Weighing according to the European Pharmacopoeia: general considerations and new general chapter 2.1.7. Balances for analytical purposes.

Weighing is a key activity in every quality control laboratory as it is one of the first steps in the preparation of samples and reagents for most analytical procedures. It is also critical because weighing errors will add up and propagate throughout the whole analysis, affecting the accuracy and precision of the reported results. A new general chapter, Balances for analytical purposes (2.1.7), has recently been published in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.). This new text sets out clear requirements for an instrument that is essential to every analytical procedure described within the pages of the Ph. Eur. This article explains in detail these requirements and generally reviews the other quantity-related requirements present in Ph. Eur. texts.

UNGAP best practice for improving solubility data quality of orally administered drugs.

An important goal of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action UNGAP (UNderstanding Gastrointestinal Absorption-related Processes, www.ungap.eu) is to improve standardization of methods relating to the study of oral drug absorption. Solubility is a general term that refers to the maximum achievable concentration of a compound dissolved in a liquid medium. For orally administered drugs, relevant information on drug properties is crucial during drug (product) development and at the regulatory level. Collection of reliable and reproducible solubility data requires careful application and understanding of the limitations of the selected experimental method. In addition, the purity of a compound and its solid state form, as well as experimental parameters such as temperature of experimentation, media related factors, and sample handling procedures can affect data quality. In this paper, an international consensus developed by the COST UNGAP network on recommendations for collecting high quality solubility data for the development of orally administered drugs is proposed.

Investigation of solubilising effects of bile salts on an active pharmaceutical ingredient with unusual pH dependent solubility by NMR spectroscopy.

The interaction between an ampholytic and amphiphilic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) showing unusual pH dependent solubility and Fasted State Simulated Intestinal Fluid (FaSSIF) was studied by NMR spectroscopy. Solubility in FaSSIF was drastically increased, about 30 fold, compared to simulated gastrointestinal fluid without bile salts. Our studies aimed at understanding the mechanisms that lead to this drastic enhancement. All species present in solution at various concentrations of API were characterised by Diffusion Ordered Spectroscopy (DOSY) NMR measurements. These indicated the presence of mixed taurocholate-lecithin and pure taurocholate micelles in pure FaSSIF, and formation of mixed taurocholate-API micelles after addition of API. The formation of taurocholate-API micelles was also supported by Nuclear Overhauser Effect/Enhancement (NOE) contacts between taurocholate and the API. Formation of mixed taurocholate-API micelles took place at the expense of pure taurocholate micelles, whereas mixed taurocholate-lecithin micelles remained uninfluenced by the presence of API. Our results showed that the increase in solubility was due to similar amphiphilic properties of the API and taurocholate which enabled formation of mixed taurocholate-API micelles. From results of determination of solubility as well as NMR experiments a phase diagram comprising several micellar species was derived.

Cilengitide--exceptional pseudopolymorphism of a cyclic pentapeptide.

Cilengitide (Cil) represents a cyclic pentapeptide, cyclo-(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-N-MeVal). Existence of an anhydrate form (A1) and a tetrahydrate form Cil1(H2O)4 has been observed. Surprisingly the anhydrate form proved to be more stable in aqueous environment compared to the tetrahydrate form. Assessment of thermodynamic stability has been carried out by competitive slurry experiments as well as by investigation of thermodynamic solubility. The lower solubility of the anhydrate form A1 can be explained by the hydrogen bonding motifs within the crystal structures. The tetrahydrate form Cil1(H2O)4 represents a special manifestation of a class of non-stoichiometric water-alcohol solvates Cil1(H2O)x(alcohol)y where methanol and ethanol can substitute water molecules in the crystal lattice of the tetrahydrate form leading to the hydrate-solvate systems Cil1(H2O)x(methanol)y named S1 and Cil1(H2O)x(ethanol)y named S2 with x ⩽ 4, y ⩽ 1 and y ⩽ 2-0.5x. The non-stoichiometric water alcohol solvates exhibit a higher solubility compared to the anhydrate form but convert rapidly to the anhydrate form in aqueous environments. Accordingly, the better soluble non-stoichiometric water alcohol solvates cannot be obtained by crystallization from aqueous media. However slurries or crystallization from solvent mixtures containing methanol and ethanol represent a means to obtain the highly soluble pseudo-polymorphs S1 and S2 and to circumvent formation of the low soluble anhydrate form A1.

Salt screening and characterization for poorly soluble, weak basic compounds: case study albendazole.

In preclinical development, salt forms are often screened to assess their ability to improve drug candidate properties. In this study albendazole was used as a model for poorly soluble, weak basic compounds typical of current drug discovery programs. Four salts, the hydrochloride, mesylate, sulfate und tosylate, were prepared and characterized with respect to their physicochemical properties. Identity was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy, ion chromatography and vibrational spectroscopy. The solid state forms of the albendazole salts were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), laser diffraction measurement of particle size distribution (PSD), B.E.T. measurement of the specific surface area and 13C solid state NMR spectroscopy. Thermal behaviour and hygroscopicity were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic vapour sorption (DVS), Karl Fischer titration (KFT) and by variable temperature XRPD. Additionally, solubility and dissolution experiments were carried out in water and buffers. The different salt forms show pronounced differences in their physicochemical behaviour, especially with respect to hygroscopicity (sulfate > hydrochloride > tosylate > mesylate) and dissolution (rank order is pH dependent, all better than the free base). A salt form with highly improved physicochemical properties, the mesylate, was identified. The results demonstrate that extensive physicochemical characterization is needed to select the salt form most appropriate for further pharmaceutical development.

Pharmaceutical salts: a summary on doses of salt formers from the Orange Book.

Over half of the active pharmaceutical ingredients currently approved within the US are pharmaceutical salts. Selection of suitable pharmaceutical salts is carried out during late research or early development phase. Therefore several properties of different pharmaceutical salts of a new chemical entity are assessed during salt screening and salt selection. This typically includes physico-chemical behavior, dissolution rate and pharmacokinetics of a pharmaceutical salt. Beyond these properties also toxicological aspects have to be taken into account. As a starting point for a toxicological assessment we present an overview of the usage of pharmaceutical salts as described in the FDA's Orange Book including maximum daily doses for the most important administration routes.

Brain abscess from chronic odontogenic cause: report of case.

A case of a chronic odontogenic abscess that probably precipitated a frontopatrietal brain abscess by hematogenous spread has been presented. A thorough examination of the patient showed no other source of infection. Peptostreptococcus sp was found as the common pathogen despite 6 days of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. This case emphasizes the important role of dentistry in medical diagnosis and treatment implemented in the hospital setting.