humidification and
areas (nasal vestibule, atrium, respiratory region and warming of the inhaled air, and also offers physical and
olfactory region) that are distinguished according to enzymatic protection of the nasal epithelium against
their anatomic and histological characteristics (Figure 1; several foreign compounds, including drugs. The
Table 1). presence of mucin in the nasal mucus layer is crucial
because it may trap large molecular weight drugs, such
1) Nasal vestibule as peptides and proteins. Beneath of it, there is the
In this area of nasal cavity, there are nasal hairs, lamina propria which is richly supplied with blood
also called vibrissae, which filter the inhaled particles. vessels, including many very permeable fenestrated
Nasal vestibular characteristics are desirable to afford capillaries, nerves, glands and immune cells. The last
high resistance against toxic environmental substances ones produce immunoglobulin an antibodies that confer
immunological protection against bacteria and virus.

Fig-1: Anatomy and histology of human nasal cavity.

4) Olfactory region

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The olfactory region is located in the roof of the environment. Similarly to the respiratory epithelium,
nasal cavity and extends a short way down the Septum the olfactory one is also pseudostratified but contains
and lateral wall. Its neuroepithelium is the only part of specialized olfactory receptor cells important for smell
the CNS that is directly exposed to the external perception.

Table 1: Human nasal epithelium characteristics

Nasal Epithelial Characteristics Surface Vascular Permeability
Sections Cells / Functions Area ization
Vestibule Stratified squamous and keratinized ≈ 0.6 cm2 Low Poor
epithelial cells with nasal hairs / Support
and protection
Atrium Stratified squamous cells / Support NF Low Reduced
Pseudostratified cells / Support
Respiratory Columnar non ciliated cells / Support ≈ 130 cm2 Very Good
Region - Columnar ciliated cells / Support and muciliary high
clearance
- Globet cells / Mucus secretion
- Basal cells / Progenitors of other cell types
Olfactory Sustentacular cells / Support and synthetic ≈ 15 cm2 High Direct access
region - Olfactory receptor cells / Olfaction to CNS
Perception
- Basal cells / Progenitors of other cell
Types

Different factors affecting nasal drug absorption [4- increased permeability of a compound is due to
5] parasympathetic stimulation.
Various factors affect bioavailability of nasally
administered drugs as follows; 2) Nasal secretions
Nasal secretions are produced by anterior serous and
A) Biological factors seromucus glands. The permeability of drug through the
1) Structural features: There are five different sections nasal mucosa is affected by:
of nasal cavity: nasal vestibule, atrium, respiratory area, • Viscosity of nasal secretion: The viscous surface layer
olfactory region and the nasopharnyx. These structures will inhibit the ciliary beating if the sol layer of mucus
and the type of cells, density and number of cells is too thin and mucociliary clearance is impaired if sol
present in that region influence the permeability. layer is too thick, because contact with cilia is lost.
Absorption enhancers used in combination with drugs Permeation of the drug is affected due to impairment of
increase the permeation of compounds. mucociliary clearance by altering the time of contact of
drug and mucosa.
2) Biochemical changes: Enzymatic barrier to the • Solubility of drug in nasal secretions: For permeation
delivery of drugs is nasal mucosa because of the of drug solublisation is necessary. A
presence of a large number of enzymes, which include drug needs to have appropriate physicochemical
oxidative and conjugative enzymes, peptidases and characteristics for dissolution in nasal secretions.
proteases. Protease and peptidase were responsible for • pH of nasal cavity variation in pH is observed
the presystemic degradation and subsequent lower between 5.5–6.5 in adults and 5.0–7.0 in infants.
permeation of various peptide drugs, such as calcitonin, Permeation of drug is greater if the nasal pH is lower
insulin, LHRH and desmopressin. To overcome these than pKa of drug because under such conditions the
degradations use of protease and peptidase inhibitors penetrant molecules exist as unionized species.
such as bacitracin, amastatin, boroleucin and puromycin
can be used. 3) Mucociliary clearance (MCC) and ciliary beating
Whenever a substance is nasally administered, it is
B) Physiological factors cleared from the nasal cavity in ~21 min by MCC
1) Blood supply and neuronal regulation because mucociliary clearance is the normal defense
Nasal mucosa is highly permeable site. High mechanism of the nasal cavity which clears substances
blood supply due to parasympathetic stimulation gives adhering to nasal mucosa and cleared in GIT by
congestion and low blood supply due to sympathetic draining into nasopharynx. Drug permeation is
stimulation gives relaxation, regulate the rise and fall in enhanced by increasing contact time between drug and
the amounts of drug permeated, respectively. Based on mucus membrane because reduced MMC.
the above observations, we can conclude that the

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4) Pathological conditions: an increase in lipophilicity or the partition coefficient of
Mucociliary disfunctioning, hypo or hypersecretions, the drugs its concentration in biological tissues
irritation of the nasal mucosa occurs due to diseases increases. The absorption rate of aminopyrine increased
such as the common cold, rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis and with the increase in pH and was found to fit well to the
nasal polyposis, and drug permeation is affected by theoretical profile Major factor governing nasal
this. absorption is partition coefficient.

5) Environmental conditions: 5) Polymorphism: Polymorphism is the important

Moderate reduction in the rate of MCC occurs at the parameter in the nasal drug product development which
temperature of 24ᵒC, it has been predicted that a linear is administered in particulate form. Polymorphism is
increase in ciliary beat frequency occurs with increase known to affect dissolution of drugs and their
in temperature. absorption through biological membranes is affected by
polymorphism. This factor should be carefully
6) Membrane permeability: considered in the dosage form development for the
Absorption of the drug through the nasal route is nasal delivery.
affected by membrane permeability which is most
important factor. The large molecular weight drugs and 6) Chemical state of drug: Absorption of the drug is
water soluble drugs like peptides and proteins have low determined by the chemical form of the drug in which it
membrane permeability hence absorbed through is presented to nasal mucosa. Chemically alter a drug
endocytic transport in fewer amounts. molecule by adding a bio-cleavable lipophilic moiety is
the alternative for improving absorption of the drug
C) Physicochemical properties of drug: which is not having desired absorption properties. The
1) Molecular weight and size: Drug permeation is prodrug approach provides many additional challenges
determined by molecular weight, molecular size, which need to be overcome in the drug product
hydrophilicity and lipophilicity of the compound. For developmental process. The toxicity of the prodrug
compounds 1 kDa, bioavailability can be directly itself needs to be fully evaluated.
predicted from knowledge of MW. In general, the
bioavailability of these large molecules ranges from 7) Physical state of drug:
0.5% to 5%. Physicochemical properties of the drug Particle size and morphology of drug are two main
don’t significantly affect permeation of drug LT 300 important properties for particulate nasal drug Products.
Da, which will mostly permeate through aqueous These both parameters should be controlled to obtain
channels of the membrane. By contrast, for compounds suitable drug dissolution properties in the nostrils. Too
with MW 300 Da rate of permeation is highly sensitive. fine particles below 5 microns should be avoided
because it may get inhaled in lungs. Generally, particles
2) Solubility: Major factor in determining absorption of in the 5–10 micron range are deposited in the nostrils.
drug through biological membranes is drug solubility.
As nasal secretions are more watery in nature, a drug D) Physicochemical properties of formulation:
should have appropriate aqueous solubility for 1) Physical form of formulation:
increased dissolution. Lipophilic drugs have less Liquid formulations are less effective than powder form
solubility in the aqueous secretions. Water soluble in delivering insulin in rabbits. Less efficient systemic
drugs are absorbed by passive diffusion and lipophilic nasal drug delivery observed with more viscous
drugs via active transport depending on their solubility. formulation. Viscous formulations may help in
minimizing nasal drip.
3) Lipophilicity: The permeation of the compound
normally increases through nasal mucosa with increase 2) pH: extent of drug ionization is determined by pH
in lipophilicity. It appears that nasal mucosa is partition hypothesis hence it is related to formulation
primarily lipophilic in nature and the lipid domain plays pH. Nasal formulation should be adjusted to appropriate
an important role in the barrier function of these pH to avoid irritation, to obtain efficient absorption and
membranes although they have some hydrophilic to prevent growth of pathogenic bacteria. Ideal
characteristics. Systemic bioavailability of many drugs formulation pH should be adjusted between 4.5 and 6.5.
is decreased due to excess hydrophilicity in such cases
prodrug approach is beneficial. 3) Osmolarity: Formulation tonicity substantially affect
the nasal mucosa generally, an isotonic formulation is
4) pKa and partition coefficient: As per the pH partition preferred.
theory, unionized species are absorbed better compared
with ionized species and the same fact is true in the case Formulation of nasal spray [6]:
of nasal absorption. There is constant relationship Nasal spray drug products contain
between pKa and nasal absorption of these drugs. With therapeutically active ingredients (drug substances)

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dissolved or suspended in solutions or mixtures of
excipients (e.g., preservatives, viscosity modifiers, 2) Excipients used in nasal spray formulations[7]
emulsifiers, buffering agents) in nonpressurized There are various types of excipients used in nasal
dispensers that deliver a spray containing a metered formulations. Commonly used and frequently added
dose of the active ingredient. The dose can be metered excipients are as follows:
by the spray pump. A nasal spray unit can be designed a) Buffers: Nasal secretions may alter the pH of
for unit dosing or can discharge up to several hundred the administrated dose which can affect the
metered sprays of formulation containing the drug concentration of un-ionized drug available for
substance. Nasal sprays are applied to the nasal cavity absorption. Therefore, an adequate formulation
for local and/or systemic effects. Although similar in buffer capacity may be required to maintain
many features to other drug products, some aspects of the pH in-situ. Examples of buffer used in
nasal sprays may be unique (e.g., formulation, container nasal spray sodium phosphate, Sodium citrate,
closure system, manufacturing, stability, and drug citric acid.
product). Metering and spray producing (e.g., orifice, b) Solubilizers: Aqueous solubility of drug is
nozzle, jet) pump mechanisms and components are used always a limitation for nasal drug delivery in
for reproducible delivery of drug formulation, and these solution. Conventional solvents or co-solvents
can be constructed of many parts of different design such as glycols, small quantities of alcohol,
that are precisely controlled in terms of dimensions and Transcutol (diethylene glycol monoethyl
composition. Energy is required for dispersion of the ether), medium chain glycerides and Labrasol
formulation as a spray. This is typically accomplished (saturated polyglycolyzed C8- C10 glyceride)
by forcing the formulation through the nasal actuator can be used to enhance the solubility of drugs.
and its orifice. The formulation and the container Other compounds can be used like, the use of
closure system (container, closure, pump, and any surfactants or cyclodextrins such as HP–s-
protective packaging) collectively constitute the drug Cyclodextrin that serve as a biocompatible
product. The design of the container closure system solubilizer and stabilizer in combination with
affects the dosing performance of the drug product. lipophilic absorption enhancers. In these cases,
Both solution and suspension formulations can be their impact on nasal irritancy should be
formulated into nasal sprays. considered.
c) Preservatives: Most nasal formulations are
aqueous based so needs preservatives to
prevent microbial growth. Parabens, phenyl
ethyl alcohol, benzalkonium chloride, EDTA
and benzoyl alcohol are some of the
commonly used preservatives in nasal
formulations.
d) Antioxidants: A small quantity of
antioxidants may be required to prevent drug
oxidation. Commonly used antioxidants are
sodium bisulfite, butylated hydroxytoluene,
sodium metabisulfite and tocopherol. Usually,
antioxidants do not affect drug absorption or
Fig-2: Nasal spray (Dymista®) cause nasal irritation.
e) Humectants Because of allergic and chronic
1) Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient diseases there can be crusts and drying of
An ideal nasal drug candidate should possess the mucous membrane. Certain preservatives/
following attributes: antioxidants are also likely to cause nasal
• Appropriate aqueous solubility to provide the irritation especially when used in higher
desired dose in a 25–150 ml volume of quantities. Adequate intranasal moisture is
formulation. essential for preventing dehydration.
• Appropriate nasal absorption properties. Therefore, humectants can be added especially
• No nasal irritation from the drug. in gel-based nasal products. Humectants avoid
• A suitable clinical rationale for nasal dosage nasal irritation and do not affect drug
forms, e.g. rapid onset of action. absorption. Common examples include
• Low dose. Generally, below 25 mg per dose. glycerin, sorbitol and mannitol.
• No toxic nasal metabolites. f) Surfactants Surfactant incorporation into
• No offensive odors/aroma associated with the nasal dosage forms can modify the
drug. permeability of nasal membranes, which may
• Suitable stability characteristics. facilitate the nasal absorption of drug. It also

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increase stability of suspension. Common a polymer material is dependent on the nature
examples include Polysorbet. of the polymer, the surrounding medium (pH),
g) Bioadhesive polymers Compound that is swelling and physiological factors (mucin
capable of interacting with biological material turnover, disease state). From a safety (nasal
through interfacial forces and being retained irritancy) point of view use of a combination
on such material for prolonged periods of time of carriers is often recommended.
is called as bioadhesive polymer. They are also h) Penetration enhancer Chemical penetration
called as mucoadhesive if biological material enhancers are widely used in the nasal drug
is mucus membrane. The bioadhesive force of delivery.

Table 2: Commonly utilized excipients

Sr. No. Category Role Example
1 Isotonicity Used to adjust the tonicity of the Sodium chloride, Dextrose
adjustment formulation
2 pH adjustment Used to adjust pH same to physiological Sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric
conditions and acid sulphuric acid
maximize drug stability
3 Purging Purging used to reduce oxidation Nitrogen
4 Antimicrobial To avoid the microbial growth in the Benzalkonium chloride, ethanol,
preservative formulation propylene glycol, Beczoyl Alcohol,
chlorobutanol, Methyl paraben
5 Buffer component It gives the buffer capacity to formulation at Sodium citrate, Sodium Phosphate
desire Ph
6 Surfactant Increases suspendability and stability of Polysorbate 80,20
suspension
7 Cation chelating Forms chelate with ions present in the Disodium EDTA
agent formulation and increases the stability
8 Suspending Agents Increases viscosity and suspendability of CMC, Na CMC
suspension
9 Co-Solvent Helps to improve solubility Alcohol, PEG 400, Propylene
Glycol
10 Humactant Used to maintain humidification in the Glycerin
formulation

3) Metered-dose spray pumps and introduced for delivery of fluticasone furoate for
Metered spray pumps have, since they were the indication of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis.
introduced some four decades ago, dominated the nasal The pump was designed with a shorter tip to avoid
drug delivery market. The pumps typically deliver 100 contact with the sensitive mucosal surfaces. New
μl (25– 200 μl) per spray, and they offer high designs to reduce the need for priming and re-priming,
reproducibility of the emitted dose and plume geometry and pumps incorporating pressure point features to
in in vitro tests. The particle size and plume geometry improve the dose reproducibility and dose counters and
can vary within certain limits and depend on the lock-out mechanisms for enhanced dose control and
properties of the pump, the formulation, the orifice of safety are available.
the actuator, and the force applied. Traditional spray
pumps replace the emitted liquid with air, and A simple variant of a single-dose spray device
preservatives are therefore required to prevent (MAD) is offered by LMA (LMA, Salt Lake City, UT,
contamination. However, driven by the studies USA. A nosepiece with a spray tip is fitted to a standard
suggesting possible negative effects of preservatives, syringe. The liquid drug to be delivered is first drawn
pump manufacturers have developed different spray into the syringe and then the spray tip is fitted onto the
systems that avoid the need for preservatives. More syringe.
recently, pumps have been designed with side-actuation

Table 3: Nasal drug products for systemic drug delivery in the market

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Drug Substance Indication Dosage form Status Manufacturer
(Product name)
proteins and peptides for systemic drug delivery
Salmon calcitonin Osteoporosis Solution (spray) Marketed Novartis Pharma
(Karil 200 I.E.)
Desmopressin Antidiuretic hormone Solution (spray) Marketed Ferring Arzneimitted
(Minirin Nasenspray)

Buserelin (Profact Buserelin Solution (spray) Marketed Aventis Pharma

nasal)
Nafarelin (Synarela) Endometriosis Solution (spray) Marketed Pharmacia
Oxytocin Lactation induction Solution (spray) Marketed Novartis Pharma
(Syntocinon)
Protirelin (antepan Thyroid diagnostics Solution (spray) Marketed Aventis Pharma
nasal) (Relefact TRH
nasal)
Non Peptide For Systemic Drug Delivery
Zolmitriptan Migraine Solution (spray) Marketed Astra Zeneca
(AscoTop* Nasal)
Sumatriptan Imigran* Migraine Solution (spray) Marketed Glaxo SmithKline
Nasal
Dihyfroergotamin Migraine Solution (spray) Marketed Novartis Pharma
(Migranal* Nasal
Spray)
Estradiol (Aerodiol*) Hormone Solution (spray) Marketed Servier
replacement

Characterization of Nasal Spray [6-8]: For formulations containing an agent contributing

1) pH : to the viscosity, this parameter should be tested and
For both solution and suspension nasal sprays, the controlled at release and on stability. The contact time
pH of the Formulation should be tested and an between the drug and the nasal mucosa is increased by
appropriate acceptance criterion established. The higher viscosity of formulation thereby increasing the
healthy human volunteers, overall range of pH of the time for permeation. Also high viscosity of
anterior part of the nose was 5.17 to 8.13 while that of formulations interferes with normal ciliary beating
the posterior part was 5.20 to 8.00, indicating that an and/or MCC and, thus, increases the permeability of
average baseline human nasal pH is approximately 6.3. drugs.
Thus the stability can achieve by proper selection of pH
of formulation. However, the pH of formulation should 4) Impurities and Degradation Products
be near on human nasal mucosa (5.0‐6.5) to prevent the The levels of impurities and degradation products
sneezing. should be determined by a validated analytical
procedure or procedures. Acceptance criteria should be
2) Osmolality set for individual and total impurities and degradation
For formulations containing an agent to control the products. All related impurities appearing at levels of
tonicity or for products having a label claim regarding 0.1 percent or greater should be specified according to
tonicity, the osmolality of the formulation should be ICH guideline for impurities.
tested and controlled at release.
5) Preservatives and Stabilizing Excipients Assay
The data from animal models has shown increased If preservatives, antioxidants, chelating agents, or
bioavailability for salmon calcitonin from nasal spray other stabilizing excipients (e.g., benzalkonium
formulations with an osmolality of 100 or 600 chloride, phenylethyl alcohol, edetate) are used in the
mOsmol/Kg compared to isotonic formulations. Other formulation, there should be a specific assay for these
studies have shown that hypotonic nasal spray for- components with associated acceptance criteria.
mulations improved drug permeability through the nasal Acceptance criteria for the chemical content of
mucosa. Some existing marketed products have preservatives at the time of product release and through
reported osmolality in the range of 300-700 the product shelf life should be included in the drug
mOsmol/Kg. product specification.
6) Pump Delivery
3) Viscosity
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A test to assess pump-to-pump reproducibility in
terms of drug product performance and to evaluate the The evaluation of plume include plume angle, Width
delivery from the pump should be performed. In and height. The spray pattern is evaluated for maximum
general, pump spray weight delivery acceptance criteria diameter (Dmax) and minimum diameter (Dmin),
should control the weight of the individual sprays to ovality ratio ( Dmax/Dmin) measurements should be
within 15 percent of the target weight and their mean performed at two distances from the actuator tip, and
weight to within 10 percent of the target weight. the selected distances should be at least 3 cm apart
within the range of 3 to 7 cm.
7) Spray Content Uniformity (SCU)
The spray discharged from the nasal actuator 9) Droplet Size Distribution
should be thoroughly analyzed for the drug substance The DSD of a nasal spray is a critical parameter,
content of multiple sprays from beginning to the end of since it significantly influences the in vivo deposition of
an individual container, among containers, and among the drug in the nasal cavity. The droplet size is hereby
batches of drug product. This test should provide an mainly influenced by the design and handling, e.g., the
overall performance evaluation of a batch, assessing the actuation parameters, of the device, as well as by the
formulation, the manufacturing process, and the pump. formulation, and the prevalent median droplet size is
This test is designed to demonstrate the uniformity of between 30 and 120 μm. If the droplets are too large
medication per spray, consistent with the label claim, (>120 μm), deposition takes place mainly in the anterior
discharged from the nasal actuator, of an appropriate parts of the nose, and if the droplets are too small (<10
number (n = 10 from beginning and n = 10 from end) of μm), they can possibly be inhaled and reach the lungs,
containers from a batch. The primary purpose is to which should be avoided because of safety reasons. For
ensure SCU within the same container and among both suspension and solution nasal sprays, the
multiple containers of a batch. For acceptance of a specifications should include an appropriate control for
batch the amount of active ingredient per determination the droplet size distribution (e.g., 3 to 4 cut-off values)
is not outside of 80 to 120 percent of label claim for of the delivered plume subsequent to spraying under
more than 2 of 20 determinations 10 containers, none of specified experimental and instrumental conditions. If a
the determinations is outside of 75 to 125 percent of the laser diffraction method is used, droplet size
label claim, and the mean for each of the beginning and distribution can be controlled in terms of ranges for the
end determinations are not outside of 85 to 115 percent D10, D50, D90, span [(D90-D10)/D50], and percentage
of label claim. If the above acceptance criteria are not of droplets less than 10 µm.
met because 3 to 6 of the 20 determinations are outside
of 80 to 120 percent of the label claim, but none are 10) Particle Size Distribution
outside of 75 to 125 percent of label claim and the For suspension nasal sprays, the specification
means for each of the beginning and end determinations should include tests and acceptance criteria for the
are not outside of 85 to 115 percent of label claim, an particle size distribution of the drug substance particles
additional 20 containers should be sampled for second- in the formulation. For example, microscopic evaluation
tier testing. For the second tier of testing of a batch, the can be used and such an examination can provide
acceptance criteria are met if the amount of active information and data on the presence of large particles,
ingredient per determination is not outside of 80 to 120 changes in morphology of the drug substance particles,
percent of the label claim for more than 6 of all 60 extent of agglomerates, and crystal growth.
determinations, none of the 60 determinations is outside
of 75 to 125 percent of label claim, and the means for Advances [10-11]
each of the beginning and end determinations are not 1) Systemic delivery
outside of 85 to 115 percent of label claim. The intranasal administration of drugs is having
advantages as compared to oral and intravascular route,
8) Spray Pattern and Plume Geometry such as fast and extended drug absorption. Examples
Characterization of spray pattern and plume for systemic delivery include marketed product
geometry are important for evaluating the performance containing the drug zolmitriptan and sumatriptan for the
of the pump. Various factors can affect the spray pattern treatment of migraine and cluster headaches. As well as
and plume geometry, including the size and shape of the other drugs like analgesics (morphine), cardiovascular
nozzle, the design of the pump, the size of the metering drugs as propranolol and carvedilol, hormones such as
chamber, and the characteristics of the formulation. levonorgestrel, progesterone and insulin, anti‐
inflammatory agents as indomethacin and ketorolac,
Plume geometry testing requires images taken from and antiviral drugs (acyclovir).
a sideward view of the emitted spray parallel to the axis
of the plume, whereas for the evaluation of the spray
pattern, an image of an axial cross-section of the plume 2) Vaccines
at a defined distance to the nozzle is compulsory.

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Use for vaccination, especially against respiratory delivery through nasal route into CNS has been reported
infections, has been extensively evaluated. It is able to for Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumors, epilepsy, pain
enhance the systemic levels of specific immunoglobulin and sleep disorders.
G and nasal secretary immunoglobulin A. Examples of
the human efficacy of intranasal vaccines include those CONCLUSION
against influenza A and B virus, proteosoma‐influenza, Considering the potential benefits from nasal
adenovirus‐vectored influenza, group B meningococcal route of administration, we should expect to see a range
native, attenuated respiratory syncytial virus and of novel nasal products reaching the market in the near
parainfluenza 3 virus. future. They will include not only drugs for local
treatment but also for systemic protection against
3) Liposomes infections. The development of drugs for directly target
Liposomal drug delivery systems present various the brain in order to attain a good therapeutic effect in
advantages such as the effective encapsulation of small CNS with reduced systemic side effects. Nasal drug
and large molecules with a wide range of hydrophilicity delivery can be affected by several factors e.g.
and pKa values. In fact, they have been found to Biological Factors, Physiological factors,
enhance nasal absorption of peptides such as insulin and Physicochemical Properties of Drugs, Physicochemical
calcitonin by increasing their membrane penetration. Properties of Formulation. Nasal spray drug products
This has been attributed to the increasing nasal retention contain active ingredients dissolved or suspended in
of peptides, protection of the entrapped peptides from solutions or mixtures of excipients in nonpressurized
enzymatic degradation and mucosal membrane dispensers that deliver a spray containing a metered
disruption. Moreover, liposomal drug delivery systems dose of the active ingredient. Critical characterization
were also reported as useful for influenza vaccine and test for nasal spray includes spray pattern, droplet size
non-peptide drugs such as nifedipine. distribution, Spray Content Uniformity these depend on
formulation as well as device properties.
4) Microsphere
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