Dry powders of metal-containing compounds

Abstract

Dry powders of metal-containing compounds are disclosed. Methods of preparing and using the dry powders, particularly in the treatment of a subject having a condition, are also disclosed. The metal-containing material can be, for example, an antimicrobial material, an antibacterial material, an anti-inflammatory material, an anti-fungal material, an anti-viral material, an anti-cancer material, a pro-apoptosis material, and/or an MMP modulating material. In certain embodiments, the metal-containing material is an atomically disordered, silver-containing material.

1 . A method of treating a subject having a condition, comprising: 
 contacting an area of the subject having the condition with a nanocrystalline metal-containing compound by injecting a free-standing powder of the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound into the subject.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of metals and alloys.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal borides, metal halides and metal hydrides.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing compound comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, platinum and palladium.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing compound comprises silver.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing compound comprises an ionic compound.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing compound comprises atoms, molecules or clusters.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing compound comprises an atomically disordered, crystalline compound.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing compound comprises an antimicrobial compound.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is selected from skin conditions and integument conditions.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of a burn, eczema, erythroderma, an insect bite, mycosis fungoides, pyoderma gangrenosum, eythrema multiforme, rosacea, onychomyocosis, acne, psoriasis, Reiter's syndrome, pityriasis rubra pilaris, hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, hypertropic scarring, keloid, lichen plainus, age related skin disorders and hyperproliferative variants of the disorders of keratinization.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition comprises a respiratory condition.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the respiratory condition is selected from the group consisting of lupus pneumonitis, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary atelectasis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, sinusitis, pharyngitis, mucositis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition comprises a musculo-skeletal condition.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the musculo-skeletal condition is selected from the group consisting of tendonitis, osteomyelitis, fibromyalgia, bursitis and arthritis.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition comprises a circulatory condition.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the circulatory condition is selected from the group consisting of arteriosclerosis, septicemia, leukemia, ischemic vascular disease, lymphangitis and atherosclerosis.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition comprises cancer.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of tumors and hematologic malignancies.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the area of the subject is selected from the group consisting of a hyperplastic tissue, a tumor tissue and a cancerous lesion.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the method induces apoptosis at the area of the subject.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the method modulates matrix metalloproteinases at the area of the subject.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition is selected from mucosal conditions and serosal conditions.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of pericarditis, Bowen's disease, prostatitis, sinusitis, digestive disorders, toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome, Stevens Johnson syndrome, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, common cold, ear infections, sore throat, sexually transmitted diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, hemorrhoids, thrush, dental conditions, oral conditions, conjunctivitis, and periodontal conditions.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the free-standing powder is injected with a needleless injector.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the free-standing powder has an average particle size of about two microns or less.  
     
     
         33 . A method of treating a subject having a condition, comprising: 
 contacting an area of the subject having the condition with a nanocrystalline metal-containing compound by inhaling a free-standing powder of the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of metals and alloys.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal borides, metal halides and metal hydrides.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, platinum and palladium.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises silver.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises an ionic compound.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises atoms, molecules or clusters.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises an atomically disordered, crystalline compound.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises an antimicrobial compound.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition is selected from skin conditions and integument conditions.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of a burn, eczema, erythroderma, an insect bite, mycosis fungoides, pyoderma gangrenosum, eythrema multiforme, rosacea, onychomyocosis, acne, psoriasis, Reiter's syndrome, pityriasis rubra pilaris, hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, hypertropic scarring, keloid, lichen plainus, age related skin disorders and hyperproliferative variants of the disorders of keratinization.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition comprises a respiratory condition.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the respiratory condition is selected from the group consisting of lupus pneumonitis, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary atelectasis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, sinusitis, pharyngitis, mucositis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition comprises a musculo-skeletal condition.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the musculo-skeletal condition is selected from the group consisting of tendonitis, osteomyelitis, fibromyalgia, bursitis and arthritis.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition comprises a circulatory condition.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the circulatory condition is selected from the group consisting of arteriosclerosis, septicemia, leukemia, ischemic vascular disease, lymphangitis and atherosclerosis.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition comprises cancer.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of tumors and hematologic malignancies.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the area of the subject is selected from the group consisting of a hyperplastic tissue, a tumor tissue and a cancerous lesion.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the method induces apoptosis at the area of the subject.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the method modulates matrix metalloproteinases at the area of the subject.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition is selected from mucosal conditions and serosal conditions.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of bacterial conditions, microbial conditions, inflammatory conditions, fungal conditions, viral conditions, autoimmune conditions, idiopathic conditions, noncancerous growths and cancerous conditions.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of pericarditis, Bowen's disease, prostatitis, sinusitis, digestive disorders, toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome, Stevens Johnson syndrome, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, common cold, ear infections, sore throat, sexually transmitted diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, hemorrhoids, thrush, dental conditions, oral conditions, conjunctivitis, and periodontal conditions.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the free-standing powder is inhaled with a dry powder inhaler.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the free-standing powder has an average particle size of about two microns or less.  
     
     
         65 . A method of treating a subject having a condition, comprising: 
 contacting an area of the subject having the condition with a nanocrystalline metal-containing compound by inhaling a free-standing powder of the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound.    
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of metals and alloys.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal borides, metal halides and metal hydrides.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, platinum and palladium.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises silver.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises an ionic compound.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises atoms, molecules or clusters.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the nanocrystalline metal-containing compound comprises an antimicrobial compound.