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.

Towards the rational design of novel drugs based on solubility, partitioning/distribution, biomimetic permeability and biological activity exemplified by 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives.

Novel 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives as potent neuroprotectors were synthesized and identified. Their ability to inhibit the glutamate stimulated Ca2+ uptake was investigated. The solubility of thiadiazoles was measured in a buffer solution (pH 7.4) at 298 K. The distribution coefficients in 1-octanol/buffer (pH 7.4) and 1-hexane/buffer (pH 7.4) immiscible phases as model systems imitating the gastrointestinal tract epithelium and the blood-brain barrier were determined. Permeation experiments the new Permeapad™ barrier using Franz diffusion cells were conducted and the apparent permeability coefficients were obtained. The influence of the compound structure on the physicochemical properties determining the bioavailability of drug-like substances was revealed. Solubility-permeability interplay has been assessed to evaluate potential bioavailability of the compounds studied.

Chitosan based micro- and nanoparticles for colon-targeted delivery of vancomycin prepared by alternative processing methods.

The aim of this work was to prepare chitosan (CH) based particulate formulations for colon delivery of vancomycin (VM). Chitosan microparticles (MPs) and nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with VM were prepared using different CH/tripolyphosphate (TPP) molar ratios and different technological processes. In particular, nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation and freeze-drying to recover these particles, or, alternatively, by spray-drying method. Microparticles were prepared using a different spray-dryer. Micro- and nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size distributions by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), while encapsulation and drug loading efficiencies were studied using a dialysis method. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) was employed to determine the surface composition of the micro- and nanoparticles respectively, and the morphologies of the developed systems were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water uptake as well as drug release profiles were also measured. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive model strain, was evaluated. FT-IR results suggested an electrostatic interaction between VM and CH/TPP particles. Moreover, the particles were found to hold a positive zeta-potential, indicating the presence of CH on the particle surfaces. Particle size and encapsulation efficiency were mainly influenced by the different manufacturing processes employed. Nanoparticles obtained by spray-drying showed the best results in terms of water uptake and drug release rate. Moreover, they showed a good bactericidal activity against S. aureus.

Development of a melting tablet containing promethazine HCl against motion sickness.

The purpose of this study was to design a 'Traveller Friendly Drug Delivery System' for PM-HCl. Conventional promethazine (PM-HCl) tablets are bitter, need to be taken 1 h before symptoms and water is also needed. Taste-masked granules were produced with Eudragit E100 by extrusion, and analyzed with FTIR, DSC, and XRD. Tablets formulated from granules by direct compression using Ac-Di-Sol, Polyplasdone-XL, Primojel and ion-exchanger Tulsion339 and evaluated for mass uniformity, friability, tensile strength, drug content uniformity, water absorption ratio, in-vitro and in-vivo disintegration time and in-vitro dissolution studies. The observed drug-polymer interactions and reduced crystallinity may be reasons for increased dissolution rates. The formulated tablets were disintegrated within 15 s. Tablets (25 mg PM-HCl) with Ac-Di-Sol (4%) showed complete release within 1 min, while marketed conventional tablets (Phenergan; Rhone-Poulec) release 25% during the same period. A preliminary stability studies for the prepared tablets carried at 30 +/- 2 degrees C/60 +/- 5% RH, and 40 +/- 2 degrees C/75 +/- 5%RH for 3 months showed no significant changes in the tablets quality at 30 +/- 2 degrees C/60 +/- 5% RH. However, at 40 +/- 2 degrees C/75 +/- 5%RH marked increase in in-vitro disintegration time, tensile strength and decrease in friability and water absorption ratio was found. The present studies indicate the abilities of Eudragit E 100 for taste masking and improving the dissolution profile of PM-HCl after complexation. In addition, by employing cost effective direct compression method, fast-dissolving tablets of 400 mg total weight with an acceptable quality could be prepared.

Properties of fujicalin, a new modified anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate for direct compression: comparison with dicalcium phosphate dihydrate.

The novel, commercially available, free-flowing spherically granulated dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (SGDCPA) Fujicalin for direct tableting was compared with directly compressible dicalcium phosphate dihYdrate (DCPD), the properties of which are well known. The two excipients were investigated and compared with regard to their physical and powder properties, compressibility, and compactibility. As a consequence of the spherical shape of its particles, SGDCPA shows the same good flowability and even better compactibility. In contrast to DCPD, SGDCPA shows significant uptake of moisture when exposed to relative humidities (RHs) exceeding 70%. For both excipients, the main deformation mechanism is fragmentation, with SGDCPA yielding significantly stronger tablets.

The methanol hemisolvate of amiloride hydrochloride.

In the asymmetric unit of N-(3,5-diamino-6-chloropyrazin-2-ylcarbonyl)-N-(diaminomethylene)ammonium chloride methanol hemisolvate, C(6)H(9)ClN(7)O(+).Cl(-).0.5CH(4)O, there are two crystallographically different amiloride molecules. Crystallographically identical amiloride molecules are stacked one above the other, alternately rotated by 180 degrees. These stacks are arranged parallel to each other, forming layer A. The least-squares plane of the non-H atoms of the other molecules lying in layer B is tilted against the corresponding plane of the molecules in layer A by an angle of 79.89 (3) degrees. The methanol molecules and Cl(-) anions are located between these layers, although the methanol molecules are closer to layer A.

Cross-contamination in Porcelain Mortars.

Porcelain mortars and pestles are frequently used to comminute drug substances on a small scale and (in some cases) in the production of liquid and semisolid suspensions. Although it is generally accepted that removal of a drug substance from a rough surface by rinsing may be difficult and may lead to cross-contamination, no hard data support that theory. In this study, the amount of salicylic acid remaining on a porcelain mortar after different washing procedures was quantified and compared with the amount remaining on a plastic mortar. Drug residues in the "mg" range on the porcelain mortars made common rinsing procedures appear inappropriate, but no traces of drug were detected on plastic mortars. In addition, the quality of suspension ointments with respect to particle size and homogeneity produced by the two types of mortars was compared. Porcelain and plastic mortars appeared equally suitable for use in the production of semisolid suspensions.

Influence of tableting forces and lubricant concentration on the adhesion strength in complex layer tablets.

The strength of adhesion in complex two-layer tablets is assessed using statistical methods with respect to the applied tableting forces for the first layer and for applying the second layer on the first, as well as regarding the fraction of the lubricant. These results, obtained on a single-punch tablet press, are compared with the results for three-layer tablets produced on a rotary press at production scale. The strongest negative influence on adhesion strength was exerted by the amount of lubricant in the central layer. As expected, compression forces for central-layer tableting also had a negative effect, whereas the compression forces for complex layer tableting exerted a positive effect on layer adhesion. The validity of the derived model equation was proved by experiments: It was shown that the adhesion strength in complex layer tablets produced in production scale can be predicted from laboratory-scale experiments. This makes optimization of the formulation and parameter settings at an early stage of development possible.

On the accuracy of a new displacement instrumentation for rotary tablet presses.

The Portable Press Analyzer (PPA; Puuman Oy, Finland), a commercially available instrumentation for rotary tablet presses, was tested for accuracy of determination of force and displacement. The calibration of the force transducers (strain gauges) was tested under a static condition. The calibration of the displacement transducers (plastic film potentiometer) was compared for static and dynamic recordings. Force measurement was found precise (deviation < 1.1%) after alterations in the calibration procedure. Displacement measurement was affected by punch tilting and the application of the transducers. If tilting of punches was not considered, the deviation of displacement measurement from the true value (using steel tablets as a reference) was found up to 110 microns. By modifying the original PPA system by supplementing additional displacement transducers in the adjacent turret positions of the punches and adding a custom electronic device (Tilting Compensation Device), the accuracy of distance measurement was improved to 18.1 microns (+/- 3.64). Furthermore, machine and tooling deformation were recorded and found different under static and dynamic conditions. Correction of punch displacement for elastic deformation therefore should preferably be made from dynamic recordings.

Effectiveness of binders in wet granulation: a comparison using model formulations of different tabletability.

Abstract Based on an analysis of model granulates and tablets, a comparison was made of the effectiveness of the binders PVP K30 PH, Cellulose HP-M 603, Lycatab DSH, Lycatab PGS, and L-HPC (type LH 11). A high shear mixer was used to prepare two model granulates (placebo and paracetamol) under processing conditions which were, as far as possible, comparable. The binders were added as proportions of 2%, 6%, and 10%. Water was used as the granulating liquid. The properties of the placebo granulates (particle size distribution, bulk and tapped density, granule strength, flow properties), and those of the tablets (crushing strength, friability) prepared from these granulates under different compaction forces, were generally good. However, with PVP, Cellulose HP-M603, and Lycatab, the disintegration time of the tablets did not meet pharmacopoeial requirements even though a "disintegrant" was used in the "outer phase." The paracetamol formulations were prime examples of high-dose drug substances with particularly poor granulating and tabletting properties, well suited to reveal differences between the binders. The paracetamol granulates were of higher friability and less flowability than the placebo granulates. The tablets tended to cap, friability was (with few exceptions) high, and disintegration times were long. In the preparation of model tablets containing paracetamol, PVP K30 PH (6%). and Cellulose HP-M 603 (6%) turn out to be the binders of choice with respect to crushing strength, but the disintegration times are too long. Lycatab PGS, Lycatab DSH, and L-HPC-LH 11 could not be used to produce paracetamol tablets that met the requirements.