Applications of Thermal Analysis and Coupled Techniques in Pharmaceutical Industry

Thermal analysis methods are well-established techniques in research laboratories of pharmaceutical industry. The robustness and sensitivity of instrumentation, the introduction of automation and of reliable software according to the industrial needs widened considerably the areas of applications in the last decade. Calibration of instruments and validation of results follow the state of the art of cGMP as for other analytical techniques. Thermal analysis techniques are especially useful for the study of the behavior of the poly-phasic systems drug substances and excipients and find a unique place for new delivery systems. Since change of temperature and moisture occur by processing and storage, changes of the solid state may have a considerable effect on activity, toxicity and stability of compounds. Current requirements of the International Conference of Harmonisation for the characterization and the quantitation of polymorphism in new entities re-enforce the position of thermal analysis techniques. This challenging task needs the use of complementary methods. Combined techniques and microcalorimetry demonstrate their advantages. This article reviews the current use of thermal analysis and combined techniques in research and development and in production. The advantage of commercially coupled techniques to thermogravimetry is emphasized with some examples. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Application of thermal analysis in study of binary mixtures with metformin

Thermal analysis is an essential analytical tool in development of new formulations as well as to study the interaction between drugs and excipients. This work aims to investigate the possible interactions between metformin and excipients as microcrystalline cellulose (Microcel MC101®), starch sodium glycolate (Explosol®), sodium croscarmellose (Explosel®), PVP K30, magnesium stearate, starch and lactose, usually employed in pharmaceutical products. TG, DSC and DTA techniques were used for the thermal characterization to track if the thermal properties of the drug substance were modified in the mixture. Disregard of the starch and lactose systems, no changes in thermal behavior of mixtures were found. Thermogravimetric studies (TG) of metformin and its binary mixtures showed different thermal behavior.     

Potential of thermal analysis in preparation and characterization of solid catalysis

Supported catalysts contain often only small amounts of active component(s) which renders their characterization difficult, particularly because they usually contain a substantial amount of water. Thermal analysis (TA) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) offers an interesting potential for characterizing such material, various steps of catalyst preparation as well as crucial properties of fresh and used catalysts can be investigated. Some examples illustrating the versatility of TA-MS in catalysis research, such as solid-state reactions occurring upon exposure of the precursors or catalysts to reducing, oxidizing or inert atmosphere, are presented in this study. The combined use of TA and MS allows in many cases a much more detailed interpretation of the observed phenomena than could be achieved by one of these methods alone.     

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.     

Amino Acids as the Potential Co-Former for Co-Crystal Development: A Review

Co-crystals are one of the most popular ways to modify the physicochemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) without changing pharmacological activity through non-covalent interactions with one or more co-formers. A “green method” has recently prompted many researchers to develop solvent-free techniques or minimize solvents for arranging the eco-friendlier process of co-crystallization. Researchers have also been looking for less-risk co-formers that produce the desired API’s physicochemical properties. This review purposed to collect the report studies of amino acids as the safe co-former and explored their advantages. Structurally, amino acids are promising co-former candidates as they have functional groups that can form hydrogen bonds and increase stability through zwitterionic moieties, which support strong interactions. The co-crystals and deep eutectic solvent yielded from this natural compound have been proven to improve pharmaceutical performance. For example, l-glutamine could reduce the side effects of mesalamine through an acid-base stabilizing effect in the gastrointestinal fluid. In addition, some amino acids, especially l-proline, enhances API’s solubility and absorption in its natural deep eutectic solvent and co-crystals systems. Moreover, some ionic co-crystals of amino acids have also been designed to increase chiral resolution. Therefore, amino acids are safe potential co-formers, which are suitable for improving the physicochemical properties of API and prospective to be developed further in the dosage formula and solid-state syntheses.     

新型氮二烷基吗啉盐酸盐离子液体的合成及其性能研究

以N-甲基吗啉和N-乙基吗啉为原料合成了系列新型的氮二烷基吗啉季铵盐类离子液体, 所有新化合物经元素分析、1H NMR确认了其结构, 同时测定了该类化合物的热稳定性、电导率以及对聚丙烯腈的溶解能力. 试验结果表明, 大多数化合物的熔点较低, 为室温离子液体. 该类化合物具有较好的热稳定性, 可应用于电极和表面活性剂领域. 且N-甲基-N-丁基吗啉盐酸盐具备对聚丙烯腈的溶解能力.     

The Usefulness of X-ray Diffraction and Thermal Analysis to Study Dietary Supplements Containing Iron

X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry/derivative of thermogravimetry (DSC/DTG)) are solid-state techniques that can be successfully used to identify and quantify various chemical compounds in polycrystalline mixtures, such as dietary supplements or drugs. In this work, 31 dietary supplements available on the Polish market that contain iron compounds, namely iron gluconate, fumarate, bisglycinate, citrate and pyrophosphate, were evaluated. The aim of the work was to identify iron compounds declared by the manufacturer as food supplements and to try to verify compliance with the manufacturer’s claims. Studies performed by X-ray and thermal analysis confirmed that crystalline iron compounds (iron (II) gluconate, iron (II) fumarate), declared by the manufacturers, were present in the investigated dietary supplements. Iron (II) bisglycinate proved to be semi-crystalline. However, depending on the composition of the formulation, it was possible to identify this compound in the tested supplements. For amorphous iron compounds (iron (III) citrate and iron (III) pyrophosphate), the diffraction pattern does not have characteristic diffraction lines. Food supplements containing crystalline iron compounds have a melting point close to the melting point of pure iron compounds. The presence of excipients was found to affect the shapes and positions of the endothermic peaks significantly. Widening of endothermic peaks and changes in their position were observed, as well as exothermic peaks indicating crystallization of amorphous compounds. Weight loss was determined for all dietary supplements tested. Analysis of the DTG curves showed that the thermal decomposition of most food supplements takes place in several steps. The results obtained by a combination of both simple, relatively fast and reliable XRPD and DSC/DTG methods are helpful in determining phase composition, pharmaceutical abnormalities or by detecting the presence of the correct polymorphic form.     

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.     

依托度酸哌嗪盐的制备及其性能表征

制备了依托度酸和哌嗪的有机盐,并得到了其晶体结构。 结构解析结果表明,依托度酸羧基上的氢转移到哌嗪的氮原子上,N—H••••O氢键是维持结构稳定的主要分子间相互作用。 与原药相比,新合成的盐的本征溶出速率和平衡溶解度分别提高了2.1倍和4.8倍。 此外,新合成的盐具有良好的水合稳定性,在25 ℃,相对湿度95%的条件下暴露28 d未发生相变。作为依托度酸的第一个有机盐,该盐是依托度酸有前景的固体存在形式。     

Thermal stability and decomposition of pharmaceutical compounds

Thermal analysis of fusion and decomposition processes were carried out on recently synthetized pharmaceutical compounds in order to establish thermal stability criteria. This study was carried out using thermogravimetry, TG, and differential scanning calorimetry, DSC. Degradation and fusion temperatures have been produced as thermal data with the aim of to study the thermal stability of the compounds. Relationship is found among stability and a series of effects of structure of the compounds. The compounds which present an amide functional group in the central molecule are more stable because they have a comparatively higher fusion and degradation temperature. In addition, the stability of this type of compounds depends on the position of the electrophilic substitution (in ortho, meta or para). Likewise, the groups linked to the aromatic ring with high electronic density give stability, and therefore are able to delocalize the charge in a greater spacial interval. Therefore, criteria for the selection of substituents have established that improve the stability of compounds     

水合盐的几种脱水过程探讨

通过差热/热重联机 (DTA/TGA)和差示扫描量热法 (DSC)测定几种盐(Na2SO4·10H2O、CuSO4·5H2O、Na2S2O3·5H2O)的失水过程 ,对水合盐脱水过程几种可能的类型进行探讨。研究表明低温 (100℃以下 )水合盐脱水有两种类型 ,一种直接失去气态水 ,另一类先脱去液态水再进一步变为气态水。并从热力学上理论分析两类脱水过程的原因。     

Vibrational study of tamoxifen citrate polymorphism

The trans isomer of (Z)-2-[p-(1,2-diphenyl-butenyl)phenoxy]-N,N-dimethyletylamine (tamoxifen) is well known for its endocrine activity as an antiestrogenic agent. Its citrate salt, a widely used pharmaceutical agent, appears in three main polymorphic forms, two of which are well known (I and II) and another form not yet well evidenced.

A vibrational study has been conducted for identifying the two known polymorphic forms of tamoxifen citrate (I and II) and for characterising the other form (form III) examined in this study.

Other techniques for the characterization of the different polymorphs, such as XRDP, have been used.     

Comparative kinetic study of decomposition of some diazepine derivatives under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions

Thermal analysis is one of the most widely used methods for studying the solid state of pharmaceutical substances. TG/DTG and DSC curves provide important information regarding the physical properties of the pharmaceutical compounds (stability, compatibility, polymorphism, kinetic analysis, phase transitions etc.). The purpose of a kinetic investigation is to calculate the kinetic parameters and the kinetic model for the studied process. The results are further used to predict the system’s behaviour in various circumstances. A kinetic study regarding the diazepam, nitrazepam and oxazepam thermal decomposition was performed, under non-isothermal and isothermal conditions and in a nitrogen atmosphere, for the temperature steps: 483, 498, 523, 538 and 553 K. The TG/DTG data were processed by three methods: isothermal model-fitting, Friedman’s isothermal-isoconversional and Nomen-Sempere non-parametric kinetics. In the model-fitting methods the kinetic triplets (f(α), A and E _a) that defines a single reaction step resulted in being at variance with the multi-step nature of diazepines decomposition. The model-free approach represented by isothermal and non-isothermal isoconversional methods, gave dependences of the activation energies on the extent of conversion. It is very difficult to obtain an accord with the similar data which resulted under non-isothermal conditions from a previous work. The careful treatment of the kinetic parameters obtained in different thermal conditions was confirmed to be necessary, as well as a different strategy of experimental data processing.     

新型室温熔盐二(三氟甲基磺酸酰)亚胺锂-乙酰胺/乙烯脲体系的研究

制备了二(三氟甲基磺酸酰)亚胺锂[LiN(SO₂CF₃)₂,LiTFSI]与乙酰胺和乙烯脲形成的新型室温熔盐,分析了其热学和电化学性能.LiTFSI-乙酰胺体系的热学稳定性好,低共熔温度为-62.18℃.电化学测试表明,LiTFSI-乙酰胺体系的电导率较高,n(LiTFSI):n(Acetamide)=1:6.5样品的室温电导率为1.08×10^-3S/cm,60℃时电导率为5.35×10^-3S/cm;摩尔比为1:4.0样品的电化学稳定电位窗为3V左右.     

一种新型含能材料s-四嗪钴盐的合成、热分解动力学及热安全性

四嗪类含能化合物因其高能、钝感、高燃速、低压力指数、良好的热安定性等特点被广泛应用于含能材料领域。然而却存在低密度、低热稳定性的问题,为提高四嗪类化合物的这一性能,制备的一系列金属衍生物得到了广泛关注。3,6-双(1-氢-1,2,3,4-四唑-5-氨基)-1,2,4,5-四嗪(BTATz)作为四嗪类高氮含能化合物一种,具有良好的催化性能及应用前景。本文以BTATz钾与硝酸钴在水溶液中反应合成了1,2,4,5-四嗪(s-四嗪)的钴盐。采用元素分析(EA)、傅里叶变换红外光谱分析(FTIR)及电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)对其进行了结构表征,推测其化学式为Co(C_4H_2N_(14))·4H_2O。采用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)和热重分析仪(TG/DTG)研究了其热分解行为及主放热反应的动力学方程。计算了自加速分解温度(T_(SADT))、热爆炸临界温度(T_b)、热点火温度(T_(TIT))和绝热至爆时间(t_(TIAD)),其值分别为509.69 K、556.31 K、524.93 K和88.40 s,并以此来评价化合物的热安全性。该金属盐的绝热至爆时间大于相应的Ca盐、Mg盐和Sr盐,放热量高于配体BTATz,有望成为良好的燃烧催化剂。     

On the polymorphism of dicarboxylic acids: I pimelic acid

The results of solid-state analytical studies on pimelic acid demonstrate that the compound occurs in three polymorphic modifications. The modifications have been characterized by means of thermal analysis (videosupported thermomicroscopy, DSC, TGA), temperature-controlled FTIR microscopy and X-ray powder diffractometry, FT Raman and¹³C NMR spectroscopy, as well as pycnometry. The thermodynamic relationships are illustrated in a semi-schematic energy/temperature-diagram, which gives information about the relative stabilities and physical properties of the three modifications. Mod. III (commercial product, density 1.315 g cm^–3) is the thermodynamically stable form between absolute zero and nearly 57 °C (transition point with mod. II 55 to 59 °C). Mod. II (density 1.276 g cm^–3) is thermodynamically metastable in ambient conditions, but resistant. The transition point of mod. II with I (m.p. 105 °C) was determined to be 97.0 to 97.6 °C.Part of this work was presented at the 8th Österreichische Chemietage, Graz, Austria, September 28–30, 1994     

Drug-polymer inclusion complex as a new pharmaceutical solid form

Drug-polymer crystalline inclusion complex is a new structure for the drug-polymer 2-component system, and also is a new drug solid form providing more options to optimize the drug pharmaceutical profile.     

Preparation and Solid-State Characterization of Eltrombopag Crystal Phases

Eltrombopag, of C₂₅H₂₂N₄O₄ chemical formula, is a drug used against thrombocytopenia, marketed worldwide under different tradenames in the form of its bis-olamine salt. The free acid (CAS no. 496775-61-2) is an intermediate species used for the final drug isolation and is reported to crystallize in more than 20 distinct crystal forms, including a large number of hydrates and solvates. Their identification, and, ultimately, their quantification in industrial lots require the usage of accurately measured X-ray powder diffraction pattern, as well as the assessment of the metrical features (crystal symmetry and lattice parameters), nowadays accessible by powerful crystallographic software. Here, the complete indexing of 13 monophasic samples, prepared using literature or newly tailored crystallization methods, jointly to simultaneous thermogravimetric and calorimetric analyses and to variable temperature X-ray diffraction studies, provide a clear picture of the stability fields of the different crystal phases and their mutual interconversion processes, leading, in a few cases, to new and unexpected crystalline polymorphs or solvates of the pristine unsolvated Form I.     

Unusual salt stability in highly charged diblock co-polypeptide hydrogels

The stability and properties of dilute solution hydrogels, synthesized by transition metal mediated polymerization of amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs), have been studied in deionized (DI) water as well as various ionic media. These hydrogels are diblock amphiphilic copolymers of hydrophilic, charged segments of poly(l-lysine HBr) or poly(l-glutamic acid sodium salt), and helical, hydrophobic segments of poly(l-leucine). While many of these samples are able to form strong gels in deionized water at polymer concentrations as low as 0.25 wt %, stability in salt or buffer solutions was found to be only achieved at moderately higher polymer concentrations ( approximately 3.0 wt %). We have adjusted relative copolymer compositions and molecular weights to optimize hydrogel strength and polymer solubility in salt concentrations up to 0.5 M NaCl, as well as in cell growth media and aqueous buffers of varying pH. These materials are unique since they do not collapse in high ionic strength media, even though gel formation is contingent upon the presence of highly charged polyelectrolyte segments. The remarkable properties of these hydrogels make them excellent candidates for use as scaffolds in biomedical applications, such as tissue regeneration.     

30 years of research in thermal analysis and calorimetry

The research in thermal analysis and calorimetry, conducted by the author over the period 1964 to 1993, is summarised and concisely reviewed. The major investigations have focussed on thermal analysis studies of coordination compounds, particularly the metal dithiocarbamate complexes. A significant solution calorimetric study of some metal dithiocarbamate complexes has also been undertaken. DSC has been applied to determine the sublimation enthalpies of many metal dithiocarbamate and metal pentane-2,4-dionate complexes and solution calorimetry has been applied to study the thermochemistry of the latter group of complexes. Thermal analysis investigations of several inorganic molten salt systems have been initiated. Thermometric titrimetry has been applied to study metal-macrocyclic ligand systems in aqueous media and particularly those systems of environmental significance. Temperature calibration standards for TMA have been proposed and TMA has been applied to study the mechanical properties of several common inorganic compounds. DTA has been applied to study a wide variety of phenols and has subsequently been applied as an analytical technique to determine the components of solid state phenol mixtures. Thermometric titrimetry has been applied to determine the phenolic content of wines. A comprehensive thermal analysis study of Australian brown coal has been undertaken, involving the DSC determination of coal specific energy, a TG/DTA study of the coal pyrolysis and combustion processes and a TG/DTA and EGA study of the cation catalytic effect on the coal pyrolysis process. Thermal analysis and calorimetric techniques have been extensively publicised and promoted by the publication of specialist reviews, the presentation of symposia review papers and the oral presentation of short courses, particularly in the SE Asian region. This review essentially reveals the diversity of possible application of thermal analysis and calorimetric techniques and the primary significance of thermodynamic data in the fundamental rationalisation of chemical phenomena.