Effect of Delivery Devices on Nasal Deposition and Mucociliary Clearance in Rhesus Monkeys

Abstract

Gamma camera scintigraphy studies were carried out to determine the differences in deposition pattern and clearance with the use of four nasal delivery methods: a compressed air nebulizer, a nasal pump sprayer, drops from an instillation catheter, and a dry powder insufflator. Six rhesus monkeys were studied while anesthetized with ketamine. ^99m Tc-labeled sulfur colloid particles were used as the test markers and gamma camera scintigraphy was used to measure deposition patterns and clearance rates. Deposition patterns were qualitatively similar for all four devices despite the fact that particle size distributions differed considerably. Clearance, when measured 30 min after initial deposition, was also similar for all four devices with a mean retention value (±SE) for all four methods of 30 ± 3%. Choice of device in these controlled laboratory studies did not markedly affect nasal deposition or clearance in monkeys. The compressed air nebulizer would be the device of choice for delivery of therapeutic materials in laboratory studies with monkeys, because a reasonable volume of material could be delivered with good reproducibility.