Compositions and methods for administration of an enzyme to a subject's airway

Abstract

Methods and composition for delivery of enzymes to a subject's airway. In some aspects, nebulized composition of enzymes, such as plasminogen activators are provided. In further aspects perfluorocarbon compositions comprising enzymes, such as plasminogen activators are provided. Compositions may, in some aspects, be used for the treatment of lung infections or acute lung injury, such as inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing an enzyme solution for administration to a subject's airway comprising nebulizing the enzyme solution to provide a nebulized solution. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme is a plasminogen activator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plasminogen activator is a single chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scuPA) or a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plasminogen activator is a scuPA. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein nebulizing the enzyme solution is by using a vibrating mesh nebulizer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the vibrating mesh nebulizer is an AERONEB® Professional Nebulizer or an EZ Breathe Atomizer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said nebulizing does not comprise use of a jet nebulizer or an ultrasonic nebulizer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme solution is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the enzyme solution comprises a physiologically acceptable salt concentration. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the enzyme solution comprises a pH buffering agent. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the enzyme solution is phosphate buffered saline (PBS). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the enzyme solution comprises scuPA. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein nebulizing the enzyme solution comprises:
 (i) obtaining a lyophilized enzyme composition;   (ii) reconstituting the lyophilized enzyme composition in an aqueous solution to provide an enzyme solution; and   (iii) nebulizing the enzyme solution.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein nebulizing the enzyme solution comprises providing sufficient nebulization energy and/or time to provide a nebulized solution having a median droplet size of between about 2.5 μm and 10 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein nebulizing the enzyme solution comprises providing sufficient nebulization energy and/or time to provide a nebulized solution having a median droplet size of between about 2.5 μm and 8 μm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein nebulizing the enzyme solution comprises providing sufficient nebulization energy and/or time to provide a nebulized solution having a median droplet size of between about 3.0 μm and 6 μm. 
     
     
         17 . A nebulized enzyme solution produced by a method according to any one of  claims 1  to  16 . 
     
     
         18 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  16 , further comprising administering the nebulized solution to the airway of a subject in need thereof 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the subject has an acute lung injury or infection. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising administering the nebulized solution to the airway of a subject having a chemical-induced lung injury. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising administering the nebulized solution to the airway of a subject having plastic bronchitis, asthma or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising administering the nebulized solution to a subject having inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI). 
     
     
         23 . A method of treating inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI) in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a nebulized plasminogen activator via an airway, wherein the plasminogen activator is nebulized using a vibrating mesh nebulizer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the plasminogen activator is a single chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scuPA) or a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the plasminogen activator is a scuPA. 
     
     
         26 . A composition comprising a nebulized solution of single chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scuPA) or a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the solution is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the solution comprises a physiologically acceptable salt concentration. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the solution comprises a pH buffering agent. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the solution is phosphate buffered saline (PBS). 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 26 , comprising scuPA. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the nebulized solution has a median particle size of between about 2.5 μm and 10 μm. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the nebulized solution has a median particle size of between about 2.5 μm and 8 μm. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the nebulized solution has a median particle size of between about 3.0 μm and 6 μm. 
     
     
         35 . A composition for use in the treatment of acute lung injury or lung infection, said composition comprising a nebulized solution in accordance with any one of  claims 26 - 34 . 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 35 , for use in the treatment of chemical-induced lung injury, plastic bronchitis, asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI). 
     
     
         37 . A composition for use in the treatment of inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI), said composition comprising a nebulized solution in accordance with any one of  claims 26 - 34 . 
     
     
         38 . A composition comprising a plasminogen activator and a perfluorocarbon. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the plasminogen activator is a single chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scuPA) or a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the plasminogen activator is a scuPA. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the perfluorocarbon comprises a cycloalkyl group. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is selected from perfluorodecalin and perfluoro-octylbromide. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the perfluorocarbon comprises perfluorodecalin. 
     
     
         44 . A composition for use in the treatment of acute lung injury or infection infection, said composition comprising a composition in accordance with any one of  claims 38 - 43 . 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 44 , for use in the treatment of chemical-induced lung injury, plastic bronchitis, asthma, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI). 
     
     
         46 . A composition for use in the treatment of inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI), said composition comprising a composition in accordance with any one of  claims 38 - 43 . 
     
     
         47 . A method for treating a subject having a lung infection or lung injury, comprising administering an effective amount of a composition in accordance with any one of  claims 38 - 43  to the airway of the subject. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the subject has chemical-induced lung injury. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the subject has plastic bronchitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI). 
     
     
         50 . A method for treating a subject having inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI) comprising administering an effective amount of a composition in accordance with any one of  claims 38 - 43  to the airway of the subject. 
     
     
         51 . A method of treating inhalational smoke induced acute lung injury (ISALI) in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a plasminogen activator and a perfluorocarbon. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the plasminogen activator is a single chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scuPA) or a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the plasminogen activator is a scuPA. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the perfluorocarbon is selected from perfluorodecalin and perfluoro-octylbromide. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the perfluorocarbon comprises perfluorodecalin.