Characterization of the solid phases of paracetamol and fenamates at equilibrium in saturated solutions

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), supported by hot stage microscopy, IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffractometry, was used to investigate the characteristics of the solid phases of mefenamic, niflumic, and flufenamic acids and of paracetamol, before and after equilibration with saturated solutions in different solvents. Mixtures of Lewis base (dioxane and ethyl acetate) and amphiprotic solvents (ethanol and water) were prepared for evaluating the influence of both nature and polarity of the solvents. Solid-state analysis performed on the original samples (commercial products) made it possible to establish that paracetamol, mefenamic acid and flufenamic acid were in their respective Form I. No polymorphic modifications are known for niflumic acid. Paracetamol, niflumic and mefenamic acids did not show any change after equilibration with the various solvents or solvent mixtures, regardless of their different chemical nature. In contrast, DSC, IR and X-ray analyses revealed the partial recrystallization of flufenamic acid into its polymorphic Form III in solid phases at equilibrium with ethanol, ethyl acetate and their blends, as well as in dioxane-water mixtures containing 30 to 100% dioxane and in ethanol-water mixtures with a water content less than 50%. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Compatibility Studies of Multicomponent Tablet Formulations. DSC and experimental mixture design

An experimental mixture design was applied to a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study performed to evaluate naproxen compatibility in tablet formulations consisting of four classic excipients (sorbitol, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, poly(ethylene glycol) 20000 and Veegum) each in adequate concentration ranges accounting for the relevant values actually used in pharmaceutical formulations. Twenty-seven different tablets were obtained from as many mixtures prepared according to the experimental design plan and analyzed in a random order by DSC. Statistical evaluation of experimental data enabled correlation of both enthalpy and onset temperature variations of drug melting endotherm (selected as responses indicative of the presence of drug-excipient interactions) with the mixture composition. Variance analysis (Anova) confirmed the reliability of the postulated polynomial model in providing adequate prediction of true system behaviour. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Differential scanning calorimetry as an analytical tool in the study of drug-cyclodextrin interactions

The interactions of trimethoprim, sulphadiazine and sulphamethoxazole with natural (a- b-, g- ) and amorphous (RAMEB) or crystalline (DIMEB) methylated b-cyclodextrins were investigated both in aqueous solution (using phase-solubility analysis) and in the solid state (using DSC supported by X-ray analysis). In particular, DSC studies enabled determination of the relative degree of crystallinity of each drug in its physical and ground mixtures with the different cyclodextrins on the basis of the variation of its heat of fusion in comparison with that of the pure drug. In all cases, the host cavity size was a prevalent factor for the inclusion complexation in liquid state. On the contrary, it had a negligible effect on solid-state interactions in terms of drug amorphization. DIMEB and RAMEB exhibited similar performances in aqueous solution, showing that the presence of methyl-groups improved the complexing and solubilizing properties of b-cyclodextrin. However, DSC studies revealed that RAMEB was clearly more active in performing solid-state interactions, i.e. drug amorphization, and as stabilizing agent for the amorphous state brought forth. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mass spectrometric approach for the analysis of food proteins

In the study of food proteins, the need for accurate protein structural analysis has been acknowledged because of the fact that nucleotide sequencing alone is of limited analytical value if not combined with relevant information regarding the specific protein expressed and the occurrence of phosphorylation, glycosylation and disulphide bridges, and with the modification induced by the technological treatment. Mass spectrometry, whether used alone or to complement the traditional molecular-based techniques has become fundamental to the structural analysis of proteins. It is, moreover, virtually irreplaceable in determining post-translational modifications as conventional methods cannot deliver reliable data. What lies at the root of this methodological breakthrough is the combination of high-resolution separation techniques such as two-dimensional electrophoresis or capillary reverse- phase high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric analysis, what is termed "proteomic" analysis. Thus, it appears appropriate to state that the new mass spectrometric techniques have been established as a valuable and efficient tool for protein and peptide analysis in complex mixtures, like those from food matrices, enabling us therefore to provide accurate information on molecular weight and also to put forth a structural assessment at a low-picomole level of material. Thus, a series of alternative approaches have been developed based on advanced mass spectrometric analysis in conjunction with classic protein chemistry in order to provide an in-depth view of food protein structure. This review outlines several of these novel methodologies as they apply to structural characterization of food products.     

Development of a liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry method for confirmation of chloramphenicol residues in milk after alfa-1-acid glycoprotein affinity chromatography

In this work we present a method for confirmatory analysis of chloramphenicol (CAP) in bovine and buffalo raw milk. CAP is extracted in acetonitrile and purified by affinity chromatography on an alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) column, then is identified and determined by ion-trap liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) analysis in the negative ion mode. CAP was identified at the minimum required performance limit (MRPL) of 0.30 ppb, by monitoring the [M-H]- ion and at least two product ions, meeting the qualitative and quantitative criteria set by the European Commission in Decision 2002/657/EC for confirmation of prohibited veterinary drugs. The trueness and within-day and between-day repeatability data are also reported. Moreover, the loading capacity of affinity columns towards CAP was tested. This method, based on the molecular recognition between drug and AAG during the purification step to improve sample cleanup, represents a quantitative and repeatable procedure for confirmatory analysis, and fits the requirements for the routine official control of CAP residues in raw milk.     

Interactions between naproxen and maltoheptaose,the non-cyclic analog ofβ-cyclodextrin

The crystallinity of naproxen in solid combinations with amorphous maltoheptaose, the non-cyclic analog of -cyclodextrin, was assessed using differential scanning calorimetry supported by X-ray powder diffractometry. Cogrinding induced a decrease in drug crystalinity to an extent which depended on the grinding time, and was most pronounced for the combination of equimolecular composition. Thermal analysis showed that the mechanism behind the conversion of crystalline naproxen into the amorphous state by cogrinding with maltoheptaose differed from that with randomly substituted, amorphous -cyclodextrins. Interactions of naproxen with maltoheptaose in aqueous solution were studied by means of fluorescence spectroscopy, phase-solubility analysis, and computeraided molecular modelling. Maltoheptaose can wrap up naproxen, taking on a cyclic conformation and forming a pseudo inclusion complex (apparent binding constant K_{1: 1} = 1.0 × 10³ (–20%) L mol^–1 at 25 °C) which is about as stable as the true inclusion complex with -cyclodextrin in the lowest temperature range (0-100 K). A better complexing ability for naproxen in terms of binding constant values, however, was displayed by both native and derivatized -cyclodextrins, the hosts with covalently-bound cyclic structures.     

Fully imidized soluble polyimides based on a novel dianhydride: 2,2′-dichloro-4,4′,5,5′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride

We have synthesized a novel dianhydride, 2,2′-dichloro-4,4′,5,5′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (DCBTDA). Polyimides were synthesized with DCBTDA or 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and several relatively rigid meta- and para- substituted mononuclear diamines. The BTDA based systems were insoluble in dipolar, aprotic solvents whereas the DCBTDA based polymers displayed enhanced solubility in these solvents. The thermal stability of these polyimides was excellent as measured by 5% weight loss decomposition. The T_g's of the polymers were all above 290°C.     

Synthesis of functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) macromers by microwave assisted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

In this paper we report the first synthesis of isoxazolidine and isoxazoline-POSS macromers by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of vinyl- and styryl-POSS with N-methyl-C-ethoxycarbonylnitrone and ethoxycarbonyl nitrile oxide, promoted by microwave irradiation. The nature of the resulting cycloadducts has been determined by NOE experiments and supported by computational studies at PM3 and DFT B3LYP/6-31G* levels.