The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

Cambridge Healthcare Innovations (CHI) has announced a research collaboration with the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research to evaluate its Quattrii™ dry powder inhaler for pulmonary delivery of spray-dried nisin, an antimicrobial peptide.

The laboratory programme to test aerosol delivery will investigate how nisin formulations perform in the Quattrii DPI engine and whether a combination therapy of nisin and the antibiotic colistin warrants further evaluation.

The collaboration addresses a practical barrier in developing new inhaled medicines: translating a promising powder into a reliably delivered aerosol at a useful dose. For antimicrobials, like all formulations, understanding how powder loading, dispersion and device retention affect delivery and potential for further biological evaluation and development is an important step towards assessing their potential for further development.

The Woolcock brings expertise in respiratory formulation science, device characterisation, and drug delivery. Its researchers will complete aerosol testing with Quattrii across powder loads of 18 to 45 mg to help establish how formulation and device performance interact at different fill masses. The programme will also include preliminary testing against biofilms known to be difficult to treat. The results will guide whether development of a nisin–colistin co-formulation should be progressed.

Professor Daniela Traini, the Woolcock's Respiratory Technology Research Leader, said: “Developing an inhaled antimicrobial is not just about producing a powder. We need to understand how much drug can actually reach the lungs and whether it retains its biological activity.”

“Working with CHI gives us the opportunity to evaluate Quattrii for delivering high doses of spray-dried nisin and to explore whether combining nisin with colistin could improve activity against difficult-to-treat bacterial biofilms.”

Quattrii’s high powder capacity and overall flexibility make it suitable for a wide range of fill masses. Its individual heat-sealed aluminium foil blisters protect the formulation from moisture up to the point of use, while its unique, patented powder deagglomeration engine enables industry leading aerosol delivery. Devices are available now in moulded medical-grade plastic for laboratory evaluation and clinical trials.

Jamie Greenwood, Principal Scientist at Cambridge Healthcare Innovations, said: “Tomorrow’s inhaled medicines need more than what yesterday’s inhalers can offer. They need devices that provide an effective way to protect and present the dose while still achieving class leading aerosol delivery performance.”

“Devices which have the ability to deliver across a range of powder loads, including high doses are valuable for next generation therapies, including biologic drugs. This collaboration will examine that relationship directly with our Quattrii carrier free dry powder inhaler.

“We are delighted to support the Woolcock’s research into antimicrobial peptides. This is aligned with our aim to give formulation developers the right delivery device technology to support their development journey.”

The programme is a non-clinical research evaluation and does not include human studies. Its findings will inform subsequent formulation and device development decisions.

About Cambridge Healthcare Innovations

Cambridge Healthcare Innovations develops inhaler platforms for pulmonary and nasal drug delivery. Its Quattrii dry powder inhaler platform combines high powder capacity, individual blister dosing and optimised airflow geometry, with protective foil–foil packaging options for moisture-sensitive formulations.

Find out more

• Our Respiratory Technology research group
• Cambridge Healthcare Innovations