Phase Behavior of Amorphous Molecular Dispersions II: Role of Hydrogen Bonding in Solid Solubility and Phase Separation Kinetics

No HeadingPurpose. To determine the factors influencing solid solubility and phase separation kinetics of drugs from amorphous solid dispersions.Methods. Solid dispersions of griseofulvin-poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and indoprofen-PVP were prepared using solvent evaporation technique. Dispersions demonstrating single T_g were exposed to 40°C/69% RH for 90 days. Drug solid solubility in the polymer and phase separation rates were determined from changes in T_g of solid dispersions. FTIR spectroscopy and XRD were used to characterize drug-polymer interactions and drug crystallinity, respectively.Results. Freshly prepared solid dispersion of up to 30% w/w griseofulvin and indoprofen were molecularly miscible with PVP. Hydrogen bonding was evident in indoprofen-PVP, but not in griseofulvin-PVP dispersions. When exposed to 40°C/69% RH, griseofulvin phase separated completely, whereas the solid solubility of indoprofen was determined as 13% w/w. The first-order rate constants of phase separation for 10%. 20%, and 30% w/w griseofulvin dispersions were estimated as 4.66, 5.19, and 12.50 (×10²) [day^–1], and those of 20% and 30% w/w indoprofen were 0.62 and 1.25 (×10²) [day^–1], respectively.Conclusions. Solid solubility of griseofulvin and indoprofen in PVP is 0% w/w and 13% w/w, respectively. Drug-polymer hydrogen bonding in indoprofen-PVP dispersions favors solid solubility. Phase separation rate of drug from the solid dispersions depends on the initial drug content and the nature of drug-polymer interactions.     

Molecular mobility of nifedipine-PVP and phenobarbital-PVP solid dispersions as measured by 13C-NMR spin-lattice relaxation time

Amorphous nifedipine-PVP and phenobarbital-PVP solid dispersions with various drug contents were prepared by melting and subsequent rapid cooling of mixtures of PVP and nifedipine, or phenobarbital. Chemical shifts and spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)) of PVP, nifedipine, and phenobarbital carbons were determined by (13)C-CP/MAS NMR to elucidate drug-PVP interactions and the localized molecular mobility of drug and PVP in the solid dispersions. The chemical shift of the PVP carbonyl carbon increased as the drug content increased, appearing to reach a plateau at a molar ratio of drug to PVP monomer unit of approximately 1:1, suggesting hydrogen bond interactions between the PVP carbonyl group and the drugs. T(1) of the PVP carbonyl carbon in the solid dispersions increased as the drug content increased, indicating that the mobility of the PVP carbonyl carbon was decreased by hydrogen bond interactions. T(1) of the drug carbons increased as the PVP content increased, and this increase in T(1) became less obvious when the molar ratio of PVP monomer unit to drug exceeded approximately 1:1. These results suggest that the localized motion of the PVP pyrrolidone ring and the drug molecules is reduced by hydrogen bond interactions. Decreases in localized mobility appear to be one of the factors that stabilize the amorphous state of drugs.     

Influence of different polymers on the crystallization tendency of molecularly dispersed amorphous felodipine

The ability of various polymers to inhibit the crystallization of amorphous felodipine was studied in amorphous molecular dispersions. Spin-coated films of felodipine with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS), and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) were prepared and used for measurement of the nucleation rate and to probe drug-polymer intermolecular interactions. Bulk solid dispersions were prepared by a solvent evaporation method and characterized using thermal analysis. It was found that each polymer was able to significantly decrease the nucleation rate of amorphous felodipine even at low concentrations (3-25% w/w). Each polymer was found to affect the nucleation rate to a similar extent at an equivalent weight fraction. For HPMC and HPMCAS, thermal analysis indicated that the glass transition temperature (T(g)) of the solid dispersions were not significantly different from that of felodipine alone, whereas an increase in T(g) was observed for the PVP containing solid dispersions. Infrared spectroscopic studies indicated that hydrogen bonding interactions were formed between felodipine and each of the polymers. These interactions were stronger between felodipine and PVP than for the other polymers. It was speculated that, at the concentrations employed, the polymers reduce the nucleation rate through increasing the kinetic barrier to nucleation.     

The influence of various excipients on the conversion kinetics of carbamazepine polymorphs in aqueous suspension

The influence of various excipients on the conversion of carbamazepine polymorphs to the dihydrate in aqueous suspension has been investigated. Ten excipients having functional groups which were potentially able to form hydrogen bonds with carbamazepine (group 1: methylcellulose, hypromellose (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), 2-hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), carmellose sodium (sodium carboxymethylcellulose), cellobiose; group 2: povidone (polyvinylpyrrolidone), povidone-vinyl acetate copolymer (povidone/VA) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; group 3: macrogol (polyethylene glycol) and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide copolymer (PEO/PPO)) were selected. Carbamazepine polymorphic forms III and I were dispersed separately into each aqueous excipient solution (0.1%, w/v) for 30 min at room temperature. The inhibition effect of each excipient was quantified using Raman spectroscopy combined with multivariate analyses. The solubility parameter of each excipient was calculated and used for categorizing excipients. Excipients in groups 1 and 2, which had both low solubility parameters (< 27.0 MPa(1/2)) and strong hydrogen bonding groups, inhibited the conversion completely. With increasing solubility parameter, the inhibition effect decreased for group 1 excipients, especially for carbamazepine form I, which had a higher specific surface area. Also, the excipients of group 3, lacking strong hydrogen bonding groups, showed poor inhibition although they had low solubility parameters (< 21.0 MPa(1/2)). This study indicated the importance of both hydrogen bonding interaction and a suitable hydrophobicity (expressed by the solubility parameter) in the inhibition of the conversion of carbamazepine to the dihydrate.     

Water vapor absorption into amorphous hydrophobic drug/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) dispersions

Water vapor absorption isotherms were measured for three amorphous hydrophobic drug/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) dispersions in the concentration range 10-90% w/w PVP. Experimental isotherms were compared to predicted isotherms calculated using each individual component isotherm multiplied by its weight fraction. Indomethacin (IMC)/PVP, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)/PVP and indapamide (IDP)/PVP amorphous dispersions all exhibited experimental isotherms reduced relative to predicted isotherms indicating that dispersion formation altered the water vapor absorption properties of the individual components. For all three drug/PVP systems, deviation from predicted water uptake was greatest close to the 1:1 drug:PVP monomer composition, indicating that intermolecular interaction in amorphous dispersions affects the water uptake properties of the individual components. Using dry glass transition temperature (T(g)) data, the extent of drug/PVP interaction was shown to be greatest in the IDP/PVP system, which could explain why the largest reduction in water vapor absorption was found in this system. The plasticizing effect of absorbed water varied according to dry dispersion PVP content in all systems and the resulting nonideal changes in free volume, calculated using the Vrentas model, were greatest close to the 1:1 drug:PVP monomer composition. A three-component Flory-Huggins model successfully predicted isotherms for IMC/PVP compositions from 60 to 90% w/w PVP and identified an IMC-PVP interaction parameter chi in the range 1.27-1.49, values that suggest poor homogeneity of mixing in the dry system. These data indicate that amorphous dispersion formation causes both chemical and physical changes in the individual amorphous components that can have a significant effect on their water vapor absorption properties.     

Molecular interactions in celecoxib-PVP-meglumine amorphous system

Stabilization of the amorphous form of a drug is conferred by additives that interact with it at the molecular level. Ternary systems of celecoxib, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and meglumine were studied for molecular interactions responsible for enhanced drug stability and solubility in amorphous form. Meglumine was found to lower the glass transition temperature (T(g)) of the drug due to its plasticization effect. However, the presence of PVP masked its destabilizing effect and provided net anti-plasticization to the celecoxib-PVP-meglumine (7:2:1 w/w) ternary amorphous system. Positive deviation of the experimentally determined T(g mix) value for this composition, from those predicted by the Gordon-Taylor/Kelley-Bueche equation, inferred molecular interaction between the three species, which was also supported by band shifts from their Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectra. Further, shift of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) melting endotherms of celecoxib in its amorphous systems from those observed for crystalline celecoxib confirmed the complexation between these components, which was also substantiated by molecular modelling studies that showed H-bonding of -S=O, 2-N of the pyrazole ring and -C-F groups of celecoxib with -O-H group of meglumine. These molecular interactions of amorphous celecoxib with meglumine were found to be the potential cause for enhanced stability and solubility of the celecoxib-PVP-meglumine ternary system.     

Molecular mobility-based estimation of the crystallization rates of amorphous nifedipine and phenobarbital in poly(vinylpyrrolidone) solid dispersions

The overall crystallization rates and mean relaxation times of amorphous nifedipine and phenobarbital in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) were determined at various temperatures to gain further insight into the effect of molecular mobility on the crystallization rates of amorphous drugs and the possibility of predicting stability from their molecular mobility. Nifedipine-PVP (9:1 w/w) and phenobarbital-PVP (95:5 w/w) solid dispersions were prepared by melting and rapidly cooling mixtures of each drug and PVP. The amount of amorphous nifedipine remaining in the solid dispersion was calculated from the heat of crystallization,which was obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The amount of amorphous phenobarbital remaining in the solid dispersion was estimated from the change in the heat capacity at its glass transition temperature (T(g)). The time required for the amount of amorphous drug remaining to fall to 90% (t(90)) was calculated from the profile of time versus the amount of amorphous drug remaining. The t(90) values for the solid dispersions studied were 100-1000 times longer than those of pure amorphous drugs when compared at the same temperature. Enthalpy relaxation of the amorphous drugs in the solid dispersions was reduced compared with that in the pure amorphous drugs, indicating that the molecular mobility of the amorphous drugs is reduced in the presence of PVP. The temperature dependence of mean relaxation time (tau) for the nifedipine-PVP solid dispersion was calculated using the Adam-Gibbs-Vogel equation. Parameters D and T(0) in this equation were estimated from the heating rate dependence of T(g). Similar temperature dependence was observed for t(90) and tau values of the solid dispersion, indicating that the information on the temperature dependence of the molecular mobility, along with the crystallization data obtained at around the T(g), are useful for estimating the t(90) of overall crystallization at temperatures below T(g) in the presence of excipients.     

Poly(2-Ethyl-2-Oxazoline) as an Alternative to Poly(Vinylpyrrolidone) in Solid Dispersions for Solubility and Dissolution Rate Enhancement of Drugs

Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEOX), a biocompatible polymer considered as pseudopolypeptide, was introduced as a potential alternative to the commonly used polymer, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) for the preparation of solid dispersion with a poorly soluble drug. Glipizide (GPZ), a Biopharmaceutical Classification System class II model drug, was selected for solubility and dissolution rate study. GPZ-polymer solid dispersions and physical mixtures were characterized and investigated by X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy. The impact of polymers on crystal nucleation kinetics was studied, and PEOX exhibited strong inhibitory effect compared with PVP. Solubility and dissolution behavior of the prepared solid dispersions and their physical blends were in vitro examined and evaluated. A significant enhancement in GPZ solubility was obtained with PEOX compared with the pure drug and solid dispersion with PVP. A big improvement in the intrinsic dissolution rate (45 times) and dissolved amount of GPZ (58 times) was achieved with PEOX in fasted state simulated intestinal fluid, against comparable enhancement observed with PEOX and PVP in phosphate buffer at pH 6.8. Lower molecular weight of PEOX-5K (5000 g/mol) was found to be superior to higher molecular weight PEOX-50K (50,000 g/mol) in the improvement of dissolution behavior. The findings of this study with GPZ as a model drug introduce lower molecular weight PEOX as a promising polymeric carrier toward better oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.     

Complexation between PVP and Gantrez polymer and its effect on release and bioadhesive properties of the composite PVP/Gantrez films

Complexation between poly(methyl vinyl ether-maleic anhydride) copolymer (Gantrez AN 169) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K-90D) in aqueous solutions were investigated using a viscometric method and Raman spectroscopy. The composite films with different weight ratios of PVP to Gantrez were prepared in the presence of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The release profiles of diclofenac sodium (DS) from these films were determined and the bioadhesive properties measured. An interpolymer complex was formed through hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl groups of PVP and the hydroxyl groups of Gantrez. The formation of interpolymer hydrogen bonds reduced the interaction of the polymers with water molecules, thus resulting in a lower solubility of the complex in water and a further retarded release of DS from the composite films. The interpolymer complexation was also found to increase the bioadhesive properties of the composite films to a silicone elastomer substrate. The complexation of PVP and the Gantrez copolymer in the composite films was a critical factor affecting the release of DS from the films and the bioadhesive properties of the films.     

Molecular Weight Effects on the Miscibility Behavior of Dextran and Maltodextrin with Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)

Purpose

To characterize and interpret the miscibility of dextran and maltodextrin with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (DEX-PVP) as a function of polymer molecular weights.

Methods

Blend miscibility was studied using 4 different molecular weight (MW) grades of DEX combined with 5?MW grades of PVP, over a broad compositional range. Miscibility was evaluated by inspection of glass transition events measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), combined with curve fitting, was performed to characterize the extent of hydrogen bonding. The observed miscibility behavior was further interpreted in terms of mixing thermodynamics.

Results

Miscibility of the blends ranged from fully miscible to completely immiscible with multiple partially miscible systems observed. Increasing polymer molecular weight decreased miscibility. For the lowest DEX grade, hydrogen bonding was independent of PVP MW, as expected since all systems were completely miscible. Higher molecular weights of DEX resulted in reduced intermolecular hydrogen bonding and decreased miscibility, increasingly so for higher MW PVP grades. Evaluation of the mixing thermodynamics supported these findings.

Conclusions

With higher combined molecular weights of DEX-PVP blends, phase behavior evolves from completely miscible to virtually immiscible. Concurrently, DEX-PVP hydrogen bonding decreases. From a thermodynamic perspective, the combinatorial mixing entropy was observed to decrease as the molecular weight of the polymers increased, providing a reduced counterbalance to the unfavorable mixing enthalpy thought to accompany this polymer combination.     

不同载体木犀草素固体分散体的制备及溶出度测定

目的:制备不同载体的木犀草素(LUT)固体分散体(SD),提高LUT的溶解度和溶出度,并探讨不同载体对药物溶解度和溶出度的影响。方法:应用平衡溶解度和超饱和溶液抑晶试验,筛选合适的载体材料并采用溶剂法制备SD;在单因素试验基础上,以药载比、温度和乙醇用量为影响因素,溶出度为指标,采用Box-Behnken设计优化处方和工艺;用差式扫描量热法(DSC)、扫描电镜(SEM)、X-射线衍射(XRD)以及傅里叶红外光谱(FTIR)对SD进行表征。结果:选择聚乙烯己内酰胺-聚醋酸乙烯酯-聚乙二醇接枝共聚物(Soluplus^?)和共聚维酮(PVP/VA)为载体材料;最优条件为药载比1∶11,温度60℃,乙醇用量50 mL(Soluplus^?)或35 mL(PVP/VA);与原料药相比,2种SD溶解度分别提高42倍(Soluplus^?)和102倍(PVP/VA);120 min时2种SD的累积溶出度均达到95%;SEM、DSC和XRD表征结果显示,药物在SD中均以无定形态存在;IR结果显示,药物与载体之间存在氢键作用。结论:2种载体制...     

Intraorally fast-dissolving particles of a poorly soluble drug: Preparation and in vitro characterization

In this study, the dissolution rate of a poorly soluble drug, perphenazine (PPZ) was improved by a solid dispersion technique to permit its usage in intraoral formulations. Dissolution of PPZ (4 mg) in a small liquid volume (3 ml, pH 6.8) within one minute was set as the objective. PVP K30 and PEG 8000 were selected for carriers according to the solubility parameter approach and their 5/1, 1/5 and 1/20 mixtures with PPZ (PPZ/polymer w/w) were prepared by freeze-drying from 0.1 N HCl solutions. The dissolution rate of PPZ was improved with all drug/polymer mixture ratios compared to crystalline or micronized PPZ. A major dissolution rate improvement was seen with 1/5 PPZ/PEG formulation, i.e. PPZ was dissolved completely within one minute. SAXS, DSC and XRPD measurements indicated that solid solutions of amorphous PPZ in amorphous PVP or in partly amorphous PEG were formed. DSC and FTIR studies suggested that PPZ dihydrochloride salt was formed and hydrogen bonding was occurred between PPZ and the polymers. It was concluded that molecular mixing together with salt formation promoted the dissolution of PPZ, especially in the case of the 1/5 PPZ/PEG dispersion, making it a promising candidate for use in intraoral formulations.     

Amorphous spray-dried hydroflumethiazide-polyvinylpyrrolidone systems: physiochemical properties

Hydroflumethiazide was spray-dried with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to produce products containing 0-30% PVP. These systems were amorphous and differed from previously prepared coprecipitates of similar composition. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggested that at low PVP weight fractions both amorphous drug and an amorphous drug-PVP complex can be present in spray-dried systems. The apparent solubility of hydroflumethiazide in spray-dried products increased with increasing PVP content reaching a plateau value approximately four times that of the pure crystalline drug. The estimated free energy and entropy of the spray-dried drug were greater than that of crystalline drug and also increased with increasing PVP content. Dissolution studies with compressed discs supported the apparent solubility data. The results suggest that amorphous phases having different orders of organization are formed in spray-dried systems with increasing PVP content.     

Effect of physiochemical variables on phase solubility and dissolution behavior of indomethacin solid dispersion system

To study the influence of temperature and pH on solubility and dissolution behavior of indomethacin solid dispersions were prepared using several classes of hydrophilic carriers. Investigations on dissolution of indomethacin in binary system are reported earlier. However the phase solubility and dissolution behavior at different pH and temperature left void. The present investigation includes: phase solubility study at various pH; preparation of solid dispersion by solvent evaporation, melting and kneading method; characterization of various blends by dissolution study, and solid state studies to ensure interaction of drug with carrier. The binding between drug and carriers (PVP K30, βCD and PEG) was explained by thermodynamic parameters as calculated from phase solubility study. Indomethacin in association with PVP K30 showed very high apparent binding constant (Ka) and Gibb’s free energy change (?G) in comparison to other blends. The ternary system (drug:βCD:PVP K30, 1:5:1) showed better dissolution of about 80.97 and 99 % at pH 7.2 after 5 and 30 min respectively. At higher proportion of carrier (1:9) in binary solid dispersion of drug and PVP K30, drug dissolution was 96.23 and 97.85 % after 5 and 30 min respectively. This raised solubility of indomethacin would be helpful in designing a dosage form.     

Temperature scanning FTIR analysis of interactions between sugar and polymer additive in amorphous sugar-polymer mixtures

The impact of a polymer additive (polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP) on hydrogen bonding in amorphous sugar matrices as well as on the glass transition temperature, T(g), were examined by temperature scanning Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TS-FTIR). An amorphous sugar matrix containing PVP was prepared by air-drying an aqueous solution of a sugar-PVP mixture. The hydrogen bonds in the sugar-PVP mixture (sugar-PVP and sugar-sugar hydrogen bonds) were analyzed from the IR peak positions corresponding to the stretching vibration of C==O groups of PVP and O--H groups of the sugar and the temperature dependence of the peak position of the O--H stretching vibration band. The addition of PVP to amorphous mono and disaccharides significantly lowered the extent of hydrogen bond formation while interactions between sugars and the PVP tended to prevent the disruption of hydrogen bonds due to increasing temperature, the magnitude of which was larger for larger oligomers. The T(g) value for the amorphous sugar was increased by the addition of PVP in many cases. As the size of sugar molecule became larger, the relative magnitude of the increased T(g) by PVP to the difference between the T(g) values for sugar alone and PVP alone became larger and then reached a certain level; it was slight in the case of glucose. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the magnitude of the impact of PVP on an amorphous sugar matrix strongly vary and are dependent on the types of sugar.     

A comparison of spray drying and milling in the production of amorphous dispersions of sulfathiazole/polyvinylpyrrolidone and sulfadimidine/polyvinylpyrrolidone

Formulations containing amorphous active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) present great potential to overcome problems of limited bioavailability of poorly soluble APIs. In this paper, we directly compare for the first time spray drying and milling as methods to produce amorphous dispersions for two binary systems (poorly soluble API)/excipient: sulfathiazole (STZ)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and sulfadimidine (SDM)/PVP. The coprocessed mixtures were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and intrinsic dissolution tests. PXRD and DSC confirmed that homogeneous glassy solutions (mixture with a single glass transition) of STZ/PVP were obtained for 0.05 ≤ X(PVP) (PVP weight fraction) < 1 by spray drying and for 0.6 ≤ X(PVP) < 1 by milling (at 400 rpm), and homogeneous glassy solutions of SDM/PVP were obtained for 0 < X(PVP) < 1 by spray drying and for 0.7 ≤ X(PVP) < 1 by milling. For these amorphous composites, the value of T(g) for a particular API/PVP ratio did not depend on the processing technique used. Variation of T(g) versus concentration of PVP was monotonic for all the systems and matched values predicted by the Gordon-Taylor equation indicating that there are no strong interactions between the drugs and PVP. The fact that amorphous SDM can be obtained on spray drying but not amorphous STZ could not be anticipated from the thermodynamic driving force of crystallization, but may be due to the lower molecular mobility of amorphous SDM compared to amorphous STZ. The solubility of the crystalline APIs in PVP was determined and the activities of the two APIs were fitted to the Flory-Huggins model. Comparable values of the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χ) were determined for the two systems (χ = -1.8 for SDM, χ = -1.5 for STZ) indicating that the two APIs have similar miscibility with PVP. Zones of stability and instability of the amorphous dispersions as a function of composition and temperature were obtained from the Flory-Huggins theory and the Gordon-Taylor equation and were found to be comparable for the two APIs. Intrinsic dissolution studies in aqueous media revealed that dissolution rates increased in the following order: physical mix of unprocessed materials < physical mix of processed material < coprocessed materials. This last result showed that production of amorphous dispersions by co-milling can significantly enhance the dissolution of poorly soluble drugs to a similar magnitude as co-spray dried systems.     

Development of spray-dried co-precipitate of amorphous celecoxib containing storage and compression stabilizers

The purpose of this study was to obtain an amorphous system with minimum unit operations that will prevent recrystallization of amorphous drugs since preparation, during processing (compression) and further storage. Amorphous celecoxib, solid dispersion (SD) of celecoxib with polyvinyl pyrrollidone (PVP) and co-precipitate with PVP and carrageenan (CAR) in different ratios were prepared by the spray drying technique and compressed into tablets. Saturation solubility and dissolution studies were performed to differentiate performance after processing. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder difraction revealed the amorphous form of celecoxib, whereas infrared spectroscopy revealed hydrogen bonding between celecoxib and PVP. The dissolution profile of the solid dispersion and co-precipitate improved compared to celecoxib and amorphous celecoxib. Amorphous celecoxib was not stable on storage whereas the solid dispersion and co-precipitate powders were stable for 3 months. Tablets of the solid dispersion of celecoxib with PVP and physical mixture with PVP and carrageenan showed better resistance to recrystallization than amorphous celecoxib during compression but recrystallized on storage. However, tablets of co-precipitate with PVP and carageenan showed no evidence of crystallinity during stability studies with comparable dissolution profiles. This extraordinary stability of spray-dried co-precipitate tablets may be attributed to the cushioning action provided by the viscoelastic polymer CAR and hydrogen bonding interaction between celecoxib and PVP. The present study demonstrates the synergistic effect of combining two types of stabilizers, PVP and CAR, on the stability of amorphous drug during compression and storage as compared to their effect when used alone.     

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Amorphous Indomethacin-Poly(Vinylpyrrolidone) Glasses: Solubility and Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

Amorphous drug dispersions are frequently employed to enhance solubility and dissolution of poorly water-soluble drugs and thereby increase their oral bioavailability. Because these systems are metastable, phase separation of the amorphous components and subsequent drug crystallization may occur during storage. Computational methods to determine the likelihood of these events would be very valuable, if their reliability could be validated. This study investigates amorphous systems of indomethacin (IMC) in poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and their molecular interactions by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. IMC and PVP molecules were constructed using X-ray diffraction data, and force-field parameters were assigned by analogy with similar groups in Amber-ff03. Five assemblies varying in PVP and IMC composition were equilibrated in their molten states then cooled at a rate of 0.03 K/ps to generate amorphous glasses. Prolonged aging dynamic runs (100 ns) at 298 K and 1 bar were then carried out, from which solubility parameters, the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter, and associated hydrogen bonding properties were obtained. Calculated glass transition temperature (T_g) values were higher than experimental results because of the faster cooling rates in MD simulations. Molecular mobility as characterized by atomic fluctuations was substantially reduced below the T_g with IMC–PVP systems exhibiting lower mobilities than that found in amorphous IMC, consistent with the antiplasticizing effect of PVP. The number of IMC–IMC hydrogen bonds (HBs) formed per IMC molecule was substantially lower in IMC–PVP mixtures, particularly the fractions of IMC molecules involved in two or three HBs with other IMC molecules that may be potential precursors for crystal growth. The loss of HBs between IMC molecules in the presence of PVP was largely compensated for by the formation of IMC–PVP HBs. The difference (6.5 MPa^1/2) between the solubility parameters in amorphous IMC (25.5 MPa^1/2) and PVP (19.0 MPa^1/2) suggests a small, positive free energy of mixing, although it is close to the criterion for miscibility (< 7 MPa^1/2). In contrast to the solubility-parameter method, the calculated Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (? 0.61 ± 0.25), which takes into account the IMC–PVP interaction energy, predicts complete miscibility at all PVP compositions, in agreement with experimental observations. These results from MD simulations were combined with experimental values for the crystalline γ-polymorph of IMC and amorphous IMC to estimate the solubility of IMC in amorphous PVP dispersions and the theoretical enhancement in the aqueous solubility of IMC molecularly dispersed in PVP at various volume fractions. © 2012Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 102:876–891, 2013     

Preparation and in-vitro evaluation of indomethacin nanoparticles

BACKGROUND AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: During the last two decades one of the most important problems in drug formulations has been low aqueous solubility of new molecules. However, numerous techniques, such as milling, co-solvent solubilization and solid dispersion have been used conventionally for aqueous solubility enhancement and the rate of solubility. Recently, nanoparticle engineering processes have been developed and reported for pharmaceutical applications to increase the dissolution rate of low-soluble drugs which in turn may leads to substantial increases in bioavailability. In this study, a controlled precipitation method was used to produce indomethacin nano-solid suspension in a polymeric matrix (as a model), in order to increase the solubility and rate of the dissolution of poorly soluble model drug. METHODS: Nano-solid suspension of indomethacin in polyvinyl pyrrolidine (PVP) was prepared by controlled precipitation technique, characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and evaluated for in vitro solubility and dissolution rate. RESULTS AND MAJOR CONCLUSION: Absence of thermal and diffractional peaks in DSC and XRD studies indicated that indomethacin interacts with PVP in solid phase. The solubility of indomethacin in nano-solid suspension compared to crystalline form was increased to about four-fold. It was found that particle size distribution depend to the polymer MW and drug: polymer ratios. Spectroscopy methods and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images showed that indomethacin dispersed as amorphous nanosize particles in freeze dried powder. Enhanced solubility and dissolution rate of indomethacin compared to physical mixtures and crystalline form of indomethacin (polymorph I), demonstrated that it interacts with PVP via hydrogen bond and probably forming eutectic mixture.     

Effect of physical and chemical properties on drug release from selected thermosoftening vehicles.

The release profile of several drugs, (chlorpheniramine maleate, salicylic acid, hydrochlorothiazide, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, sulphafurazole, anhydrous theophylline) and the marker (D&C yellow No. 10) was detailed to determine the effect of physical and chemical properties on release from selected thermosoftening matrices (Gelucire 50/02 and 50/13). At a concentration of drug or marker of 2.5% w/w, hydrochlorothiazide showed the slowest release from G50/02, due to its low aqueous solubility, while theophylline showed the highest release owing to its low mol. wt and moderate aqueous solubility. Release reflected two of the selection criteria, aqueous solubility and mol. wt, set forth for the drug/markers used in the study. The hydrophobic matrix, G50/02, offered no enhancement in drug release and functioned in a manner commensurate with other hydrophobic matrices. No hydrogen bonding was noted between any of the drugs or markers and the matrix. As drug or marker concentration increased from 2.5 to 15% w/w, potential hydrogen bonding was noted between p-hydroxy benzoic acid and the matrix. Theophylline no longer had the highest release being replaced by chlorpheniramine maleate and D&C yellow No. 10. With Gelucire excipient G50/13, chlorpheniramine maleate showed the highest release; it dissolved within the matrix at experimental temperature and lowered the matrix melting point. The matrix swelled upon exposure to the dissolution medium and it was from this swollen layer that release occurred. Sulphafurazole, hydrochlorothiazide, salicylic acid and p-hydroxy benzoic acid exerted a similar effect to chlorpheniramine maleate on the matrix. No hydrogen bonding was observed between the drugs and matrix.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)