A Novel Cyclodextrin-containing Glass Thermoplastic System (GTS) for Formulating Poorly Water Soluble Drug Candidates: Preclinical and Clinical Results

We present a novel solid solution/dispersion technology with glass thermoplastic properties that provide good dissolution rates and oral bioavailabilities for poorly water-soluble weak bases. In this process, a thermoplastic gum was prepared by mixing a polyhydroxy acid such as citric acid or tartaric acid with a weakly basic drug, hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (HP--CD) and a cellulose polymer such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) in a protic solvent. Removal of the solvent gave a material which could be loaded into hard gelatin capsules. Several model compounds were processed in this manner including methylene blue and itraconazole. The resulting data indicated that dissolution properties of GTS's based on methylene blue was pH independent and rapid with 80% dissolved within 30 min. Three GTS formulations of itraconazole containing 100 mg of the drug and 500 mg of citric acid as well as various concentrations of HP--CD and HMPC were found to dissolve rapidly (100% in 45 min). One of these formulations was selected for human pharmacokinetic evaluation and demonstrated significant oral bioavailability relative to unmanipulated drug.The studies suggest that the components of the GTS provide for solubilization through complexation and reduced pH and that the cellulose polymer acts to inhibit recrystallization of the supersaturated solution formed. The rationaldevelopment of the GTS dosage form can be useful for generating acceptable formulations for poorly water-soluble drug candidates.     

Alfaxalone: Effect of Temperature on Complexation with 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

Phase solubility analysis is used to investigate the complex formation of alfaxalone with various cyclodextrins(2-hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrine [HPBCD],-cyclodextrin [BCD] and2-hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin [HPGCD]).The complexationwith HPBCD was studied in more detail by looking at the effect of temperature on the stability constants using phase solubility analysis. HPLC-analysis was used to measure the dissolved amount of alfaxalone.The solubility of alfaxalone increases linearly with increasing concentration of cyclodextrin, suggesting the formation of a 1 : 1 complex. For the parent BCD the complex starts precipitating out of solution when the solubilizer concentration exceeds 0.25% making the unsubstituted BCD less useful for the preparation of solutions of alfaxalone. Substituted cyclodextrins do not form insoluble complexes with alfaxalone. The complexation constant for BCD and HPBCD are comparable in magnitude, but for HPGCD, the constant is substantially lower.The effect of temperature on thecomplexation constant was also studied at elevated temperature. Increasing the temperature results in an increased S₀ (solubility without HPBCD) and a decrease in the value of the complexation constant. The net effect results in minor changes of the solubility of alfaxalone as a function of temperature. Based on regression analysis, the change in enthalpy for complex formation between alfaxalone and HPBCD is calculated as -4610 cal/mol.The results indicate that substitutedcyclodextrins are useful in the preparation of solutions of alfaxalone. Since 1 : 1 complexes are formed there is no theoretical danger for precipitation on dilution, e.g., after injection.     

Chiral poly(ureidophthalimide) foldamers in water

Poly(ureidophthalimide)s decorated with hydrophilic side chains, that ensure solubility in aqueous media, have been synthesized and characterized by UV/Vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Temperature and concentration dependent CD measurements in water have revealed an almost temperature and concentration independent Cotton effect, indicative for a strong intramolecular organization. Similar studies in THF demonstrate the dynamic nature of the secondary architecture, a characteristic of foldamers. In addition, the bisignated Cotton effect in water is opposite in sign to that in THF, suggestive for a solvent-dependent preference for one helical handedness. Mixing experiments prove the dominance of water in determining the handedness of the helical architecture. The solvent allows for control over the helical architecture and thus governs the supramolecular synthesis.