An inert 3D emulsification device for individual precipitation and concentration of amorphous drug nanoparticles.

Nanosizing increases the specific surface of drug particles, leading to faster dissolution inside the organism and improving the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. A novel approach for the preparation of drug nanoparticles in water using chemically inert microfluidic emulsification devices is presented in this paper. A lithographic fabrication sequence was established, allowing fabrication of intersecting and coaxial channels of different depths in glass as is required for 3D flow-focusing. Fenofibrate was used as a model for active pharmaceutical ingredients with very low water solubility in the experiments. It was dissolved in ethyl acetate and emulsified in water, as allowed by the 3D flow-focusing geometry. In the thread formation regime, the drug solution turned into monodisperse droplets of sizes down to below 1 µm. Fast supersaturation occurs individually in each droplet, as the disperse phase solvent progressively diffuses into the surrounding water. Liquid antisolvent precipitation results in highly monodisperse and amorphous nanoparticles of sizes down to 128 nm which can be precisely controlled by the continuous and disperse phase pressure. By comparing optically measured droplet sizes with particle sizes by dynamic light scattering, we could confirm that exactly one particle forms in every droplet. Furthermore, a downstream on-chip concentration allowed withdrawal of major volumes of only the continuous phase fluid which enabled an increase of particle concentration by up to 250 times.

Process parameter dependent growth phenomena of naproxen nanosuspension manufactured by wet media milling.

The production of nanosuspensions has proved to be an effective method for overcoming bioavailability challenges of poorly water soluble drugs. Wet milling in stirred media mills and planetary ball mills has become an established top-down-method for producing such drug nanosuspensions. The quality of the resulting nanosuspension is determined by the stability against agglomeration on the one hand, and the process parameters of the mill on the other hand. In order to understand the occurring dependencies, a detailed screening study, not only on adequate stabilizers, but also on their optimum concentration was carried out for the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) naproxen in a planetary ball mill. The type and concentration of the stabilizer had a pronounced influence on the minimum particle size obtained. With the best formulation the influence of the relevant process parameters on product quality was investigated to determine the grinding limit of naproxen. Besides the well known phenomenon of particle agglomeration, actual naproxen crystal growth and morphology alterations occurred during the process which has not been observed before. It was shown that, by adjusting the process parameters, those effects could be reduced or eliminated. Thus, besides real grinding and agglomeration a process parameter dependent ripening of the naproxen particles was identified to be a concurrent effect during the naproxen fine grinding process.

Controlled polymorphic transformation of continuously crystallized solid lipid nanoparticles in a microstructured device: a feasibility study.

The contribution describes the transfer from a batch to a micro-continuous process for the production of stable solid lipid nanoparticles as drug carrier systems. Solid lipid nanoparticles are commonly prepared batch-wise often resulting in poorly defined product qualities with regard to the polymorphic state of their lipid matrix. In order to obtain solid lipid nanoparticle dispersions that meet the requirements for an acceptable pharmaceutical product, the manufacture of reproducible product qualities preferably containing the stable crystal form of the respective matrix lipid is necessary. These requests are addressed by the continuous preparation process of solid lipid nanoparticles. A four step feasibility study for the standardized evaluation whether or not a colloidal lipid dispersion is suitable for continuous crystallization of the particles resulting in stable crystal forms is presented. The process is based on the continuous crystallization and subsequent thermal treatment of differently stabilized, tripalmitin-based nanoparticle formulations in microstructured devices. The successful production of the stable crystal form by means of a continuous process chain is shown for a dispersion stabilized with a blend of hydrogenated soybean lecithin and sodium glycocholate.

Interaction of dispersed cubic phases with blood components.

The interaction of aqueous nanoparticle dispersions, e.g. based on monoolein/poloxamer 407, with blood components is an important topic concerning especially the parenteral way of administration. Therefore, the influence of human and porcine plasma on dispersed cubic phases was investigated. Particle size measurements of mixtures with plasma indicated a decrease in particle size. In cryo-transmission electron micrographs, different structures could be found, which arose from the dispersed cubic phases under plasma contact. Non-cubic structures on the particle surface were decomposed first. Several phase transitions with the formation of smaller and sometimes larger particle fractions were observed beside remaining cubic structures. A very low but detectable hemolytic activity was found for the dispersed cubic phases based on monoolein and poloxamer 407, when compared to the hemolytic activity of cubic phases based on monoolein and poloxamer 188, on soy phosphatidylcholine, glycerol dioleate and polysorbate 80 or the parenteral fat emulsion Lipofundin MCT 20%.

Fluxgate magnetorelaxometry: a new approach to study the release properties of hydrogel cylinders and microspheres.

Hydrogels are under investigation as long term delivery systems for biomacromolecules as active pharmaceutical ingredients. The release behavior of hydrogels can be tailored during the fabrication process. This study investigates the applicability of fluxgate magnetorelaxometry (MRX) as a tool to characterize the release properties of such long term drug delivery depots. MRX is based on the use of superparamagnetic core-shell nanoparticles as model substances. The feasibility of using superparamagnetic nanoparticles to study the degradation of and the associated release from hydrogel cylinders and hydrogel microspheres was a major point of interest. Gels prepared from two types of photo crosslinkable polymers based on modified hydroxyethylstarch, specifically hydroxyethyl starch-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HES-HEMA) and hydroxyethyl starch-polyethylene glycol methacrylate (HES-P(EG)(6)MA), were analyzed. MRX analysis of the incorporated nanoparticles allowed to evaluate the influence of different crosslinking conditions during hydrogel production as well as to follow the increase in nanoparticle mobility as a result of hydrogel degradation during release studies. Conventional release studies with fluorescent markers (half-change method) were performed for comparison. MRX with superparamagnetic nanoparticles as model substances is a promising method to analyze pharmaceutically relevant processes such as the degradation of hydrogel drug carrier systems. In contrast to conventional release experiments MRX allows measurements in closed vials (reducing loss of sample and sampling errors), in opaque media and at low magnetic nanoparticle concentrations. Magnetic markers possess a better long-term stability than fluorescent ones and are thus also promising for the use in in vivo studies.

Influence of preparation conditions and heat treatment on the properties of supercooled smectic cholesteryl myristate nanoparticles.

Colloidal dispersions of cholesterol esters in the supercooled smectic state are under investigation as a novel drug carrier system in particular with respect to parenteral application. In the present study, suitable conditions for the homogenization of cholesteryl myristate dispersions stabilized with a phospholipid/bile salt blend were evaluated. For effective particle size reduction homogenization with high pressure and at temperatures above the melting temperature of the cholesterol ester (isotropic melt) is necessary. Homogenization at lower temperature where the matrix lipid is in the smectic state is less effective even when applying the highest homogenization pressure possible but still leads to dispersions with particles in the colloidal size range. Since sterility is required for parenteral medications and is usually achieved by autoclaving for aqueous systems, the physical and chemical stability of cholesteryl myristate nanoparticles stabilized with different surface active agents during heat treatment was investigated as well. The dispersions were characterized by particle size and zeta potential measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The results indicate that cholesteryl myristate nanoparticles stabilized with phospholipid/sodium glycocholate, polyvinyl alcohol, poloxamer and poloxamine can be sterilized by autoclaving. Compared to cholesterol ester free dispersions of phospholipids, the phospholipid seems to be more stable against hydrolysis during prolonged heat treatment in the phospholipid/bile salt containing cholesteryl myristate dispersions.

Influence of composition and preparation parameters on the properties of aqueous monoolein dispersions.

Colloidal cubic phase particles formed in the monoolein/poloxamer/water system are being investigated as potential drug carriers for, e.g., intravenous administration. Preparation methods must, however, still be further developed to reliably yield monoolein dispersions with cubic particles in a size range acceptable for i.v. administration and adequate long-term stability. In this context, the influence of different composition and preparation parameters on the properties of monoolein dispersions prepared by high-pressure homogenization was studied. High pressure homogenization of coarse poloxamer 407-stabilized monoolein/water mixtures leads to dispersions with a large fraction of micrometer-sized particles at low poloxamer concentrations. Higher poloxamer concentrations lead to lower mean particle sizes but the fraction of cubic particles becomes smaller and vesicular particles are observed instead. A study of the characteristics of a dispersion with a standard composition indicated that the homogenization temperature has a much stronger influence on the dispersion properties than the homogenization pressure or the type of homogenizer used. Temperatures around 40-60 degrees C lead to the most favorable dispersion properties. The high temperature sensitivity of the preparation process appears to be at least partly correlated with the phase behavior of the dispersed particles determined by temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction.

Investigations on the thermal behavior of omeprazole and other sulfoxides.

Thermoanalytical and chromatographic investigations were performed to elucidate the reason for the uncommon thermal behavior of omeprazole prepared according to a newly developed route of synthesis. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the position of the melting endotherm of omeprazole strongly depended on the heating rate. High heating rates (20-30 degrees C/min) led to endothermic peaks at high temperatures (comparable to literature data), while lower rates induced a shift of the signal to lower temperatures. In thermogravimetric experiments weight loss was observed which started about 20 degrees C lower at the heating rate of 1 degrees C/min in comparison with the rate of 20 degrees C/min. Thermomicroscopic investigations indicated a decomposition prior to melting at low (1 degrees C/min) but not at high heating rates (20 degrees C/min). Investigation of the violet melt by HPLC and TLC showed that omeprazole was decomposed quantitatively. Decomposition started at 135 degrees C and depended on the rate of heating. The results indicate that eutectic behavior with decomposition products leads to a melting point depression of omeprazole upon slow heating. Similar behavior was observed for the related sulfoxides lansoprazole and pantoprazole which showed the same onset temperature for decomposition as omeprazole in chromatographic investigations. The heating rate dependent melting behavior was, however, much less pronounced for pantoprazole which has a melting range only slightly above the onset temperature for decomposition. In contrast, a constant value for the melting temperature could not be achieved for lansoprazole, the substance with the highest melting range under investigation, even at high heating rates up to 30 degrees C/min. In conclusion, a very dynamic method and exactly standardized measurement conditions, particularly with regards to heating rate, (e.g., in DSC) have to be employed to enable reliable determination of a melting point of these decomposable substances.

Crystallization behavior of supercooled smectic cholesteryl myristate nanoparticles containing phospholipids as stabilizers.

Supercooled smectic nanoparticles based on physiological cholesterol esters are under investigation as a potential novel carrier system for lipophilic drugs. The present study investigates the very complex crystallization behavior of such nanoparticles stabilized with the aid of phospholipids. Phospholipid and phospholipid/bile salt stabilized cholesteryl myristate dispersions were prepared by high-pressure melt homogenization and characterized by particle size measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. To obtain fractions with very small smectic nanoparticles, selected dispersions were ultracentrifuged. A mixture of cholesteryl myristate and the phospholipid used for the stabilization of the dispersions was also investigated by light microscopy. The nanoparticles usually display a bimodal crystallization event which depends on the thermal treatment and cannot be attributed to crystalline polymorphism. The ratio of the particle fractions crystallizing in the two successive steps strongly depends on the particle size of the dispersions. The presence of larger particles leads to an increased fraction crystallizing at higher temperature and a higher recrystallization tendency upon storage. The observed peculiarities of the crystallization behavior seem to be mainly caused by the presence of particles with different shapes (cylindrical and spherical) as observed in electron microscopy. Alterations in the composition of the nanoparticles may also play a role.

Supercooled smectic nanoparticles: a potential novel carrier system for poorly water soluble drugs.

PURPOSE: The possibility of preparing nanoparticles in the supercooled thermotropic liquid crystalline state from cholesterol esters with saturated acyl chains as well as the incorporation of model drugs into the dispersions was investigated using cholesteryl myristate (CM) as a model cholesterol ester. METHODS: Nanoparticles were prepared by high-pressure melt homogenization or solvent evaporation using phospholipids, phospholipid/ bile salt, or polyvinyl alcohol as emulsifiers. The physicochemical state and phase behavior of the particles was characterized by particle size measurements (photon correlation spectroscopy, laser diffraction with polarization intensity differential scattering), differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and electron and polarizing light microscopy. The viscosity of the isotropic and liquid crystalline phases of CM in the bulk was investigated in dependence on temperature and shear rate by rotational viscometry. RESULTS: CM nanoparticies can be obtained in the smectic phase and retained in this state for at least 12 months when stored at 230C in optimized systems. The recrystallization tendency of CM in the dispersions strongly depends on the stabilizer system and the particle size. Stable drug-loaded smectic nanoparticles were obtained after incorporation of 10% (related to CM) ibuprofen, miconazole, etomidate, and 1% progesterone. CONCLUSIONS: Due to their liquid crystalline state, colloidal smectic nanoparticles offer interesting possibilities as carrier system for lipophilic drugs. CM nanoparticles are suitable model systems for studying the crystallization behavior and investigating the influence of various parameters for the development of smectic nanoparticles resistant against recrystallization upon storage.

Incorporation of the model drug ubidecarenone into solid lipid nanoparticles.

PURPOSE: The impact of drug incorporation on melt-homogenized tripalmitin nanoparticles is investigated with ubidecarenone as a model drug. The dispersions are studied with respect to their drug loading capacity, localization and physical state of the drug as well as to potential changes of the nanoparticle properties due to interactions between drug and triglyceride matrix. METHODS: The investigations were carried out using photon correlation spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction, ultracentrifugation, and cryo- and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Ubidecarenone can be incorporated into the dispersions in concentrations higher than 50% of the dispersed phase. The drug is associated with the nanoparticles such that small drug amounts are bound tightly to the carrier matrix while excess drug adheres as a liquid phase to the crystalline particles. Drug incorporation lowers the crystallization and melting temperature of the particle matrix and accelerates the transition of the triglyceride into the stable beta-polymorph after crystallization. CONCLUSIONS: Drug incorporation may significantly alter important physicochemical parameters of solid lipid nanoparticles. Slow release of ubidecarenone may only be possible for the fraction of drug which is tightly bound to the matrix while the liquid fraction should be rapidly released.

Morphological transitions of brain sphingomyelin are determined by the hydration protocol: ripples re-arrange in plane, and sponge-like networks disintegrate into small vesicles.

The phase transition of hydrated brain sphingomyelin occurs at around 35 degrees C, which is close to the physiological temperature. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy is used to characterize different gel state morphologies in terms of solid-ordered and liquid-ordered phase states, according to the occurrence of ripples and other higher-dimensional bilayer deformations. Evidently, the natural mixed-chain sphingomyelin does not assume the flat L beta, phase but instead the rippled P beta, phase, with symmetric and asymmetric ripples as well as macroripples and an egg-carton pattern, depending on the incubation conditions. An unexpected difference was observed between samples that are hydrated above and below the phase transition temperature. When the lipid is hydrated at low temperature, a sponge-like network of bilayers is formed in the gel state, next to some normal lamellae. The network loses its ripples during cold-incubation, which indicates the formation of a liquid-ordered (lo) gel phase. Ripples re-appear upon warming and the sponge-like network disintegrates spontaneously and irreversibly into small vesicles above the phase transition.

Phase behavior of tyloxapol/Triton X100/water mixtures.

The influence of admixture of Triton X100 to the polymer tyloxapol and the phase behavior of the mixtures in contact with water was investigated by viscometry, polarization microscopy, and X-ray scattering. The viscosity of tyloxapol/Triton X100 mixtures is lower than that of pure tyloxapol. With increasing Triton X100 content, the phase behavior of the surfactant mixtures in contact with water evolves from the complex behavior of tyloxapol to the simpler one of Triton X100. In contact with water, mixtures rich in tyloxapol form hexagonal, cubic, and lamellar lyotropic liquid crystalline phases over a wide range of concentration and temperature, whereas Triton X100/water mixtures form only a hexagonal phase in a limited concentration and temperature range. The polymeric nature of tyloxapol stabilizes the liquid crystalline structures, and the size of the supramolecular structures in the water-containing surfactant systems is independent of the tyloxapol/Triton X100 mixing ratio but depends highly on water content. The ability of tyloxapol to form stable lyotropic liquid crystalline phases at body temperature, which has been proposed as a basis for the development of novel peroral sustained-release systems, is not significantly impaired by the addition of appropriate amounts of Triton X100. Admixture of Triton X100 to tyloxapol may thus provide a way to circumvent processing problems during the preparation of pharmaceutical formulations based on the highly viscous tyloxapol.