Compositions and methods for ophthalmic and/or other applications
Particles, compositions, and methods that aid particle transport in mucus are provided. The particles, compositions, and methods may be used, in some instances, for ophthalmic and/or other applications. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods may involve modifying the surface coatings of particles, such as particles of pharmaceutical agents that have a low aqueous solubility. Such compositions and methods can be used to achieve efficient transport of particles of pharmaceutical agents though mucus barriers in the body for a wide spectrum of applications, including drug delivery, imaging, and diagnostic applications. In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition including such particles is well-suited for ophthalmic applications, and may be used for delivering pharmaceutical agents to the front of the eye and/or the back of the eye.
1. A method for treating a dry eye condition, comprising:
administering topically to an eye of a patient in need of treatment of a dry eye condition a pharmaceutical composition comprising:
(a) a plurality of coated nanoparticles, each of the coated nanoparticles comprising:
(i) a core particle comprising loteprednol etabonate, and wherein the loteprednol etabonate comprises at least 90 wt % of the core particle; and
(ii) a coating on the core particle, the coating comprising poloxamer 407 non-covalently adsorbed to the core particle;
(b) about 0.5% w/v to about 3% w/v glycerin; and
(c) about 0.1% w/v to about 1% w/v sodium chloride;
wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a topical suspension;
wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises about 0.25% w/v loteprednol etabonate;
wherein the ratio of the total weight of the loteprednol etabonate to the total weight of the poloxamer 407 comprised in the pharmaceutical composition is about 2:1; and
wherein the coated nanoparticles are mucus-penetrating.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the core particle is substantially free of a polymeric component.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises about 0.6% w/v glycerin.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises about 0.01% w/v to about 0.1% w/v disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises about 0.001 to about 0.05% w/v benzalkonium chloride.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a sodium citrate and citric acid buffer.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coated nanoparticles have a relative velocity of greater than 0.6 in human cervicovaginal mucus.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the poloxamer 407 coating on the particles of loteprednol etabonate is at an average density of at least 0.05 molecules/nm 2 and less than 10 molecules/nm 2 .
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the average density is at least 0.1 molecules/nm 2 and less than 10 molecules/nm 2 .
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coated nanoparticles have an average size of about 200 nm to about 700 nm.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the average size of the coated nanoparticles is as measured in Z-average diameter by dynamic light scattering.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the polydispersity index of the composition is less than or equal to about 0.3 as measured by dynamic light scattering.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises less than or equal to about 0.5 wt % 17α-[(ethoxycarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-3-oxoandrosta-4-ene-17-carboxylic acid chloromethyl ester at relative to the weight of the loteprednol etabonate in the pharmaceutical composition.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is made sterile via a sterilization process comprising gamma irradiation, and wherein the 17α-[(ethoxycarbonyl)oxy]-11β-hydroxy-3-oxoandrosta-4-ene-17-carboxylic acid chloromethyl ester is at less than or equal to about 0.5 wt % relative to the weight of the loteprednol etabonate in the pharmaceutical composition after the gamma irradiation.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering occurs four times daily.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the loteprednol etabonate constitutes at least 95% of the core particle by weight.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the loteprednol etabonate constitutes at least 99% of the core particle by weight.