Solid-state interaction of ibuprofen with magnesium stearate and product characterization thereof.

Solid-state compatibility of API with excipients is essential step in the preformulation stage of early development of new finished dosage form. Thermal analysis and vibrational spectroscopy are complementary techniques that play a pivotal role to assess the solid-state compatibility of API with excipients. Their coupling and combination with multivariate analysis, provide valuable quantitative aspect to reveal the potential interactions. The impetus of this work was aimed to fully elucidate the solid-state compatibility of ibuprofen and magnesium stearate in binary mixtures comprising pharmaceutically acceptable amounts of magnesium stearate (0.25-5% w/w). Binary mixtures were analyzed before and after exposure at strictly controlled stress conditions (25 °C/60% relative humidity and 40 °C/75% relative humidity). Interaction between ibuprofen and magnesium stearate was unambiguously confirmed. The product of their interaction was synthetized separately, characterized by means of FTIR spectroscopy, DSC, TG/DTG and XRPD for the first time and identified as diibuprofen magnesium. The induced solid-state pseudopolymorphic transition of this product to diibuprofen magnesium tetrahydrate was also studied and discussed.

Lactobacillus casei Encapsulated in Soy Protein Isolate and Alginate Microparticles Prepared by Spray Drying.

This article presents a novel formulation for preparation of Lactobacillus casei 01 encapsulated in soy protein isolate and alginate microparticles using spray drying method. A response surface methodology was used to optimise the formulation and the central composite face-centered design was applied to study the effects of critical material attributes and process parameters on viability of the probiotic after microencapsulation and in simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Spherical microparticles were produced in high yield (64%), narrow size distribution (d50=9.7 µm, span=0.47) and favourable mucoadhesive properties, with viability of the probiotic of 11.67, 10.05, 9.47 and 9.20 log CFU/g after microencapsulation, 3 h in simulated gastric and intestinal conditions and four-month cold storage, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the probiotic stability after microencapsulation, while differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry pointed to high thermal stability of the soy protein isolate-alginate microparticles with encapsulated probiotic. These favourable properties of the probiotic microparticles make them suitable for incorporation into functional food or pharmaceutical products.

Solid-State Phase Transformation of Monohydrate and Anhydrous Form II of Sitagliptin Phosphate into a Novel Anhydrous Form IV - Solvent-Driven, Temperature-Induced and Stress Testings.

The solid form landscape of sitagliptin phosphate was systematically evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), supported by a plethora of auxiliary analytical techniques. The preformulation experiments resulted in the transition of sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate into a new anhydrous form (designated as form IV), obtained after recrystallization from absolute ethanol. The anhydrous form IV remained stable under stressed conditions (1 month at 25 °C/60 %RH and 40 °C/75 %RH). On the other hand, thermal heating (dehydration) of sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate resulted in conversion into another anhydrous form II. Form II was found to be metastable, because after melting, under exposure at 40 °C/75 %RH for 1 month, or when dissolved in absolute ethanol converted to the stable anhydrous form IV of sitagliptin phosphate. A monotropic relationship was found between both studied anhydrous forms. Intrinsic dissolution tests revealed differences in the dissolution rates between the monohydrate and the anhydrous forms of sitagliptin phosphate. This research corrects the record with an accurate chemical composition of the anhydrous form IV of sitagliptin phosphate that was previously regarded as a hemiethanolate. In addition, the crystal structure of anhydrous form II of sitagliptin phosphate has been solved and reported for the first time.

Development of novel portable NIR spectroscopy process analytical technology (PAT) tool for monitoring the transition of ibuprofen to ibuprofen sodium during wet granulation process.

The aim of this research was to develop a process analytical technology (PAT) tool for monitoring the transformation of the active ingredient ibuprofen into the fast-dissolving salt ibuprofen sodium during the wet granulation process. Two near-infrared (NIR) spectrophotometers, portable and benchtop spectrophotometer, were compared. During the analysis with the built models, both demonstrated comparable accuracy and precision (R2X = 0.995, R2Y = 0.927, Q2 = 0.995, and R2X = 0.990, R2Y = 0.948, Q2 = 0.992, respectively). Considering the applicability, a model based on the portable NIR spectroscopic data was chosen for further development and application as a PAT tool for monitoring different steps during the wet granulation process. The evaluation of the model's predictive capability involved analyzing laboratory trial batches with varying amounts of sodium carbonate, resulting in different concentrations of ibuprofen sodium at the end of the wet granulation process. Subsequently, tablets were manufactured from each trial batch, followed by dissolution analysis. The dissolution rate assays were in good agreement with the NIR-predicted concentrations of ibuprofen sodium at the end of the wet granulation process. Based on the results, the proposed model provides an excellent tool to monitor the ibuprofen acid-salt transformation, to determine the end-point of the reaction, and to efficiently control the wet granulation process.

Formulation and characterization of ORMOSIL particles loaded with budesonide for local colonic delivery.

In this study, hybrid silica xerogel particles were developed as carriers of budesonide (BDS) for efficient local treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Organically modified silica particles (ORMOSILs) were prepared by co-condensation of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) by an ambient temperature acid catalysed sol-gel process followed by spray-drying. Formulation for preparation of BDS-loaded particles was optimized and their physicochemical parameters and drug release profiles were evaluated in vitro. Optimal formulation had a small particle size (mean diameter of 1.45±0.02µm) with unimodal narrow size distribution and high encapsulation efficiency (98.0 ± 1.85%). Due to the positive surface charge originated from amino group of APTES, ORMOSILs showed excessive mucoadhesiveness in comparison to native TEOS particles. The drug release decreased with increasing pH from 2.0 to 7.4. In order to avoid undesirable erroneous performance in the upper GI tract, particles were additionally coated with Eudragit(®) FS 30D, as a barrier to the drug release at pH range from 2.0 to 7.0. After Eudragit(®) FS 30D coating, the release of BDS in acidic media was sustained, while no significant differences in drug release were observed at pH 7.4. In conclusion, pH-responsive ORMOSILs showed great potential for efficient BDS delivery to the colon region.