Abstract

Spray drying (SD) has been used to manufacture dry powder inhalers (DPIs) due to its versability to develop solid dispersions to improve drugs solubility. However, transferring new technologies to the market is not an easy task if the excipients used in the formulation are not Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. This study aims to create respirable gelatin microcapsules (1–5 μm) to modulate the dissolution and antimicrobial effect of ciprofloxacin (CIP). Gelatin type A (GA) has the advantage of being FDA-approved for inhalation in high doses (100 mg). CIP is an antibiotic with relevance in cystic fibrosis-associated infections and with poor solubility at physiologically pH. Inhalable microcapsules were produced by SD and their aerodynamic behavior, in vitro dissolution, and antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa biofilms were characterized.