Nanoparticulate compositions of immunosuppressive agents

Abstract

There is disclosed an aerosol comprising droplets of an aqueous dispersion of nanoparticles, said nanoparticles comprising insoluble therapeutic or diagnostic agent particles having a surface modifier on the surface thereof. There is also disclosed a method for making the aerosol and methods for treatment and diagnosis using the aerosol.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical composition of an immunosuppressive agent comprising solid particles of the agent coated with one or more surface modifiers, wherein the particles have an average effective particle size of less than about 50 nm to less than about 1000 nm. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of: anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, surface active biological modifiers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the surface modifier is selected from the group consisting of: alkyl sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, triethanolamine stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium dodecylsulfate, alkyl polyoxyethylene sulfates, sodium alginate, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, calcium carboxymethylcellulose, benzalkonium chloride, phosphatidylglycerol, polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, sorbitan esters, glycerol monostearate, polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, cetyl alcohol, cetostearyl alcohol, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymers, polaxamines, methylcellulose, hydroxy propylcellulose, hydroxy propylmethylcellulose and noncrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the surface modifier is a phospholipid. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the surface active biological modifier is a protein. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the protein is casein. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the surface modifier comprises a copolymer of oxyethylene and oxypropylene. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the copolymer of oxyethylene and oxypropylene is a block copolymer. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 11 , further comprising a pH adjusting agent. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the immunosuppressive agent is beclomethasone.