Abstract: Disclosed are methods of intravenous administration of nanoparticulate drug formulations to a mammal to avoid adverse hemodynamic effects: by reducing the rate and concentration of the nanoparticles in the formulations; or by pre-treating the subject with histamine; or by pretreating the subject with a desensitizing amount of the nanoparticulate drug formulations.

Abstract: There is disclosed an aerosol comprising droplets of an aqueous dispersion of nanoparticles, said nanoparticles comprising insoluble beclomethazone particles having a surface modifier on the surface thereof. There is also disclosed a method for making the aerosol and methods for treatment using the aerosol.

Abstract: There is described a composition comprised of nanoparticles of a therapeutic agent having a surface modifier adsorbed on the surface thereof. The present composition is characterized in that the therapeutic agent is ibuprofen or fenoprofen which is substantially enriched in the R(-) enantiomer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition which gels at physiological temperature. The composition is comprised of a block copolymer containing one or more polyoxyethylene blocks and one or more polyoxy (higher alkylene) blocks wherein at least some of the blocks are linked together by a linking group characterised in that the linking group is an oxymethylene group, and a therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent is present as (i) nanoparticles of the therapeutic agent having the block copolymer adsorbed on the surface thereof, (ii) a suspension in a solution of the block copolymer, or (iii) as an aqueous solution in a solution of the block copolymer.

Abstract: This invention describes the coprecipitation of nanoparticulate pharmaceutical agent dispersion via a process that comprises the dissolution of the said pharmaceutical agent in combination with a crystal growth modifier (CGM) in an alkaline solution and then neutralizing the said solution with an acid in the presence of suitable surface-modifying surface-active agent or agents to form a fine particle dispersion of the said pharmaceutical agent, followed by steps of diafiltration clean-up of the dispersion and then concentration of it to a desired level. This process of dispersion preparation leads to microcrystalline particles of Z-average diameters smaller than 400 nm as measured by photon correlation spectroscopy. Various modification of precipitation schemes are described, many of which are suitable for large-scale manufacture of these agent dispersions.

Abstract: It has been known that administration of pharmaceutical agents (both diagnostic and therapeutic) with poor water solubility in the form of particles less than 400 nm in diameter produces agent formulation with increased bioavailibility. Bioavailability being proportional to the surface area, increases with reduction of particle size of the dispersed agent. We have discovered that chemical derivatization of certain photographic coupler molecules with chemical moiety that are capable of functioning as pharmaceutical agents (both diagnostic and therapeutic) is amenable to the preparation of nanoparticulate pharmaceutical agent dispersions via a process that comprises the dissolution of the said pharmaceutical agent in an alkaline solution and then neutralizing the said solution with an acid in the presence of a suitable surface-modifying, surface-active agent to form an ultra fine particle dispersion of the said pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of x-ray diagnostic imaging the blood pool, liver, spleen, and/or lymph system of a mammal comprising administering a contrast effective amount of a mixed carbonic anhydride as a contrast agent having the structure ##STR1## X is H, NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 or CONR.sup.1 R.sup.3, R.sup.1 is H or alkylR.sup.2 is COR.sup.3R.sup.3 is H, alkyl, hydroxyl-substituted alkyl, aryl or a steroidially derived moietyY is NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 or CONR.sup.1 R.sup.3 and ##STR2## Z is OR.sup.3 or This invention further relates to novel mixed carbonic anhydride contrast agents having the above structure and to x-ray contrast compositions comprising such agents, and to methods of x-ray diagnostic imaging utilizing such agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are x-ray contrast compositions for oral or retrograde examination of the gastrointestinal tract comprising nanoparticles of a barium salt having associated with its surface non-ionic and anionic stabilizers; and methods for their use in diagnostic radiology of the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: Dispersible particles consisting essentially of crystalline NSAID having hydroxypropyl cellulose adsorbed on the surface thereof in an amount sufficient to maintain an effective average particle size of less than about 1000 nm. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the particles exhibit unexpectedly reduced gastric irritation following oral administration and/or hastened onset of action.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition comprised of nanoparticles containing a therapeutic or diagnostic agent having a nonionic polymeric surfactant as a surface modifier adsorbed on the surface thereof, the surfactant being a block copolymer of ethylene oxide and butylene oxide and a method of making such nanoparticles. The compositions exhibit reduced macrophage uptake and improved toxicological profiles and facilitate particle size reduction such that milling time can be reduced and/or sterile filtration of the nanoparticles can be accomplished.

Abstract: Nanoparticulate crystalline therapeutic substances formulated with stabilizers and pharmaceutically acceptable clays to enhance contact between the crystalline therapeutic substances and the gastrointestinal tract and to provide extended therapeutic effect.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of x-ray diagnostic imaging the blood pool, liver, spleen and/or lymph system of a mammal comprising administering a contrast effective amount of a contrast agent having the structure: ##STR1## wherein: X is O, S or NR.sup.4 ;R.sup.3 is alkyl containing 1 to 17 carbon atoms or (CH.sub.2).sub.w CO.sub.2 R.sup.5 ;and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, n and w are as defined herein.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition containing nanoparticles having a surface modifier wherein the surface modifier is a block copolymer containing one or more polyoxyethylene blocks and one or more polyoxy(higher alkylene) blocks wherein at least some of the blocks are linked together by a linking group characterized in that the linking group is an oxymethylene group.

Abstract: Dispersible particles consisting essentially of a crystalline NSAID having a surface modifier adsorbed on the surface thereof in an amount sufficient to maintain an effective average particle size of less than about 400 nm. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the particles exhibit reduced gastric irritation following oral administration and/or hastened onset of action.

Abstract: A process of preparing nanoparticulate contrast agents comprising the steps of:preparing a premix of the contrast agent and a surface modifier; andsubjecting the premix to mechanical means to reduce the particle size of the contrast agent, the mechanical means producing shear, impact, cavitation and attrition.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of x-ray diagnostic imaging the blood pool and/or lymph system of a mammal comprising administering a contrast effective amount of a particulate iodinated aroyloxy ester contrast agent having the structure: ##STR1## wherein n is an integer from 3 to 20; R.sup.1 is H, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxyalkyl or acetamidoalkyl;R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently H, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, hydroxy, acylamino, acetamidoalkyl, --COO-alkyl, --COO-aryl, --COO-aralkyl, cyano, sulfonyl, carboxamido or sulfonamido;R.sup.5 is H, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, halogen, hydroxy, acylamino, acetamidoalkyl, cyano, sulfonyl, carboxamido or sulfonamido;R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl; andR.sup.8 and R.sup.9 are independently H or --COR.sup.6.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of x-ray diagnostic imaging the blood pool, liver, spleen and/or lymph system of a mammal comprising administering a contrast effective amount of a contrast agent having the structure: ##STR1## wherein: R is alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl having from 6 to 11 carbon atoms, or R.sup.1 CO.sub.2 R.sup.2 andR.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently alkyl containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms.This invention further relates to novel contrast agents having the above structure wherein both Rs are alkyl to x-ray contrast compositions comprising such agents, and to method of x-ray diagnostic imaging utilizing such agents.

Abstract: A composition comprising a crystalline NSAID having polyvinylpyrrolidone adsorbed on the surface thereof in an amount sufficient to maintain an effective average particle size of less than about 1000 nm, hygroscopic sugar and sodium lauryl sulfate exhibit greatly reduced gastric irritation following oral administration and/or hastened onset of action due to the substantial redispersion of the solid formulation to nanoparticles in gastric fluid.