Mapping the pharmaceutical design space by amorphous ionic liquid strategies.

Poor water solubility of drugs fuels complex formulations and jeopardizes patient access to medication. Simplifying these complexities we systematically synthesized a library of 36 sterically demanding counterions and mapped the pharmaceutical design space for amorphous ionic liquid strategies for Selurampanel, a poorly water soluble drug used against migraine. Patients would benefit from a rapid uptake after oral administration to alleviate migraine symptoms. Therefore, we probed the ionic liquids for the flux, supersaturation period and hygroscopicity leading to algorithms linking molecular counterion descriptors to predicted pharmaceutical outcome. By that, 30- or 800-fold improvements of the supersaturation period and fluxes were achieved as were immediate to sustained release profiles through structural counterions' optimization compared to the crystalline free acid of Selurampanel. Guided by ionic liquid structure, in vivo profiles ranged from rapid bioavailability and high maximal plasma concentrations to sustained patterns. In conclusion, the study outlined and predicted the accessible pharmaceutical design space of amorphous ionic liquid based and excipient-free formulations pointing to the enormous pharmaceutical potential of ionic liquid designs.

'Pro et contra' ionic liquid drugs - Challenges and opportunities for pharmaceutical translation.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts with a melting point below 100°C. Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are transformed into ILs by combining them with typically large yet charged counterions. ILs hold promise to build a large design space for relevant pharmaceutical parameters, particularly for poorly water soluble drugs. It is for this wide design space that ILs may be the entry into the fascinating vision of modifying physico-chemical properties without the need to structurally modify the active pharmaceutical ingredient itself. This extremely intriguing pharmaceutical option is critically discussed including its potential and limitations. The review is starting off with an introduction to the metathesis and characterization of ILs, and leads over to examples for pharmaceutical application, including enhancement of dissolution rate and kinetic solubility and hygroscopicity adaptation, respectively. Tuning biopharmaceutics and toxicology by proper IL design is another focus. The review connects the interrelated chemical, physical, pharmaceutical, and toxicological outcome of API-ILs, serving as guidance for the formulation scientist who aims at expanding ones armamentarium for poorly water soluble APIs while avoiding structural modification, thereof.

Transformation of acidic poorly water soluble drugs into ionic liquids.

Poor water solubility of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) is a major challenge in drug development impairing bioavailability and therapeutic benefit. This study is addressing the possibility to tailor pharmaceutical and physical properties of APIs by transforming these into tetrabutylphosphonium (TBP) salts, including the generation of ionic liquids (IL). Therefore, poorly water soluble acidic APIs (Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Naproxen, Sulfadiazine, Sulfamethoxazole, and Tolbutamide) were converted into TBP ILs or low melting salts and compared to the corresponding sodium salts. Free acids and TBP salts were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, DSC and XRPD, DVS and dissolution rate measurements, release profiles, and saturation concentration measurements. TBP salts had lower melting points and glass transition temperatures and dissolution rates were improved up to a factor of 1000 as compared to the corresponding free acid. An increase in dissolution rates was at the expense of increased hygroscopicity. In conclusion, the creation of TBP ionic liquids or solid salts from APIs is a valuable concept addressing dissolution and solubility challenges of poorly water soluble acidic compounds. The data suggested that tailor-made counterions may substantially expand the formulation scientist's armamentarium to meet challenges of poorly water soluble drugs.

Ionic liquid versus prodrug strategy to address formulation challenges.

PURPOSE: A poorly water soluble acidic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) was transformed into an ionic liquid (IL) aiming at faster and higher oral availability in comparison to a prodrug. METHODS: API preparations were characterized in solid state by single crystal and powder diffraction, NMR, DSC, IR and in solution by NMR and ESI-MS. Dissolution and precipitation kinetics were detailed as was the role of the counterion on API supersaturation. Transepithelial API transport through Caco-2 monolayers and counterion cytotoxicity were assessed. RESULTS: The mechanism leading to a 700 fold faster dissolution rate and longer duration of API supersaturation of the ionic liquid in comparison to the free acid was deciphered. Transepithelial transport was about three times higher for the IL in comparison to the prodrug when substances were applied as suspensions with the higher solubility of the IL outpacing the higher permeability of the prodrug. The counterion was nontoxic with IC50 values in the upper µM / lower mM range in cell lines of hepatic and renal origin as well as in macrophages. CONCLUSION: The IL approach was instrumental for tuning physico-chemical API properties, while avoiding the inherent need for structural changes as required for prodrugs.