Resumen

MUNOZ CERNADA, Adriana. Dry powder inhalers for the treatment of respiratory diseases: Part I. Rev Cubana Farm [online]. 2006, vol.40, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2988.

A review of the dry powder inhalers (DPI) technology used to treat respiratory diseases, such as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, was made. The DPIs began to be developed in the 70's and they have been reupdated recently as a replacement alternative of metered-dose inhalers with chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). The history of this technology is dealt with, the main physicochemical characteristics of this type of formulation are described, and the factors influencing on the disaggregation and dispersion of the powders are mentioned. Finally, the technique used at present in the development of a new prototype of DPI that allows to optimize the fluidization mechanisms to attain a highly reproducible dosage is approached

Palabras clave : Dry powder inhaler (DPI); respiratory diseases; asthma; COPD.