The influence of polymer content on early gel-layer formation in HPMC matrices: The use of CLSM visualisation to identify the percolation threshold.

Percolation theory has been used for several years in the design of HPMC hydrophilic matrices. This theory predicts that a minimum threshold content of polymer is required to provide extended release of drug, and that matrices with a lower polymer content will exhibit more rapid drug release as a result of percolation pathways facilitating the faster penetration of the aqueous medium. At present, percolation thresholds in HPMC matrices have been estimated solely through the mathematical modelling of dissolution data. This paper examines whether they can be also identified in a novel way: through the use of confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (CLSM) to observe the morphology of the emerging gel layer during the initial period of polymer hydration and early gel formation at the matrix surface. In this study, matrices have been prepared with a polymer content of 5-30% w/w HPMC 2208 (Methocel K4M), with a mix of other excipients (a soluble drug (caffeine), lactose, microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate) to provide a typical industrially realistic formulation. Dissolution studies, undertaken in water using USP apparatus 2 (paddle) at 50rpm, provided data for the calculation of the percolation threshold through relating dissolution kinetic parameters to the excipient volumetric fraction of the dry matrix. The HPMC percolation threshold estimated this way was found to be 12.8% v/v, which was equivalent to a matrix polymer content of 11.5% w/w. The pattern of polymer hydration and gel layer growth during early gel layer formation was examined by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (CLSM). Clear differences in gel layer formation were observed. At polymer contents above the estimated threshold a continuous gel layer was formed within 15min, whereas matrices with polymer contents below the threshold were characterised by irregular gel layer formation with little evidence of HPMC particle coalescence. According to percolation theory, this implies that a continuous cluster of HPMC particles was not formed. The images provide the first direct evidence of how the percolation threshold may be related to the success or failure of early gel layer development in HPMC matrices. It also shows how extended release characteristics are founded on the successful coalescence of hydrated polymer particles to form a continuous coherent diffusion barrier, which can then inhibit further percolation of the hydration medium. The correlation between percolation thresholds estimated from dissolution and imaging techniques suggests that confocal imaging may provide a more rapid method for estimating the percolation thresholds, facilitating the rational design of HPMC extended release matrices at lower polymer contents with minimal risk of dose dumping.

The influence of substituted phenols on the sol:gel transition of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) aqueous solutions.

The influence of the physicochemical parameters of substituted aromatic molecules on the phase transition from sol to gel of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) has been investigated using a homologous series of substituted phenols. Using a turbimetric methodology, concentration dependent suppression of phase transition temperature of HPMC was observed for phenol and its derivatives, including methyl-, nitro- and chloro-substituted molecules. Although no strong direct relationship between single molecular physicochemical properties of the phenolic compounds (such as pKa, LogP and other molecular descriptors) and ΔCPT was found for the compounds tested, a successful prediction of behaviour could be obtained by using a combination of parameters. This suggested that the interaction mechanism between HPMC and the substituted aromatic moiety is a complex summation of the different molecular physicochemical properties. Identification of these potentially deleterious chemical moieties may be of value in a pharmaceutical context when considering preformulation of drug structures containing them. An incompatibility between drug and polymer may be indicative of deleterious effects resulting from formulation with hydrophilic matrix dosage forms containing cellulose ethers such as HPMC.

Interrogating erosion-based drug liberation phenomena from hydrophilic matrices using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy.

The present work explores the application of in situ near infrared (NIR) imaging to determine the drug release mechanisms from hydrophilic matrices containing a low solubility model drug (Compound A, with aqueous solubility at 37°C ∼0.05 mg/mL). Correlation maps generated from the NIR data determined the extent drug and HPMC co-localisation. Judicious thresholding facilitated band separation of low drug/HPMC ratio and high drug/HPMC ratio. A pseudo-image time-series confirmed the dominant erosion release mechanisms. The gel layer region showed low drug concentration with progressive dissolution. However, large drug aggregates remained unchanged even when fully "immersed" within the gel layer. From the correlation maps, further discrimination was possible for the pure drug signal, generating a highly contrasted image that enabled individual particle tracking. These contrasted images also revealed the evolution of single or clusters of drug particles. Initially, an aggregative process involving the drug particles occurred, with a subsequent migration process of such particles. This second process dominated the subsequent 90 min before significant erosion. In summary, this study has provided tentative confirmation that NIR imaging has the potential to afford insights into drug liberation phenomena where erosion is the predominant release mechanism.

Overcoming sink limitations in dissolution testing: a review of traditional methods and the potential utility of biphasic systems.

OBJECTIVES: The conventional dissolution test, particularly the USP apparatus I and II, remains an important tool in the armory of the pharmaceutical development scientist. For realistic dissolution characterization, sink conditions, where saturation solubility of a drug in the dissolution medium is at least three times more than the drug concentration, are critical. These conditions can be problematic to maintain with formulations containing poorly-soluble actives. This review summarizes the role of the dissolution test in the pharmaceutical industry, together with some traditional techniques/additives used to enhance solubility and facilitate the achievement of sink conditions. The biphasic dissolution system, an innovative model for the treatment of poorly-soluble species, will also be discussed. KEY FINDINGS: The biphasic dissolution model utilizes media comprising immiscible aqueous and organic layers whereby the drug, following initial aqueous dissolution, partitions into the organic layer. This step, which acts to remove all dissolved species from the aqueous layer, enables further aqueous dissolution to occur and hence the dissolution-partition cycle continues. Crucially, the aqueous layer does not saturate allowing sink conditions to be maintained and hence the experiment will, in theory, yield complete dissolution. SUMMARY: This review highlights important concepts regarding solubility/sink limitation and intends to provoke debate among analytical and formulation scientists as to the potential advantages, long-term development and widespread implementation of a biphasic dissolution system in drug development.

A case study exploring the impact of an oxygen barrier coating on formulation stability, in-vitro dissolution and bioperformance.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of a carmellose sodium (sodium carboxymethycellulose)-based coat (Opaglos 2) on the stability of an oxygen-sensitive compound A and in-vitro dissolution and bioperformance of compound B has been investigated. METHODS: Tablets containing compounds A and B were coated with various weight gains of Opaglos 2 and a comparative elegance coating (poly(vinyl alcohol)-based Opadry II). Film-coated tablets were assessed for oxidative degradation under accelerated stability conditions (30°C/65% RH and 40°C/75% RH). KEY FINDINGS: An apparent rank order of restriction of oxygen (O(2) ) permeability afforded by the coatings was observed, with only higher Opaglos 2 coating weight gains (6 and 8% w/w) providing adequate oxidative degradation stability for up to 52 weeks. Improved stability at the higher coating weight gains was attributed to incomplete polymeric film formation at lower coating weight gains. The 6% and 8% w/w Opaglos 2 formulations showed dissolution retardation compared with elegance-coated formulations in USP dissolution apparatus II, predicting significant impact on formulation bioperformance. However, pharmacokinetic studies in Beagle dogs showed similar bioperformance for all formulations. CONCLUSIONS: The Opaglos 2 coating system evaluated in these studies afforded adequate protection from oxidative degradation with no negative impact on bioperformance as compared to elegance coating. However, further studies are needed using several compounds to assess the broader applicability of these coatings.

The use of in situ near infrared spectroscopy to provide mechanistic insights into gel layer development in HPMC hydrophilic matrices.

In this study, near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been used to track the spatial and temporal movement of a model drug (Compound A) while monitoring in situ the gel layer development in hydrophilic matrices based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). To validate the NIR experimental set-up, Compound A was formulated in "slow" and "fast" drug releasing formulations with high (56% w/w) and low (18% w/w) levels of HPMC K100M, respectively. NIR microscopy was used to (i) define the extent of HPMC pseudo-gel swelling, (ii) elucidate the movement of the polymer swelling front and (iii) track movement of the drug through the gel layer. Dissolution testing (USP I) allowed correlation of mechanistic details ascertained using NIR with the rate and extent of drug release. Several critical differences were observable between "fast" and "slow" formulations. In the "fast" formulation, HPMC swelling front movement occurred at a slower rate and to a lesser extent compared to drug release, suggestive of inadequate gel layer formation and a partial loss of extended release characteristics. In contrast, the "slow" formulation exhibited a similar rate of HPMC swelling front movement compared to drug release, suggesting a release mechanism predominately controlled by polymer erosion, supported by an apparent zero order drug dissolution curve in USP I. In conclusion, the study suggests the potential future value of using NIR in situ to elucidate mechanistic insights in drug release rate from pharmaceutical formulations.

Solution interactions of diclofenac sodium and meclofenamic acid sodium with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC).

Many pharmaceutical agents require formulation in order to facilitate their efficacious delivery. However, the interaction between the active species and the formulation additives has the potential to significantly influence the pharmocokinetics of the active. In this study, the solution interactions between hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) with two non-steroidal anti-inflammatories - the sodium salts of diclofenac and meclofenamate - were investigated using tensiometric, rheological, NMR, neutron scattering and turbidimetric techniques. The two drugs behaved very differently-meclofenamate addition to HPMC solutions led to substantial increases in viscosity, a depression of the gel point and a marked reduction in the self-diffusion coefficient of the drug, whereas diclofenac did not induce these changes. Collectively, these observations are evidence of meclofenamate forming self-assembled aggregates on the HPMC, a phenomenon not observed with diclofenac Na. Any process that leads to aggregation on a nonionic polymer will not be strongly favoured when the aggregating species is charged. Thus, it is hypothesised that the distinction between the two drugs arises as a consequence of the tautomerism present in meclofenamate that builds electron density on the carbonyl group that is further stabilised by hydrogen bonding to the HPMC. This mechanism is absent in the diclofenac case and thus no interaction is observed. These studies propose for the first time a molecular basis for the observed often-unexpected, concentration-dependant changes in HPMC solution properties when co-formulated with different NSAIDs, and underline the importance of characterising such fundamental interactions that have the potential to influence drug release in solid HPMC-based dosage forms.

The suitability of tris(hydroxylmethyl) aminomethane (THAM) as a buffering system for hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) hydrophilic matrices containing a weak acid drug.

There are few studies of alkalising pH-modifiers in HPMC hydrophilic matrices. These agents may be incorporated to provide microenvironmental buffering and facilitate pH-independent release of weak acid drugs. This study compared tris(hydroxylmethyl) aminomethane (THAM, TRIS, tromethamine, trometamol) with sodium citrate as internal buffering agents for HPMC (4000 cps) 2208 and 2910 matrices containing felbinac, a weak acid drug which exhibits pH-dependent solubility. Drug release at pH 1.2 and 7.5 was accelerated by both buffers, but THAM-buffered matrices provided extended, diffusion-based release kinetics, without loss of matrix integrity at high buffer concentrations. Release kinetics appeared to be independent of media pH. THAM did not depress the sol-gel transition temperature or suppress HPMC particle swelling, and had minimal effects on gel layer formation. Sodium citrate promoted greater thickness of the early gel layer than THAM. Measurements of internal gel layer pH showed that both buffers produced a rapid alkalisation of the gel layer which was progressively lost. As result of its higher pK(a) and molar ratio on a percent weight basis, THAM provided a higher internal pH and a greater longevity of pH modification. It is concluded that THAM offers a useful buffering option for weak acid drugs in HPMC-based systems.

Mechanisms of drug release in citrate buffered HPMC matrices.

Few studies report the effects of alkalizing buffers in HPMC matrices. These agents are incorporated to provide micro-environmental buffering, protection of acid-labile ingredients, or pH-independent release of weak acid drugs. In this study, the influence of sodium citrate on the release kinetics, gel layer formation, internal gel pH and drug release mechanism was investigated in HPMC 2910 and 2208 (Methocel E4M and K4M) matrices containing 10% felbinac 39% HPMC, dextrose and sodium citrate. Matrix dissolution at pH 1.2 and pH 7.5 resulted in complex release profiles. HPMC 2910 matrices exhibited biphasic release, with citrate increasing the immediate release phase (<60min) and reducing the extended release. HPMC 2208 matrices were accelerated, but without the loss of extended release characteristics. Studies of early gel layer formation suggested gel barrier disruption and enhanced liquid penetration. pH modification of the gel layer was transitory (<2h) and corresponded temporally with the immediate release phase. Results suggest that in HPMC 2910 matrices, high initial citrate concentrations within the gel layer suppress particle swelling, interfere with diffusion barrier integrity, but are lost rapidly whereupon drug solubility reduces and the diffusion barrier recovers. These Hofmeister or osmotic-mediated effects are better resisted by the less methoxylated HPMC 2208.

Pharmaceutical applications of confocal laser scanning microscopy: the physical characterisation of pharmaceutical systems.

The application of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to the physicochemical characterisation of pharmaceutical systems is not as widespread as its application within the field of cell biology. However, methods have been developed to exploit the imaging capabilities of CLSM to study a wide range of pharmaceutical systems, including phase-separated polymers, colloidal systems, microspheres, pellets, tablets, film coatings, hydrophilic matrices, and chromatographic stationary phases. Additionally, methods to measure diffusion in gels, bioadhesives, and for monitoring microenvironmental pH change within dosage forms have been utilised. CLSM has also been used in the study of the physical interaction of dosage forms with biological barriers such as the eye, skin and intestinal epithelia, and in particular, to determine the effectiveness of a plethora of pharmaceutical systems to deliver drugs through these barriers. In the future, there is continuing scope for wider exploitation of existing techniques, and continuing advancements in instrumentation.