Characterisation of salts of drug substances

The properties of the solid-state of drug substances are critical factors that determine the choice of an appropriate salt form for the development of the pharmaceutical formulation. The most relevant properties may affect the therapeutic efficacy, toxicity, bioavailability, pharmaceutical processing and stability. The salt form must fulfil the needs of the targeted formulation, be suitable for full-scale production and its solid-state properties maintained batchwise as well as over time. Comparison of the solid-state properties of different salt candidates may be quite complicated if each salt candidate exist as different solid phases: polymorphs, solvates or amorphous forms. Thermal analysis, microcalorimetry and combined techniques, X-ray diffraction, solubility, intrinsic dissolution, sorption-desorption and stability studies are basic techniques for the characterisation of the salt candidates. Some examples show the role of the salt form as well as the polymorphic form in the characteristics of the solid-state. Thermal analysis and combined techniques are efficient for the detection of unexpected phase transitions and for the comparison of the suitability of the salt candidates prepared for salt selection. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Risperidone/Randomly Methylated β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex—Compatibility Study with Pharmaceutical Excipients

Risperidone (RSP) is an atypical antipsychotic drug used in treating schizophrenia, behavioral, and psychological symptoms of dementia and irritability associated with autism. The drug substance is practically insoluble in water and exhibits high lipophilicity. It also presents incompatibilities with pharmaceutical excipients such as magnesium stearate, lactose, and cellulose microcrystalline. RSP encapsulation by randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RM-β-CD) was performed in order to enhance drug solubility and stability and improve its biopharmaceutical profile. The inclusion complex formation was evaluated using thermal methods, powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), universal-attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (UATR-FTIR), UV spectroscopy, and saturation solubility studies. The 1:1 stoichiometry ratio and the apparent stability constant of the inclusion complex were determined by means of the phase solubility method. The compatibility between the supramolecular adduct and pharmaceutical excipients starch, anhydrous lactose, magnesium stearate, and cellulose microcrystalline was studied employing thermoanalytical tools (TG-thermogravimetry/DTG-derivative thermogravimetry/HF-heat flow) and spectroscopic techniques (UATR-FTIR, PXRD). The compatibility study reveals that there are no interactions between the supramolecular adduct with starch, magnesium stearate, and cellulose microcrystalline, while incompatibility with anhydrous lactose is observed even under ambient conditions. The supramolecular adduct of RSP with RM-β-CD represents a valuable candidate for further research in developing new formulations with enhanced bioavailability and stability, and the results of this study allow a pertinent selection of three excipients that can be incorporated in solid dosage forms.     

Utilization of DSC for Pharmaceutical crystal form quantitation

The existence of multiple crystal forms in a drug substance poses interesting development challenges as the material is taken from discovery through formulation, manufacture and market. There are a number of factors why drug substances under development are screened for presence of multiple crystal forms. Different crystal forms may exhibit varied performance properties including bioavailability and solubility, as well as, differences in physical properties such as morphology and melting point. These properties can affect the design of the manufacturing processes for the bulk drug substance, the formulation and the performance of the drug product. This paper will focus on the application of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the quantitation of pharmaceutical crystal forms. Feasibility studies were conducted on several pharmaceutical drug substances which were known to have multiple crystal forms, to determine if quantitative, semi-quantitative or limit of detection tests could be developed. The conclusion from these studies is that polymorphic crystal systems comprised of either close, or melting with decomposing, endotherms, competing transitions, or that contain sample contaminants, may not be optimum candidates for quantitation by DSC. Conversely, crystal systems that contain polymorphs that exhibit well-resolved endothermic or exothermic transitions, for either solvated vs. unsolvated species or both unsolvated, may be excellent candidates for crystal form quantitation by DSC. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Polymorphism in 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene crystallized from solution.

An examination has been made of the role of solvent type in the definition of the polymorphic nature of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene precipitated from solution. A combination of calorimetric and structural techniques including in situ crystallization studies using synchrotron radiation has shown that the variations in polymorphic form following precipitation from solution do not arise specifically from any stereospecific guidance that the nature of the solvent might impose on the structural form. Rather the differences are linked to the variations in solubility and hence supersaturation which might build up prior to nucleation and growth and to the isolation of the metastable orthorhombic phase from the solvent. The final conclusion is that the changes fit well with Ostwald's Law of Stages with the orthorhombic form always precipitating initially followed by its conversion to the stable monoclinic form. The previously observed tendency for some solvents to yield one or the other form then becomes attributable to kinetics in solution rather than structural control. It can be associated with the solubility of the material in the solvent used and the role of this factor in a solvent-mediated phase transformation. On this basis rules can be formulated for the isolation of the metastable forms of this and similarly related polymorphic systems.     

Characterization of polymorphs of a novel quinolinone derivative, TA-270 (4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-octyloxy-7-sinapinoylamino-2(1H)-quinolinone)

The polymorphic forms and amorphous form of TA-270 (4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3-octyloxy-7-sinapinoylamino-2(1H)-quinolinone), a newly developed antiallergenic compound, were characterized by powder X-ray diffractometry, thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy and solid state 13C-NMR. The intrinsic dissolution rates of polymorphic forms were measured using the rotating disk method at 37 degrees C. The dissolution rates correlated well with the thermodynamic stability of each polymorphic form. These dissolution properties were clearly reflected in the oral bioavailability of TA-270 in rats. The transition behavior for each polymorph and for the amorphous form was studied under the high temperature and humidity conditions. The beta- and delta-forms were transformed into the alpha-form by heating. The amorphous form was also easily crystallized into alpha-form by heating, however it was relatively stable under humidified conditions. The internal molecular packing of each polymorph was estimated from IR and solid state NMR spectral analysis.     

A novel method for estimation of transition temperature for polymorphic pairs in pharmaceuticals using heat of solution and solubility data

A novel method for thermodynamic stability studies of polymorphic drug substances has been developed. In order to estimate the transition temperature for an enantiotropic polymorphic pair, a formula for calculating the temperature at which the solubilities of each polymorph become equal has been derived with heat of solution and solubility as the variables. This formula is based on the assumption that van't Hoff plots (logarithmic solubility versus reciprocal of absolute temperature plots) of each polymorph show a straight line (heat of solution is independent of temperature) whose slope can be expressed as a function of heat of solution. The transition temperatures for seratrodast, acetazolamide and carbamazepine polymorphic pairs calculated by the formula were in good agreement with the results of previous studies. Furthermore, the calculated transition temperature for the indomethacin polymorphic pair was above the melting point, an unrealistic temperature range, suggesting that these polymorphs are monotropically related. Since this formula requires solubility data at only one arbitrary temperature other than heat of solution data for both polymorphs in a polymorphic pair, the proposed method is much faster than the conventional method requiring solubility data at five or more different temperatures for the preparation of van't Hoff plots.     

Preparation, characterization and in vitro dissolution studies of solid systems of valdecoxib with chitosan

In the present study, the solubilizing and amorphizing properties of Valdecoxib (a poorly water soluble anti inflammatory drug) with low molecular weight chitosan (a polymer), have been investigated. Binary systems of varying drug/polymer ratios were prepared using different techniques (physical mixing, co-grinding, kneading) and were tested for dissolution. Drug carrier interactions were investigated in both the liquid and solid state, by phase solubility analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffractrometry, FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The solubility of the drug increased with increasing polymer concentration showing A(N) type phase solubility diagram. Differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffractrometry and scanning electron microscopic studies of binary systems suggested generation of amorphous form of drug (in kneading and co ground mixtures). IR spectroscopy revealed the presence of hydrogen bonding in kneading and co ground mixtures. Drug dissolution was improved with increasing the polymer concentration in the mixture (Kneaded>co ground>physical mixture), which was attributed to the amorphonization and/or decreased drug crystallinity, size and polymer wetting effect. Enhanced dissolution combined with its direct compression feasibility and anti ulcerogenic action results in low molecular weight chitosan for developing fast release oral solid dosage forms of valdecoxib.     

The complexation efficiency

Studies have shown that cyclodextrins form both inclusion and non-inclusion complexes and that several different types of complexes can coexist in aqueous solutions. In addition, both cyclodextrins and cyclodextrin complexes are known to form aggregates and it is thought that these aggregates are able to solubilize drugs through micellar-type mechanism. Thus, stability constants determined from phase-solubility profiles are rarely true stability constants for of some specific drug/cyclodextrin complexes. A more precise method for evaluation of the solubilizing effects of cyclodextrins is to determine their complexation efficiency (CE). CE can be determined by measuring the solubility of a given drug at 2–3 cyclodextrin concentrations in pure water or a medium constituting the pharmaceutical formulation such as parenteral solution or aqueous eye drop formulation. Based on the CE value the drug:cyclodextrin ratio in the complexation medium can be determined as well as the increase in the formulation bulk in a solid dosage form. Determination of CE is a simple method for quick evaluating the solubilizing effects of different cyclodextrins and/or the effects of excipients on the solubilization. Here we report the CE of 43 different drugs with mainly 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin but also with randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin as well as few other cyclodextrins. Calculation of CE, drug:cyclodextrin molar ratio and the increase in the formulation bulk is discussed, as well as the influence of the intrinsic solubility and drug lipophilicity on the CE.     

Solvent-Induced Phase Transformations of Hydrates

An increase of the specific surface area of solid phases is often desirable e.g. for the bioavailability of pharmaceuticals or in chemical processes. Such an increase can a.o. be achieved by suspending crystalline substances in a solvent that induces phase transformations. Hence, the original substance has to be in a metastable state in the solvent. If the stable phase after transformation has in addition a very low solubility in the solvent, a dendritic growth is forced to occur because of the high local supersaturations during the phase change. This dendritic growth of the stable phase in term leads to needle- or whisker-like crystals, which have the desired larger specific surface area in comparison to the initial crystalline substance.In order to investigate this phenomenon several hydrates of salts were chosen, which undergo phase transformations to their anhydrates accompanied by a corresponding loss of crystal water when suspended in excess in lower alcohols. Consequently, anhydrous forms were created by dehydrating these hydrates. The transformation rate or in this case the dehydration level can thus be indirectly measured by Karl-Fischer titration. The thermodynamic background of the dehydration phenomena can be clarified by solubility studies of the hydrates and anhydrates in water/alcohol-mixtures.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal Stability of Amorphous Solid Dispersions

Amorphous solid dispersion drug delivery systems (ASD DDS) were proved to be efficient for the enhancement of solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. One of the major keys for successful preparation of ASD is the selection of appropriate excipients, mostly polymers, which have a crucial role in improving drug solubility and its physical stability. Even though, excipients should be chemically inert, there is some evidence that polymers can affect the thermal stability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The thermal stability of a drug is closely related to the shelf-life of pharmaceutical products and therefore it is a matter of high pharmaceutical relevance. An overview of thermal stability of amorphous solids is provided in this paper. Evaluation of thermal stability of amorphous solid dispersion is perceived from the physicochemical perspective, from a kinetic (motions) and thermodynamic (energy) point of view, focusing on activation energy and fragility, as well all other relevant parameters for ASD design, with a glance on computational kinetic analysis of solid-state decomposition.     

Solubility of silybin in aqueous poly(vinylpyrrolidone) solution

Silybin is a main component in silymarin, which is an antihepatotoxic polyphenolic substance isolated from the milk thistle plant, Silybum marianum. A major problem in the development of an oral solid dosage form of this drug is the extremely poor aqueous solubility. In present work, the solubility of silybin in aqueous poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP k30) solution at the temperature range from 293.15 to 313.15 K was measured by a solid–liquid equilibrium method. Experimental results reveal that the solubility of silybin increases with the increase both in PVP's concentration and temperature. With the increase in PVP's concentration, the transfer enthalpy for silybin from water to aqueous PVP solution decreases within a negative region, and the transfer entropy increases slightly first in a positive region and then decreases to a negative region. The transfer enthalpy is lower than the entropy term. A modified UNIQUAC model was used to correlate solubility data.     

Improvement of Solubility and Stability of Valsartan by Hydroxypropyl-\boldbeta-Cyclodextrin

Aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) on the solubility, dissolution rate and stability of Valsartan (VAL), a drug used orally for the treatment of hypertension. Phase solubility studies demonstrated the ability of the HP-β-CD to complex VAL and to increase drug solubility. The dissolved amount of VAL increased linearly with the addition of HP-β-CD according to an A_L type plot. The apparent stability constant of the complex, calculated supposing a 1:1 stoichiometry, was 296±7 M⁻¹. VAL/HP-β-CD interactions were also studied by ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. Equimolar VAL/HP-β-CD solid systems were prepared by physical-mixing and freeze-drying, and their properties in the solid state studied by DSC and FT-IR analysis. The results provided clear indications of the formation of a new solid phase corresponding to the inclusion complex in the freeze-dried sample. The dissolution profiles of the drug from each solid system were affected by its physico-chemical properties, the freeze-dried being the most rapidly dissolving form. The thermal stability of the complex was studied, also determining the number and identity of the decomposition products of the drug. The stability studies revealed that the VAL/HP-β-CD complex significantly decreases the rate of VAL degradation. These results suggest that CD technology would be a very useful method to overcome the solubility and the stability problems of VAL.     

Improvement of dissolution properties of a new Helicobacter pylori eradicating agent (TG44) by inclusion complexation with beta-cyclodextrin

The interaction of a newly developed Helicobacter pylori eradicating agent (TG44, 4-methylbenzyl-4'-[trans-4-(guanidinomethyl)cyclohexylcarbonyloxy]biphenyl-4-carboxlylate monohydrochloride) with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) in aqueous solution and in solid state was studied to gain insight into the high in-vivo H. pylori eradicating activity of TG44/beta-CyD complex. The interaction was studied by the solubility method, spectroscopic methods, powder X-ray diffractometry and differential scanning colorimetry (DSC). TG44 gave A(L)-type phase solubility diagram with beta-CyD in water, showing a linear increase in solubility of the drug up to 8 mM beta-CyD concentration. The solubility of TG44 (0.04 mM in water at 25 degrees C) increased about 70-folds at 8 mM beta-CyD. Ultraviolet, circular dichroism, fluorescence and (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies indicated that TG44 forms the inclusion complex with beta-CyD in a 1:1 stoichiometry and the biphenyl moiety of TG44 is preferably included in the beta-CyD cavity in water. The Giordano plot made by monitoring changes in the fusion enthalpy of TG44 (about 184 degrees C) suggested that TG44 forms the 1:1 complex with beta-CyD in the solid state. The TG44/beta-CyD solid complex in a 1:1 stoichiometry was prepared by the grinding and spray-drying methods and confirmed by powder X-ray diffractometry and DSC that the complex is in an amorphous state. The initial dissolution rate of TG44/beta-CyD complex was significantly faster than those of the drug alone and the physical mixture of both components, maintaining higher supersaturated concentrations of the drug for a long time. The results suggested that the higher eradicating activity of TG44/beta-CyD complex to Helicobacter pylori, compared with that of the drug alone, is attributable at least partly to the faster dissolving property of the complex and its ability to maintain the supersaturated state of the drug in the gastric fluid.     

Solubility challenge: can you predict solubilities of 32 molecules using a database of 100 reliable measurements?

Solubility is a key physicochemical property of molecules. Serious deficiencies exist in the consistency and reliability of solubility data in the literature. The accurate prediction of solubility would be very useful. However, systematic errors and lack of metadata associated with measurements greatly reduce the confidence in current models. To address this, we are accurately measuring intrinsic solubility values, and here we report results for a diverse set of 100 druglike molecules at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0.15 M using the CheqSol approach. This is a highly reproducible potentiometric technique that ensures the thermodynamic equilibrium is reached rapidly. Results with a coefficient of variation higher than 4% were rejected. In addition, the Potentiometric Cycling for Polymorph Creation method, [PC] (2), was used to obtain multiple polymorph forms from aqueous solution. We now challenge researchers to predict the intrinsic solubility of 32 other druglike molecules that have been measured but are yet to be published.     

Mixing method influence on compatibility and polymorphism studies by DSC and statistical analysis

Most of the pharmaceutical products are formulated as solid dosage form, which may present drug–excipient interactions that lead to changes in the chemical nature of the drug, such as solubility and bioavailability and may compromise its safety and effectiveness. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a widely used method for the rapid evaluation of the drug-excipient compatibility and the stability of the mixture formed; however, there is no consensus on the preparation methods of the drug–excipient mixtures. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the mixing method on the drug–excipient compatibility studies by means of DSC analysis, using tenofovir disoproxil fumarate as a drug model. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the heat of fusion of the drug in the mixtures prepared by several mixing methods. Vortex Mixer with a Pop-Off Cup used for 3 min proved to be very satisfactory for these studies. A polymorphic transition was observed in the mixture prepared with the mortar and pestle. Therefore, this method should be avoided since it may induce errors in the interpretation of DSC results. In this way, the mixing method used to prepare a mixture for studies of interactions between the API and the excipients in a pharmaceutical formulation has a great influence on the results and it must be chosen carefully.     

Cyclodextrins and the Biopharmaceutics Classification System of Drugs

Although the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) was originally developed for solid oral dosage forms this system can be extended to other types of drug delivery forms. According to the BCS aqueous solubility and permeability are the most important parameters affecting drug bioavailability. Cyclodextrins can enhance the aqueous solubility of lipophilic drugs without changing their intrinsic ability to permeate biological membranes. Thus, through cyclodextrin complexation it is possible to move Class II drugs, and sometimes even Class IV drugs, into Class I. However, cyclodextrins can decrease bioavailability of Class I drugs and will in most cases not improve bioavailability of Class III drugs. Through formation of drug/cyclodextrin/polymer ternary complexes it is possible to enhance the complexation efficacy of cyclodextrins and at the same time improve drug bioavailability from cyclodextrin containing drug formulations.     

Use of Isothermal Titration Calorimetry in the Development of Molecularly Defined Vaccines

An uptake or a release of heat accompanies practically all molecular binding interactions. Therefore isothermal titration microcalorimetry is universally applicable for the characterisation of such binding processes. Calorimetric analyses do not require marker molecules or intrinsic spectroscopic reporter groups, which can modify the analysed interactions. Furthermore, measurements are carried out in solution and the adsorption of reactants to a solid phase is thus avoided. At variance with most other analytical approaches, titration calorimetry determines simultaneously enthalpy and entropy contributions of the binding interactions, as well as the binding constant and stoichiometry. In our analyses of the interactions between monoclonal antibodies and candidate antigens for vaccines vs. malaria and malignant melanoma, isothermal titration calorimetry has turned out to be a very valuable technique. The obtained quantitative data on biomolecular interactions can substantially support the rational design of epitope-focused vaccines.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An Efficient Method for the Conjugation of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Components by Solid‐Phase‐Assisted Disulfide Ligation

Chemical conjugation between hydrophilic and hydrophobic components is difficult because of their extremely different solubility. Herein, we report a new versatile method with a solid‐phase‐assisted disulfide ligation to overcome the difficulty of conjugation attributed to solubility. The method involves two steps in a one‐pot process: 1) loading of a hydrophobic molecule onto a resin in an organic solvent, and 2) release of the solid‐supported hydrophobic molecule as a conjugate with a hydrophilic molecule into an aqueous solvent. This strategy allows the use of a suitable solvent system for the substrates in each step. Conjugates of a water‐insoluble drug, plinabulin, with hydrophilic carriers that could not be prepared by solution‐phase reactions were obtained in moderate yields (29–45 %). This strategy is widely applicable to the conjugation of compounds with solubility problems.     

Effect of humic acid on the solid phase stability and solubility of UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The stability and solubility of UO₂(OH)₂ has been studied as a function of the humic acid concentration in 0.1M NaClO₄, in the pH range from 4 to 7 under normal atmospheric conditions. The solid phase under investigation has been prepared by alkaline precipitation and characterized by TGA, ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM and solubility measurements. According to the experimental data UO₂(OH)₂ is stable and remains the solubility limiting solid phase even in the presence of increased humic acid concentration in the solution. However, humic acid affects texture and particle size of the solid phase. Increasing humic acid concentration results in decreasing crystallite size of the UO₂(OH)₂ solid phase. Based on the solubility data, the logK _sp (UO₂(OH)₂) has been evaluated to be −22.0±0.3 and the stability constant for the UO₂(OH)HA(I) species has been estimated to be logβ ₁₁₀₁ = 15.3±0.5.     

The Structure, Thermodynamics and Solubility of Organic Crystals from Simulation with a Polarizable Force Field

An important unsolved problem in materials science is prediction of the thermodynamic stability of organic crystals and their solubility from first principles. Solubility can be defined as the saturating concentration of a molecule within a liquid solvent, where the physical picture is of solvated molecules in equilibrium with their solid phase. Despite the importance of solubility in determining the oral bioavailability of pharmaceuticals, prediction tools are currently limited to quantitative structure-property relationships that are fit to experimental solubility measurements. For the first time, we describe a consistent procedure for the prediction of the structure, thermodynamic stability and solubility of organic crystals from molecular dynamics simulations using the polarizable multipole AMOEBA force field. Our approach is based on a thermodynamic cycle that decomposes standard state solubility into the sum of solid-vapor sublimation and vapor-liquid solvation free energies [Formula: see text], which are computed via the orthogonal space random walk (OSRW) sampling strategy. Application to the n-alkylamides series from aeetamide through octanamide was selected due to the dependence of their solubility on both amide hydrogen bonding and the hydrophobic effect, which are each fundamental to protein structure and solubility. On average, the calculated absolute standard state solubility free energies are accurate to within 1.1 kcal/mol. The experimental trend of decreasing solubility as a function of n-alkylamide chain length is recapitulated by the increasing stability of the crystalline state and to a lesser degree by decreasing favorability of solvation (i.e. the hydrophobic effect). Our results suggest that coupling the polarizable AMOEBA force field with an orthogonal space based free energy algorithm, as implemented in the program Force Field X, is a consistent procedure for predicting the structure, thermodynamic stability and solubility of organic crystals.