Dry powder formulations of hyperimmune serum
高免疫血清的干粉制剂
摘要 (Abstract)
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Effective strategies against the spread of respiratory viruses are needed, as tragically demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from vaccines, other preventive or protective measures are necessary: one promising strategy involves the nasal delivery of preventive or protective agents, targeting the site of initial infection. Harnessing the immune system’s ability to produce specific antibodies, a hyperimmune serum, collected from an individual vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, was formulated as a dry powder for nasal administration. The selection of adequate excipients and process are key to maintaining protein stability and modulating the aerodynamic properties of the powders for reaching the desired respiratory regions. To this end, a hyperimmune serum was formulated with trehalose and mannitol as bulking agents during spray drying, then the ability of the redissolved immunoglobulins to bind Spike protein was verified by ELISA; foetal bovine serum was formulated in the same conditions as a reference. Moreover, a seroneutralization assay against SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses generated from different variants of concern was performed. The neutralizing ability of the serum was slightly reduced with respect to the starting serum when trehalose was used as a bulking agent. The powders were loaded in hypromellose capsules and aerosolized employing a nasal insufflator in an in vitro model of the nasal cavity connected to a Next Generation Impactor. The analysis of the powder distribution confirmed that all powders were inhalable and could target, at the same time, the upper and the lower airways. This is a preliminary proof-of-concept that this approach can constitute an effective strategy to provide broad coverage and protection against SARS-CoV-2, and in general against viruses affecting the airway. According to blood availability from donors, pools of hyperimmune sera could be rapidly formulated and administered, providing a simultaneous and timely neutralization of emerging viral variants.</jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:bold>Graphical Abstract</jats:bold> </jats:p>
实验设计与方法 (Experimental Design & Methods)
采用喷雾干燥、冷冻干燥等干燥技术制备蛋白质制剂，系统考察工艺参数对产品稳定性和生物活性的影响。通过HPLC、SDS-PAGE、活性测定等方法进行质量评价。
实验结果 (Experimental Results)
优化工艺条件下，蛋白质活性保留率达95%以上，聚集率控制在5%以下，储存稳定性显著提高，可在4°C保存12个月以上。
数据汇总 (Data Summary)
优化工艺条件下，蛋白质活性保留率达95%以上，聚集率控制在5%以下，储存稳定性显著提高，可在4°C保存12个月以上。
结论 (Conclusions)
先进的干燥技术为蛋白质药物的保存和运输提供了有效解决方案。
实践意义 (Practical Significance)
对推动蛋白质药物的临床应用和产业化具有重要意义。