Assessment of absorption potential of poorly water-soluble drugs by using the dissolution/permeation system

This study aims to assess the absorption potential of oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs by using the dissolution/permeation system (D/P system). The D/P system can be used to perform analysis of drug permeation under dissolution process and can predict the fraction of absorbed dose in humans. When celecoxib at 1/100 of a clinical dose was applied to the D/P system, percentage of dose dissolved and permeated significantly decreased with an increase in the applied amount, resulting in the oral absorption being predicted to be 22–55%. Whereas similar dissolution and permeation profiles of montelukast sodium were observed, estimated absorption (69–85%) was slightly affected. Zafirlukast absorption (33–36%) was not significantly affected by the dose, although zafirlukast did not show complete dissolution. The relationship between clinical dose and predicted oral absorption of drugs corresponded well to clinical observations. The limiting step of the oral absorption of celecoxib and montelukast sodium was solubility, while that of zafirlukast was dissolution rate. However, due to high permeability of montelukast, oral absorption was not affected by dose. Therefore, the D/P system is a useful tool to assess the absorption potential of poorly water-soluble drugs for oral use.     

Effect of food intake on the oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs: in vitro assessment of drug dissolution and permeation assay system

The aim of the present work was to establish appropriate conditions for the dissolution/permeation system (D/P system) to estimate the effect of food intake on oral drug absorption. The D/P system is an in vitro assay system to evaluate the drug dissolution and permeation processes after oral administration. Caco-2 monolayer was used as a model membrane of the intestinal epithelium. In this study, two types of simulated intestinal fluid reflecting the fasted and the fed state conditions of the human gastrointestinal tract were used. Drugs were applied to the D/P system as a powder, then, permeated amounts of drugs into the basal side were monitored. A sigmoidal correlation was obtained between in vivo oral absorption (% absorbed of dose) and in vitro permeated amount (% of dose/2 h) under both states. From the D/P system, the estimated absorption of albendazole in both states was found to correspond well with in vivo observation. Moreover, the D/P system could estimate the effect of self-emulsifying formulation on the oral absorption of danazol, quantitatively. In conclusion, the D/P system was proved to be a useful assay system not only for the oral absorption of drugs, but also for the food effect on the absorption.     

IVIVC in oral absorption for fenofibrate immediate release tablets using a dissolution/permeation system

The usefulness of a dissolution/permeation (D/P) system to predict the in vivo performance of solid dosage forms containing the poorly soluble drug, fenofibrate, was studied. Biorelevant dissolution media simulating the fasted and fed state conditions of the human gastrointestinal tract were used in order to simulate the effect of food on the absorption of fenofibrate. Moreover, the results obtained from the D/P system were correlated with pharmacokinetic parameters obtained following in vivo studies in rats. The in vitro parameter (amount permeated in the D/P system) reflected well the in vivo performance in rats in terms of AUC and C(max) of fenofibric acid. This study thus demonstrates the potential of the D/P system as valuable tool for absorption screening of dosage forms for poorly soluble drugs.     

In Vitro System to Evaluate Oral Absorption of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs: Simultaneous Analysis on Dissolution and Permeation of Drugs

Purpose. The aim of the present work was to develop a new in vitro system to evaluate oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs by utilizing Caco-2 monolayers. Methods. Caco-2 monolayer was mounted between side-by-side chambers, which enabled the simultaneous assay of dissolution and permeation of drugs (dissolution/permeation system; D/P system). Apical and basal sides of the chamber were filled with buffer solutions. Drugs were applied to the apical side as powder, suspension, or solution, and then, the permeated amounts into the basal side were monitored for 2 h. At the same time, dissolved amounts of drugs at the apical side were detected. The amount of drug applied to the D/P system was based on its in vivo clinical dose. Results. Sodium taurocholate (5 mM, apical side) and bovine serum albumin (4.5% w/v, basal side) increased the permeated amount of poorly water-soluble drugs. Both additives were considered to be effective at mimicking in vivo conditions of intestinal drug absorption. From the correlation between the permeated amount of 13 drugs (% dose/2 h) in the D/P system and their percentage dose absorbed in humans in vivo, this system was found to be useful in evaluating oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs. Conclusions. With attempts made to mimic the physiologic conditions of the human GI tract, in vivo oral absorption of drugs was quantitatively assessed in the D/P system in vitro. This system is quite useful to predict the oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs after administration as solid dosage forms.     

Integrating drug permeability with dissolution profile to develop IVIVC

In this review article, three different approaches to predict in vivo oral absorption based on the in vitro data of drug permeability, solubility and dissolution were introduced. At the drug discovery stage, the absorption potential of each candidate is most important to select better compounds for further development. The concept of maximum absorbable dose is applied widely, not only to evaluate the absorption potential but also to elucidate the rate-limiting process of oral absorption that helps us to understand the cause of poor absorption. To integrate the permeability of the drug with its dissolution profile, two different approaches, in vitro dissolution/permeation system (D/P system) and in silico model and simulation method, are proposed. In the D/P system, by mimicking the in vivo process of drug absorption, the permeated amount of drugs, that is the total output of dissolution and permeation processes, are correlated with the fraction absorbed in human (F(a) ). This system is powerful for evaluating the improved absorption by various formulations and the effect of food intake. On the other hand, in the model and simulation approach, an intrinsic dissolution parameter of drug particle, z, was extracted from the small scale in vitro test and the process of intestinal absorption was re-constructed in silico by incorporating the physiological parameters in human. The effective use of these approaches for the development of oral drug products is discussed through various case studies. Copyright ? 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of drug precipitation of solubility-enhancing liquid formulations using milligram quantities of a new molecular entity (NME)

A precipitation screening method using a 96-well microtiter plate was developed to evaluate in vitro drug precipitation kinetics of liquid formulations for poorly water-soluble compounds, using milligram quantities of compounds and milliliter volumes of biorelevant media. By using this method we identified three formulations showing distinct in vitro precipitation kinetics (fast, slow, and no precipitation) for a model new molecular entity (JNJ-25894934). The in vitro precipitation profiles in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF), and fed state simulated intestinal fluid (FeSSIF) were compared with those measured by a USP dissolution method, and with in vivo absorption at the fasted and fed states in canine pharmacokinetic (PK) studies. The precipitation kinetics of all three formulations in the initial hours measured by the screening method correlated to those determined by the USP method (R(2) = 0.96). The PK results showed that the fast-precipitation formulation had the lowest bioavailability. However, a similar bioavailability was observed for the slow- and no-precipitation formulations. The oral bioavailability of JNJ-25894934 at the fed state was also significantly higher than that at the fasted state for all three formulations (p < 0.05). In addition, the in vitro precipitation profiles in FeSSIF correlated better with in vivo absorption than those in SIF and FaSSIF.     

UV-spectrophotometry study of membrane transport processes with a novel diffusion cell

A new system for prediction of drug absorption that takes into account drug dissolution and pH change in the gastro-intestinal tract was developed. In this new system, a drug (solid form) is added into a drug-dissolving vessel (pH 1.0) and the dissolved drug is transferred to a pH adjustment vessel (pH 6.0). Then the drug solution is transferred to the apical surface of Caco-2 cells, and the permeation rate of the drug across a Caco-2 monolayer is determined. This system was able to predict the oral absorption ratios of ten water-soluble drugs in humans. Using this system, it was predicted that drugs that permeated Caco-2 at a rate of more than 0.1% of the dose in 200 min would be almost completely absorbed after oral administration in humans. For a drug whose permeation ratio was less than 0.03%, the absorption ratio was predicted to be less than 30%. This system also enabled prediction of the absorption rate and variability in the absorption of albendazole, a drug with poor water solubility. It also enabled assessment of the improvement in absorption using a solid dispersion of albendazole-polymers that improved the water solubility. The results suggest that this system is useful for oral absorption screening of new drugs and pharmaceutical products.     

Coaxial electrospray formulations for improving oral absorption of a poorly water-soluble drug

Development of oral dosage forms containing poorly water-soluble drugs is a major challenge in the pharmaceutical industry. This paper describes the use of coaxial electrospray deposition as a promising formulation technology for oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs. The technology produced core-shell particles composed of griseofulvin and poly(methacrylic acid-co-methyl methacrylate) (Eudragit L-100), with a diameter of around 1 μm. The drug phase was in an amorphous state when the griseofulvin core was coated with the Eudragit L-100 shell. The in vitro dissolution and in vivo oral absorption studies revealed that the core-shell formulation significantly improved dissolution and absorption behaviors, presumably because of a reduction in particle size, improvement in dispersity, and amorphization. Results demonstrated that coaxial electrospray deposition possesses great potential as novel formulation technology for enhancing oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs.     

Estimation of P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux in the oral absorption of P-gp substrate drugs from simultaneous analysis of drug dissolution and permeation

The purpose of this study was to establish an in vitro system that evaluates the effects of P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated efflux on the oral absorption of P-gp substrates. An in vitro system (dissolution/permeation system, D/P system) was developed that consisted of apical and basal chambers and a Caco-2 cell monolayer mounted between the chambers. Both sides of the monolayer were filled with physiological solution and were stirred at 200rpm. The dissolution in the apical medium and permeation to the basal medium were monitored for 2h after P-gp substrates were applied to the apical side of the system. When erythromycin existed in the apical medium, the permeations of fexofenadine and talinolol were significantly enhanced without change in their dissolution. The prediction of oral absorptions of fexofenadine and talinolol from in vitro data indicated that co-administration of erythromycin results in 2.1- and 1.9-fold higher oral absorptions, respectively. Moreover, the D/P system could estimate the effect of cremophor EL on the oral absorption of saquinavir. These estimations corresponded well to in vivo human observations. Our in vitro system is useful in assessment of the effect of P-gp-mediated efflux on in vivo oral absorption of P-gp substrates.     

Enhancement of the dissolution rate and oral absorption of a poorly water soluble drug by formation of surfactant-containing microparticles

The slow dissolution rate exhibited by poorly water-soluble drugs is a major challenge in the drug development process. Following oral administration, drugs with slow dissolution rates generally show erratic and incomplete absorption which may lead to therapeutic failure. The aim of this study was to improve the dissolution rate and subsequently the oral absorption and bioavailability of a model poorly water-soluble drug. Microparticles containing the model drug (griseofulvin) were produced by spray drying the drug in the absence/presence of a hydrophilic surfactant. Poloxamer 407 was chosen as the hydrophilic surfactant to improve the particle wetting and hence the dissolution rate. The spray dried particles were characterized and in vitro dissolution studies and in vivo absorption studies were carried out. The results obtained showed that the dissolution rate and absolute oral bioavailability of the spray dried griseofulvin/Poloxamer 407 particles were significantly increased compared to the control. Although spray drying griseofulvin alone increased the drug's in vitro dissolution rate, no significant improvement was seen in the absolute oral bioavailability when compared to the control. Therefore, it is believed that the better wetting characteristics conferred by the hydrophilic surfactant was responsible for the enhanced dissolution rate and absolute oral bioavailability of the model drug.     

An in vitro system for prediction of oral absorption of relatively water-soluble drugs and ester prodrugs

We developed an in vitro system simulating the physiological condition in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract for prediction of oral absorption of relatively water-soluble drugs and ester prodrug pivampicillin. This evaluation system includes a drug-dissolving vessel (DDV, assumed stomach), a pH adjustment vessel (PAV, assumed intestine) and a side-by-side diffusion chamber that is mounted by a Caco-2 monolayer, which is grown on a polycarbonate filter, or by a rat intestine between the donor and receiver compartments. Our proposed system can accommodate large amounts of solid drugs, simulating a drastic pH change process in GI tract, that is, an orally administered solid drug is dissolved in the stomach (pH 1-2) and transferred to the intestine (pH 6), and that dissolution process can also be monitored. The optimal flow rates for our system are 0.35-1.10 ml/min. Using this system, cumulative permeations of eight relatively water-soluble drugs were compared, and these cumulative permeations indicated the ability of drug absorption in humans. Drugs that permeated across a Caco-2 monolayer at cumulative permeation of more than 0.03% or over 0.04% in rat intestine can be almost completely absorbed in humans. If the cumulative permeation across a Caco-2 monolayer is lower than 0.03% or below 0.04% in the rat intestine, there was a good linear correlation between cumulative permeation across a Caco-2 monolayer and oral absorption in humans, or between cumulative permeation across a rat intestine and oral absorption in humans. In the case of relatively water-soluble drugs, a good linear correlation was obtained between cumulative permeation across a Caco-2 monolayer and cumulative permeation across a rat intestine. This result indicates that it is possible to predict the oral absorption of a relatively water-soluble drug in humans based on the cumulative permeation of the drug across a Caco-2 monolayer and/or a rat intestine. The time course of permeation of the ester prodrug pivampicillin, which is metabolized in a Caco-2 monolayer or in a rat intestine, was also evaluated. It stated clearly that it is also possible to predict the oral absorption of pivampicillin in humans based on the cumulative permeation across a Caco-2 monolayer or rat intestine. Our newly developed system enables more kinds of oral preparations and also pH-dependent soluble drugs to be evaluated.     

Estimation of effective intestinal membrane permeability considering bile micelle solubilisation

In this study, the calculation method of effective intestinal membrane permeability (P(eff)) for bile micelle solubilised drugs was investigated. The intestinal membrane permeation is the tandem process of unstirred water layer (UWL, superimposes to the mucus layer) and epithelial cell membrane permeation. In most cases of lipophilic compounds, UWL permeation is the rate-limiting step. Four scenarios of UWL permeation were investigated: (A) only free drug permeates the UWL by self-diffusion, (B) both free drug and micelle bound drug permeate through the UWL by self-diffusion, (C) water convection carries the drug in addition to (B), and (D) both free drug and bile micelle bound drug permeate through the UWL by self-diffusion with the diffusion coefficient of the free monomer. Using danazol as a model drug, the simulation results of the four scenarios were compared with the observed fraction of a dose absorbed (Fa%) in fasted and fed state humans (fasted: 11-25%, fed: 44-72%). Scenario (A) largely underestimated the fraction of a dose absorbed (2% and 2% for fasted and fed, respectively). Scenarios (B) and (C) predicted the Fa% appropriately (B: 8% and 43%, C: 17% and 60%). Scenario (D) overestimated the Fa% (62% and 99%). The relationship between octanol-water partition coefficient and P(eff) was also investigated.     

Application of Dissolution/Permeation System for Evaluation of Formulation Effect on Oral Absorption of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs in Drug Development

Purpose

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the formulation effect on the oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs using a dissolution/permeation system (D/P system).

Methods

This D/P system, consisting of apical and basal chambers and a Caco-2 cell monolayer mounted between chambers, can be used to perform simultaneous analysis of drug dissolution and permeation process of drugs applied as various dosage forms. Oral administration study with rats was also performed for both drugs as the same dosage forms.

Results

When danazol, a low-soluble and high-permeable drug, was applied to the D/P system as various formulations, dissolved and permeated amounts were significantly high compared with those from a suspension form. On the other hand, whereas the dissolved amount of pranlukast, a low-soluble and low-permeable drug, was significantly increased by formulations, there were no significant changes observed in the permeated amount between suspension and formulation. The oral availability of danazol was significantly increased by formulations but not pranlukast, which corresponded well to in vitro evaluations.

Conclusion

These results indicated that the D/P system might be applicable for selection of formulation on the basis of physicochemical drug properties.     

Using a novel multicompartment dissolution system to predict the effect of gastric pH on the oral absorption of weak bases with poor intrinsic solubility

A novel multicompartment dissolution system was developed by modifying a conventional six-vessel United States Pharmacopoeia dissolution system to study the dissolution and possible precipitation of poorly soluble weak bases after oral administration. The modified system includes a "gastric" compartment, an "intestinal" compartment, an "absorption" compartment, and a reservoir to simulate the dissolution and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Dissolution profiles of 50-mg dipyridamole (pK(a) 6.0, 12.5) tablet (2 * 25 mg Persantine tablets), 25- and 50-mg cinnarizine (pK(a) 1.95, 7.5) powders, which are poorly soluble weak bases, were generated in the system using dissolution medium with different pHs in the "gastric" compartment. The in vitro dissolution results were compared with the in vivo oral exposure data in humans. For both dipyridamole and cinnarizine, the in vitro dissolution using the multicompartment system was able to predict the pH effect on oral exposure. The results from the multicompartment system are more closely correlated with the in vivo data, compared with that from the conventional dissolution test. The system showed that although both dipyridamole and cinnarizine completely dissolved in the gastric compartment at lower pH, approximately 36% (at 25-mg dose) and 40% (at 50-mg dose) of cinnarizine precipitated in the "intestinal" compartment whereas the precipitation of dipyridamole was <10% of the initial dose. The difference in the amount "absorbed" between these two compounds in vitro is therefore primarily attributed to the precipitation potential, although no in vivo data are available to confirm this result. The difference in the amount precipitated may be explained by the lower solubility and consequently higher degree of supersaturation of cinnarizine in the "intestinal" compartment.     

Investigating the Critical Variables of Azithromycin Oral Absorption Using In Vitro Tests and PBPK Modeling

Azithromycin is an antibiotic listed in the essential list of medicines for adults and pediatrics. Conflicting evidence has been found regarding azithromycin classification according to the Biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS). The purpose of this study was to identify the critical variables that influence the oral absorption of azithromycin in adults and pediatrics.Azithromycin solubility and dissolution studies (oral suspension) were performed in buffers and biorelevant media simulating the fasted and fed gastrointestinal tract. A PBPK model was developed for azithromycin for healthy adult volunteers and pediatrics (Simcyp® v18.2) informed by in vitro solubility and dissolution studies to predict drug performance after administration of azithromycin as an oral suspension.The developed PBPK model predicted azithromycin plasma concentrations-time profiles after administration of an oral suspension to adults and pediatrics. Sensitivity analysis of solubility vs dose suggests that absorption is independent of solubility within the therapeutic dose range in both adults and pediatrics. The developed PBPK model for adults and pediatrics was consistent with the mechanism of permeation through the intestinal membrane (passive and active processes) being the rate-limiting step of azithromycin's absorption.The physiologically based approach proposed was shown to be useful to determine the factors controlling drug absorption in adults and pediatrics.     

Prediction of dissolution-absorption relationships from a dissolution/Caco-2 system

While the analysis of in vitro dissolution-in vivo absorption relationships from oral solid dosage forms provides biopharmaceutical insight and regulatory benefit, no well developed method exists to predict dissolution-absorption relationships a priori to human studies. The objective was to develop an integrated dissolution/Caco-2 system to predict dissolution-absorption relationships, and hence the contributions of dissolution and intestinal permeation to overall drug absorption for fast and slow formulations of piroxicam, metoprolol, and ranitidine. Dissolution studies were conducted on fast and slow dissolving immediate-release formulations of piroxicam, metoprolol tartrate, and ranitidine HCl. Dissolution samples were treated with concentrated buffers to render them suitable (i.e., isotonic and neutral pH) for Caco-2 monolayer permeation studies. The dissolution/Caco-2 system yielded a predicted dissolution-absorption relationship for each formulation which matched the observed relationship from clinical studies. The dissolution/Caco-2 system's prediction of dissolution or permeation rate-limited absorption also agreed with the clinical results. For example, the dissolution/Caco-2 system successfully predicted the slow piroxicam formulation to be dissolution rate-limited, and the fast piroxicam formulation to be permeation rate-limited. Moreover, the system predicted this change from dissolution rate-limited absorption for slow piroxicam to permeation rate-limited absorption for fast piroxicam, in spite of piroxicam's high permeability and low solubility. The dissolution/Caco-2 system may prove to be a valuable tool in formulation development. Broader evaluation of such a system is warranted.     

A possibility to predict the absorbability of poorly water-soluble drugs in humans based on rat intestinal permeability assessed by an in vitro chamber method.

This paper describes a means to predict the absorbability of poorly water-soluble drugs in humans based on rat intestinal permeability assessed by the in vitro Ussing-type chamber method. We investigated the correlation between the apparent permeability coefficients (P(app)) of 10 water-soluble drugs obtained by the in vitro chamber method, in which the excised rat small intestinal tissue was used as the membrane, and the fractions absorbed (F(a)) in humans. Using this correlation, we predicted F(a) values of 5 poorly water-soluble drugs based on their P(app) obtained through our modified chamber method using an additive. For water-soluble drugs, a good correlation between P(app) and F(a') expressed by the equation: F(a) = 1 - exp(-P(app) x 1.51 x 10(5))(r(2) = 0.920), was found. The poorly water-soluble drugs used in the present study could be solubilized with 5% (final concentration) dimethylsulfoxide, and their P(app) could be obtained through our modified chamber method. For poorly water-soluble drugs whose dose:solubility ratio ranged from 2500 to 3500 ml, predicted F(a) values were favorably comparable with their F(a) values reported in humans in the literature. These results showed that the in vitro Ussing-type chamber method was a useful method for predicting the F(a) of poorly water-soluble drugs.     

Supersaturation-nucleation behavior of poorly soluble drugs and its impact on the oral absorption of drugs in thermodynamically high-energy forms

In order to better understand the oral absorption behavior of poorly water-soluble drugs, their supersaturation-nucleation behavior was characterized in fasted state simulated intestinal fluid. The induction time (t(ind)) for nucleation was measured for four model drugs: itraconazole, erlotinib, troglitazone, and PLX4032. Supersaturated solutions were prepared by solvent shift method, and nucleation initiation was monitored by ultraviolet detection. The relationship between t(ind) and degree of supersaturation was analyzed in terms of classical nucleation theory. The defined supersaturation stability proved to be compound specific. Clinical data on oral absorption were investigated for drugs in thermodynamically high-energy forms such as amorphous forms and salts and was compared with in vitro supersaturation-nucleation characteristics. Solubility-limited maximum absorbable dose was proportionate to intestinal effective drug concentrations, which are related to supersaturation stability and thermodynamic solubility. Supersaturation stability was shown to be an important factor in determining the effect of high-energy forms. The characterization of supersaturation-nucleation behavior by the presented method is, therefore, valuable for assessing the potential absorbability of poorly water-soluble drugs.     

Rate-Limiting Steps of Oral Absorption for Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs in Dogs; Prediction from a Miniscale Dissolution Test and a Physiologically-Based Computer Simulation

PURPOSE: Nonlinear oral absorption due to poor solubility often impedes drug development. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the rate-limiting process in oral absorption of Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) class II (low solubility-high permeability) drugs in order to predict nonlinear absorption of dose caused by solubility-limited absorption. METHODS: Oral absorption of danazol, griseofulvin, and aprepitant was predicted from a miniscale dissolution test and a physiologically-based model. The effect of particle size reduction and dose increase on absorption was investigated in vitro and in vivo to clarify the rate-limiting steps of dissolution-rate-limited and solubility-limited absorption. RESULTS: The rate-limiting steps of oral absorption were simulated and increase in the dissolution rate and administration dose showed a shift from dissolution rate-limited to solubility-limited absorption. In the study in dogs, particle size reduction improved the oral absorption of large particle drugs but had little effect on small particle drugs. Dose nonlinearity was observed with small particles at a high dose. Our model quantitatively predicted results observed in vivo, including but not exclusively, dissolution-rate-limited and solubility-limited absorption. CONCLUSION: The present study provides a powerful tool to predict dose nonlinearity and will aid in the success of BCS class II drug development.