Particle delivery techniques - Patent Articles

Title: Particle delivery techniques
United States Patent: 6,893,664
Issued: May 17, 2005
Inventors: Burkoth; Terry Lee (Palo Alto, CA); Sarphie; David Francis (Madison, WI); Muddle; Andrew Gordon (Cambs, GB); Porter; Linda Maree (The Gap, AU)
Assignee: Powderject Research Limited (GB)
Appl. No.: 216641
Filed: December 17, 1998
Abstract
A method is provided for in vivo or ex vivo delivery of a preparation of powdered nucleic acid molecules into vertebrate tissue for transformation of cells in the tissue using needleless injection techniques. The method can be used to deliver therapeutically relevant nucleotide sequences to cells in mammalian tissue to provide gene therapy, elicit immunity or to provide antisense or ribozyme functions. A method for providing densified processed pharmaceutical compositions is also described. The method is used to convert non-dense pharmaceutical powders or particulate formulations into densified particles optimally suited for transdermal delivery using a needleless syringe. The method is also used to optimize the density and particle size of powders and particulate formulations for subsequent transdermal delivery thereof. Densified pharmaceutical compositions formed by the present methods are also provided.