A recently published study, by the RealHOPE researcher Anna Kjellström, investigated how transport methods affect particle formation in trastuzumab solutions, a protein drug, delivered in polyolefin bags with saline solution in hospitals. To understand the effects on particle formation, two transport alternatives were compared: transport via a pneumatic tubing system and via truck, using hospital porters with an electric platform truck through an underground tunnel system. Both transport methods were tracked using smart labels.
The study also tested two strategies to reduce particle formation: removing the headspace (the air space in the bag) and adding the surfactant polysorbate 20. The results showed that the pneumatic tubing system led to higher levels of shocks and vibrations compared to truck delivery. Furthermore, particle formation increased more with pneumatic tubing than with truck transport.
Removing the headspace was found to reduce particle formation in both transport methods. Adding the surfactant (polysorbate 20) reduced particles over 10 µm but led to an increase in the total particle count. Finally, the results indicated that the pneumatic tubing system led to the highest particle levels, and surfactants were insufficient to completely eliminate particle formation in the transported solutions.
In conclusion, the results suggest that removing headspace could be a useful measure to prevent particle formation in drip bags and should be considered as part of preparation routines.
For further details, you can access the full study.
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Pneumatic tube transport of trastuzumab in IV bags—Effect of headspace and surfactant on subvisible particle formation – ScienceDirect
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