Amorphous and Co-Amorphous Olanzapine Stability in Formulations Intended for Wet Granulation and Pelletization.

The preparation of amorphous and co-amorphous systems (CAMs) effectively addresses the solubility and bioavailability issues of poorly water-soluble chemical entities. However, stress conditions imposed during common pharmaceutical processing (e.g., tableting) may cause the recrystallization of the systems, warranting close stability monitoring throughout production. This work aimed at assessing the water and heat stability of amorphous olanzapine (OLZ) and OLZ-CAMs when subject to wet granulation and pelletization. Starting materials and products were characterized using calorimetry, diffractometry and spectroscopy, and their performance behavior was evaluated by dissolution testing. The results indicated that amorphous OLZ was reconverted back to a crystalline state after exposure to water and heat; conversely, OLZ-CAMs stabilized with saccharin (SAC), a sulfonic acid, did not show any significant loss of the amorphous content, confirming the higher stability of OLZ in the CAM. Besides resistance under the processing conditions of the dosage forms considered, OLZ-CAMs presented a higher solubility and dissolution rate than the respective crystalline counterpart. Furthermore, in situ co-amorphization of OLZ and SAC during granule production with high fractions of water unveils the possibility of reducing production steps and associated costs.

The Precision and Accuracy of 3D Printing of Tablets by Fused Deposition Modelling.

Tablet manufacture by fused deposition modelling (FDM) can be carried out individually (one tablet printed per run) or as a group (i.e., 'multiple printing' in one run) depending on patient's needs. The assessment of the process of printing must take into consideration the precision and the accuracy of the mass and dose of tablets, together with their solid-state properties and drug dissolution behaviour. Different mixtures made of either poly(vinyl alcohol) and paracetamol or hydroxypropylcellulose EF and hydrochlorothiazide were used to evaluate multiple printing of tablets by manufacturing batches of 30 tablets with nozzles of 0.4 and 0.7 mm, in two different printers. Besides testing for mass, drug content, density and dissolution performance, tablets were analysed for their thermal (DSC) and spectroscopic (NIR and FTIR) properties. Low standard deviations around mean values for the different properties measured suggested low intra-batch variability. Statistical analysis of data revealed no significant differences between the batches for most of the properties considered in the study. Inter-batch differences (p<0.05) were observed only for mass of tablets, possibly due to deviation on filament's diameter. The use of a smaller nozzle or a different printer enabled the manufacture of more reproducible tablets within a batch. Multiple printing revealed a significant saving on manufacturing time (>35%) in comparison to individual printing.

In Situ Co-Amorphization of Olanzapine in the Matrix and on the Coat of Pellets.

In situ amorphization is a promising approach, considered in the present work, to enhance the solubility and dissolution rate of olanzapine, while minimizing the exposure of the amorphous material to the stress conditions applied during conventional processing. The production of pellets by extrusion/spheronization and the coating of inert beads were investigated as novel methods to promote the co-amorphization of olanzapine, a poorly water-soluble drug, and saccharin. Samples were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and dissolution and stability testing. The co-amorphous produced were compared with crystalline olanzapine, or physical mixture of olanzapine and saccharin. Results suggested that the addition of water to mixtures containing olanzapine and saccharin during the production of pellets, and the coating of inert beads, induced the in situ co-amorphization of these substances. The coating of inert beads enhanced the solubility and dissolution rate of olanzapine, especially when compared to pellets coated with the crystalline drug, but also with pellets containing the co-amorphous entity in the matrix of beads. Nine months stability tests (23 °C/60% RH) confirmed the preservation of the solid-state properties of the co-amorphous form on/in pellets. Overall, results highlighted the feasibility and benefits of in situ co-amorphization, either when the drug was entrapped in the pellets matrix, or preferentially applied directly on the surface of pellets.

Sulfonic Acid Derivatives in the Production of Stable Co-Amorphous Systems for Solubility Enhancement.

Co-amorphization is a promising approach to stabilize drugs in the amorphous form. Olanzapine, a poorly water-soluble drug was used in this study. Sulfonic acids (saccharin, cyclamic acid and acesulfame), free and in salt forms, were used as co-formers and compared with carboxylic acids commonly used in the preparation of co-amorphous systems. Several manufacturing techniques were tested, and the co-amorphous systems characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Free sulfonic acids produced co-amorphous systems with the drug, unlike their salts. Spectroscopy data suggests the formation of salts between olanzapine and the sulfonic acids, used as co-formers. The co-amorphous system produced with saccharin by solvent evaporation, showed the most notable solubility enhancement (145 times). The stability of amorphous and co-amorphous olanzapine systems was assessed upon exposure to stress conditions during storage. Amorphized olanzapine readily reconverted back to the crystalline form while sulfonic acids:olanzapine co-amorphous were stable for up to 24 weeks in low/medium humidity conditions (11-75% RH). Results highlight the potential advantages offered by sulfonic acids as co-formers to produce stable and more soluble co-amorphous olanzapine.

Downstream Processing of Amorphous and Co-Amorphous Olanzapine Powder Blends.

The work evaluates the stability of amorphous and co-amorphous olanzapine (OLZ) in tablets manufactured by direct compression. The flowability and the compressibility of amorphous and co-amorphous OLZ with saccharin (SAC) and the properties of the tablets obtained were measured and compared to those of tablets made with crystalline OLZ. The flowability of the amorphous and mostly of the co-amorphous OLZ powders decreased in comparison with the crystalline OLZ due to the higher cohesiveness of the former materials. The stability of the amorphous and co-amorphous OLZ prior to and after tableting was monitored by XRPD, FTIR, and NIR spectroscopies. Tablets presented long-lasting amorphous OLZ with enhanced water solubility, but the release rate of the drug decreased in comparison with tablets containing crystalline OLZ. In physical mixtures made of crystalline OLZ and SAC, an extent of amorphization of approximately 20% was accomplished through the application of compaction pressures and dwell times of 155 MPa and 5 min, respectively. The work highlighted the stability of amorphous and co-amorphous OLZ during tableting and the positive effect of compaction pressure on the formation of co-amorphous OLZ, providing an expedited amorphization technique, given that the process development-associated hurdles were overcome.

Measurement of the amorphous fraction of olanzapine incorporated in a co-amorphous formulation.

Amorphous and co-amorphous formulations have been used to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. However, during handling and/or storage amorphous solids present inherent instability and overtime recrystallize back into their crystalline counterpart. The development of tools capable of quantifying and monitoring the recrystallization of amorphous materials is required to ensure the delivery of solid dosage forms with improved performance. This work describes the development and validation of a computational model for simple measurement of amorphous and co-amorphous olanzapine (OLZ) fractions in tablets. Amorphous OLZ produced by quench cooling and co-amorphous OLZ by solvent evaporation using saccharin (SAC) as a co-former were characterized by calorimetry (DSC), diffractometry (XRPD) and spectroscopy (FTIR and NIR). Spectral differences were used to predict the fraction of amorphous OLZ in samples containing different fractions of powdered amorphous and co-amorphous OLZ:SAC. The models were shown to be linear, accurate and reproducible. Blends of (co)amorphous OLZ and excipients were directly compacted at different pressures and dwell times to impose physical stress on the systems. Data collected from the analysis of the tablets was used in the model to monitor the stability of amorphous and co-amorphous OLZ demonstrating the applicability and validity of the model.

Are the binary typology models of alcoholism valid in polydrug abusers?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dichotomy of type I/II and type A/B alcoholism typologies in opiate-dependent patients with a comorbid alcohol dependence problem (ODP-AP). METHODS: The validity assessment process comprised the information regarding the history of alcohol use (internal validity), cognitive-behavioral variables regarding substance use (external validity), and indicators of treatment during 6-month follow-up (predictive validity). RESULTS: ODP-AP subjects classified as type II/B presented an early and much more severe drinking problem and a worse clinical prognosis when considering opiate treatment variables as compared with ODP-AP subjects defined as type I/A. Furthermore, type II/B patients endorse more general positive beliefs and expectancies related to the effect of alcohol and tend to drink heavily across several intra- and interpersonal situations as compared with type I/A patients. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm two different forms of alcohol dependence, recognized as a low-severity/vulnerability subgroup and a high-severity/vulnerability subgroup, in an opiate-dependent population with a lifetime diagnosis of alcohol dependence.