Maintenance of supersaturation I: indomethacin crystal growth kinetic modeling using an online second-derivative ultraviolet spectroscopic method

Formulations that produce supersaturated solutions after their oral administration have received increased attention as a means to improve bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Although it is widely recognized that excipients can prolong supersaturation, the mechanisms by which these beneficial effects are realized are generally unknown. Difficulties in separately measuring the kinetics of nucleation and crystal growth have limited progress in understanding the mechanisms by which excipients contribute to the supersaturation maintenance. This paper describes the crystal growth kinetic modeling of indomethacin, a poorly water-soluble drug, from supersaturated aqueous suspensions using a newly developed, online second-derivative ultraviolet spectroscopic method. The apparent indomethacin equilibrium solubility after crystal growth at a high degree of supersaturation (S=6) was approximately 55% higher than the indomethacin equilibrium solubility determined prior to growth, which was attributed to the deposition of a higher energy indomethacin form on the seed crystals. The indomethacin crystal growth kinetics (S=6) was of first order. By comparing the mass transfer coefficients from indomethacin dissolution and crystal growth, it was shown that the indomethacin crystal growth kinetics at S=6 was bulk diffusion controlled. The change in indomethacin seed crystal size distribution before and after crystal growth was determined and modeled using a mass-balance relationship.