Nanoparticulate megestrol formulations

Abstract

The present invention is directed to nanoparticulate compositions comprising megestrol. The megestrol particles of the composition have an effective average particle size of less than about 2000 nm.

1 . A megestrol nanoparticulate composition comprising:
 (a) particles of megestrol, megestrol acetate, or a salt thereof; and   (b) associated with the surface thereof at least one surface stabilizer,   wherein the megestrol particles have an effective average particle size of less than about 2000 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the megestrol is selected from the group consisting of a crystalline phase, an amorphous phase, a semi-crystalline phase, a semi-amorphous phase, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the effective average particle size of the nanoparticulate megestrol particles is selected from the group consisting of less than about 1900 nm, less than about 1800 nm, less than about 1700 nm, less than about 1600 nm, less than about 1500 nm, less than about 1400 nm, less than about 1300 nm, less than about 1200 nm, less than about 1100 nm, less than about 1000 nm, less than about 900 nm, less than about 800 nm, less than about 700 nm, less than about 600 nm, less than about 500 nm, less than about 400 nm, less than about 300 nm, less than about 250 nm, less than about 200 nm, less than about 100 nm, less than about 75 nm, and less than about 50 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated for administration selected from the group consisting of oral, pulmonary, rectal, opthalmic, colonic, parenteral, intracisternal, intravaginal, intraperitoneal, local, buccal, nasal, and topical administration. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated into a dosage form selected from the group consisting of liquid dispersions, gels, aerosols, ointments, creams, controlled release formulations, fast melt formulations, lyophilized formulations, tablets, capsules, delayed release formulations, extended release formulations, pulsatile release formulations, and mixed immediate release and controlled release formulations. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, carriers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the megestrol is present in an amount selected from the group consisting of from about 99.5% to about 0.001%, from about 95% to about 0.1%, and from about 90% to about 0.5%, by weight, based on the total combined weight of the megestrol and at least one surface stabilizer, not including other excipients. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface stabilizer is present in an amount selected from the group consisting of from about 0.5% to about 99.999%, from about 5.0% to about 95%, and from about 10% to about 99.5%, by weight, based on the total combined dry weight of the megestrol and at least one surface stabilizer, not including other excipients. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising at least two surface stabilizers, including a primary and a secondary surface stabilizer. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein at least one surface stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and random copolymers of vinyl acetate and vinyl pyrrolidone. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein at least one surface stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of sodium lauryl sulfate and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein at least one secondary surface stabilizer is present in an amount selected from the group consisting of from about 0.01% to about 99%, from about 0.1% to about 95%, and from about 1% to about 90%, by weight, based on the total combined dry weight of the megestrol, at least one primary surface stabilizer, and at least one secondary surface stabilizer, not including other excipients. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the surface stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of an anionic surface stabilizer, a cationic surface stabilizer, an ionic surface stabilizer, and a zwitterionic surface stabilizer. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one surface stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of cetyl pyridinium chloride, gelatin, casein, phosphatides, dextran, glycerol, gum acacia, cholesterol, tragacanth, stearic acid, benzalkonium chloride, calcium stearate, glycerol monostearate, cetostearyl alcohol, cetomacrogol emulsifying wax, sorbitan esters, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene castor oil derivatives, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyethylene glycols, dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, polyoxyethylene stearates, colloidal silicon dioxide, phosphates, sodium dodecylsulfate, carboxymethylcellulose calcium, hydroxypropyl celluloses, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose phthalate, noncrystalline cellulose, magnesium aluminum silicate, triethanolamine, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenol polymer with ethylene oxide and formaldehyde, poloxamers; poloxamines, a charged phospholipid, dioctylsulfosuccinate, dialkylesters of sodium sulfosuccinic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, alkyl aryl polyether sulfonates, mixtures of sucrose stearate and sucrose distearate, p-isononylphenoxypoly-(glycidol), decanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-decyl β-D-glucopyranoside; n-decyl β-D-maltopyranoside; n-dodecyl β-D-glucopyranoside; n-dodecyl β-D-maltoside; heptanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-heptyl-β-D-glucopyranoside; n-heptyl β-D-thioglucoside; n-hexyl β-D-glucopyranoside; nonanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-noyl β-D-glucopyranoside; octanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside; octyl β-D-thioglucopyranoside; lysozyme, PEG-phospholipid, PEG-cholesterol, PEG-cholesterol derivative, PEG-vitamin A, PEG-vitamin E, and random copolymers of vinyl acetate and vinyl pyrrolidone. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one cationic surface stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a biopolymer, a polysaccharide, a cellulosic, an alginate, a nonpolymeric compound, and a phospholipid. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the surface stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate trimethylammonium bromide, polyvinylpyrrolidone-2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate dimethyl sulfate, hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, cationic lipids, sulfonium compounds, phosphonium compounds, quarternary ammonium compounds, benzyl-di(2-chloroethyl)ethylammonium bromide, coconut trimethyl ammonium chloride, coconut trimethyl ammonium bromide, coconut methyl dihydroxyethyl ammonium chloride, coconut methyl dihydroxyethyl ammonium bromide, decyl triethyl ammonium chloride, decyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride, decyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride bromide, C 12-15 -dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride, C 12-15 dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride bromide, coconut dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium chloride, coconut dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium bromide, myristyl trimethyl ammonium methyl sulphate, lauryl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, lauryl dimethyl benzyl ammonium bromide, lauryl dimethyl (ethenoxy) 4  ammonium chloride, lauryl dimethyl (ethenoxy) 4  ammonium bromide, N-alkyl (C 12-18 )dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, N-alkyl (C 14-18 )dimethyl-benzyl ammonium chloride, N-tetradecylidmethylbenzyl ammonium chloride monohydrate, dimethyl didecyl ammonium chloride, N-alkyl and (C 12-14 ) dimethyl 1-napthylmethyl ammonium chloride, trimethylammonium halide, alkyl-trimethylammonium salts, dialkyl-dimethylammonium salts, lauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride, ethoxylated alkyamidoalkyldialkylammonium salt, an ethoxylated trialkyl ammonium salt, dialkylbenzene dialkylammonium chloride, N-didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, N-tetradecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium, chloride monohydrate, N-alkyl(C 12-14 ) dimethyl 1-naphthylmethyl ammonium chloride, dodecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, dialkyl benzenealkyl ammonium chloride, lauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride, alkylbenzyl methyl ammonium chloride, alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium bromide, C 12  trimethyl ammonium bromides, C 15  trimethyl ammonium bromides, C 17  trimethyl ammonium bromides, dodecylbenzyl triethyl ammonium chloride, poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC), dimethyl ammonium chlorides, alkyldimethylammonium halogenides, tricetyl methyl ammonium chloride, decyltrimethylammonium bromide, dodecyltriethylammonium bromide, tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide, methyl trioctylammonium chloride, POLYQUAT 10™, tetrabutylammonium bromide, benzyl trimethylammonium bromide, choline esters, benzalkonium chloride, stearalkonium chloride compounds, cetyl pyridinium bromide, cetyl pyridinium chloride, halide salts of quaternized polyoxyethylalkylamines, MIRAPOL™, ALKAQUAT™, alkyl pyridinium salts; amines, amine salts, amine oxides, imide azolinium salts, protonated quaternary acrylamides, methylated quaternary polymers, lysozyme, and cationic guar. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the composition is bioadhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of megestrol is selected from the group consisting of 3 percent by weight, 5 percent by weight, and 9 percent by weight. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , additionally comprising hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate as surface stabilizers. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a megestrol composition having an effective average particle size of greater than about 2 microns. 
     
     
         21 .- 112 . (canceled)