Pediatric Formulations Developed by Extrusion-Based 3D Printing: From Past Discoveries to Future Prospects.

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology in pharmaceutical areas is leading to a significant change in controlled drug delivery and pharmaceutical product development. Pharmaceutical industries and academics are becoming increasingly interested in this innovative technology due to its inherent inexpensiveness and rapid prototyping. The 3DP process could be established in the pharmaceutical industry to replace conventional large-scale manufacturing processes, particularly useful for personalizing pediatric drugs. For instance, shape, size, dosage, drug release and multi-drug combinations can be tailored according to the patient's needs. Pediatric drug development has a significant global impact due to the growing needs for accessible age-appropriate pediatric medicines and for acceptable drug products to ensure adherence to the prescribed treatment. Three-dimensional printing offers several significant advantages for clinical pharmaceutical drug development, such as the ability to personalize medicines, speed up drug manufacturing timelines and provide on-demand drugs in hospitals and pharmacies. The aim of this article is to highlight the benefits of extrusion-based 3D printing technology. The future potential of 3DP in pharmaceuticals has been widely shown in the last few years. This article summarizes the discoveries about pediatric pharmaceutical formulations which have been developed with extrusion-based technologies.

Co-encapsulation of fisetin and cisplatin into liposomes: Stability considerations and in vivo efficacy on lung cancer animal model.

Lung cancer is a highly vascularized tumor for which a combination between an antitumor agent, cisplatin, and an antiangiogenic molecule, fisetin, appears a promising therapeutic approach. In order to deliver both chemotherapies within the tumor, to enhance fisetin solubility and decrease cisplatin toxicity, an encapsulation of both drugs into liposomes was developed. Purification and freeze-drying protocols were optimized to improve both the encapsulation and liposome storage. The cytotoxicity of the encapsulated chemotherapies was evaluated on Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) cell lines. The antitumor effect of the combination was evaluated in vivo on an ectopic mouse model of Lewis Lung carcinoma. The results showed that fisetin and cisplatin co-loaded liposomes were successfully prepared. Freeze-drying allowed a 30 days storage limiting the release of both drugs. The combination index between liposomal fisetin and liposomal cisplatin on 3LL cell line after 24 h of exposure showed a clear synergism: CI = 0.7 for the co loaded liposomes and CI = 0.9 for the mixture of cisplatin loaded and fisetin loaded liposomes. The co-encapsulating formulation showed in vivo efficacy against an ectopic murine model of Lewis Lung carcinoma with a probable reduction in the toxicity of cisplatin through co-encapsulation with fisetin.

Obtaining two polymorphic forms of paracetamol within the phase diagram with PEG 1500.

Studies of the interactions between paracetamol, chosen as model active ingredient, and PEG 1500, a pharmaceutical carrier, are conducted in the solid state. Solid dispersions of PEG 1500 and paracetamol were prepared in different mass ratios. Two temperature cycles are then applied and the characterization is carried out by DSC and X-ray powder diffraction. Following this, a phase diagram is established for each cycle. On second heating, the metastable Form II of paracetamol is obtained within the PEG-based matrix. However, on the second heating, for paracetamol contents higher than 65%, Form I or form II is obtained randomly.

Evidence of a New Crystalline Phase of Prednisolone Obtained from the Study of the Hydration-Dehydration Mechanisms of the Sesquihydrate.

The dehydration of prednisolone sesquihydrate is studied and characterized by different physico-chemical analysis methods. The meticulous study of this dehydration led to the highlighting of a new solid form (form 3), metastable, never identified before. In a second step, the rehydration of anhydrous forms 1 and 2 of prednisolone is studied, in particular by Dynamic Vapor Sorption. It is then demonstrated that neither of the two forms is sensitive to humidity. By means of solid-gas equilibria, the sesquihydrate can only be obtainable from the isomorphic anhydrous form. Finally, a classification of the sesquihydrate is made, taking into account, in particular, the activation energy determined during dehydration.

New Lidocaine-Based Pharmaceutical Cocrystals: Preparation, Characterization, and Influence of the Racemic vs. Enantiopure Coformer on the Physico-Chemical Properties.

This study describes the preparation, characterization, and influence of the enantiopure vs. racemic coformer on the physico-chemical properties of a pharmaceutical cocrystal. For that purpose, two new 1:1 cocrystals, namely lidocaine:dl-menthol and lidocaine:d-menthol, were prepared. The menthol racemate-based cocrystal was evaluated by means of X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, Raman, thermal analysis, and solubility experiments. The results were exhaustively compared with the first menthol-based pharmaceutical cocrystal, i.e., lidocaine:l-menthol, discovered in our group 12 years ago. Furthermore, the stable lidocaine/dl-menthol phase diagram has been screened, thoroughly evaluated, and compared to the enantiopure phase diagram. Thus, it has been proven that the racemic vs. enantiopure coformer leads to increased solubility and improved dissolution of lidocaine due to the low stable form induced by menthol molecular disorder in the lidocaine:dl-menthol cocrystal. To date, the 1:1 lidocaine:dl-menthol cocrystal is the third menthol-based pharmaceutical cocrystal, after the 1:1 lidocaine:l-menthol and the 1:2 lopinavir:l-menthol cocrystals reported in 2010 and 2022, respectively. Overall, this study shows promising potential for designing new materials with both improved characteristics and functional properties in the fields of pharmaceutical sciences and crystal engineering.

Scalemic mixtures preparation for optimized composition of ibuprofen solid dosage forms.

The stable and metastable phase diagrams between the sinister and the rectus ibuprofen enantiomers were established by means of thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction experiments as a function of temperature. The results obtained allow proving for the first time the existence, for the stable system, of a solid solution by mixing the racemic ibuprofen with one of its enantiomers for low concentration of the enantiomer. Since the rectus ibuprofen is a non-active pharmaceutical agent which can be partially bio-converted into the sinister enantiomer, the present work offers a new approach for scalemic mixtures preparation in order to improve the benefit/risk ratio related to ibuprofen solid dosage form administration.

Co-Encapsulation of Fisetin and Cisplatin into Liposomes for Glioma Therapy: From Formulation to Cell Evaluation.

(1) Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent cerebral tumor. It almost always relapses and there is no validated treatment for second-line GBM. We proposed the coencapsulation of fisetin and cisplatin into liposomes, aiming to (i) obtain a synergistic effect by combining the anti-angiogenic effect of fisetin with the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin, and (ii) administrate fisetin, highly insoluble in water. The design of a liposomal formulation able to encapsulate, retain and deliver both drugs appeared a challenge. (2) Methods: Liposomes with increasing ratios of cholesterol/DOPC were prepared and characterized in term of size, PDI and stability. The incorporation of fisetin was explored using DSC. The antiangiogneic and cytotoxic activities of the selected formulation were assayed in vitro. (3) Results: We successfully developed an optimized liposomal formulation incorporating both drugs, composed by DOPC/cholesterol/DODA-GLY-PEG2000 at a molar ratio of 75.3/20.8/3.9, with a diameter of 173 ± 8 nm (PDI = 0.12 ± 0.01) and a fisetin and cisplatin drug loading of 1.7 ± 0.3% and 0.8 ± 0.1%, respectively, with a relative stability over time. The maximum incorporation of fisetin into the bilayer was determined at 3.2% w/w. Then, the antiangiogenic activity of fisetin was maintained after encapsulation. The formulation showed an additive effect of cisplatin and fisetin on GBM cells; (4) Conclusions: The developed co-loaded formulation was able to retain the activity of fisetin, was effective against GBM cells and is promising for further in vivo experimentations.

State of the Art of Pharmaceutical Solid Forms: from Crystal Property Issues to Nanocrystals Formulation.

The solid-form screening of active principal ingredients is a challenge for pharmaceutical drug development, as more than 80 % of marketed drugs are formulated in the solid form. A broad and comprehensive study of the various solid forms of drugs is needed to enhance their translation into the clinic. Therefore, the most suitable solid form must be taken into consideration regarding ex vivo and in vivo stability, targeting, solubility, dissolution rate, and bioavailability. In this review, techniques of solid-form screening are covered, including differences in solid forms such as polymorphs, solvates, salts, co-crystals, and amorphous particles. Moreover, solid drug size reduction is also discussed, with insight into the emergence of drug nanocrystal formulations. An overview of the smallest nanocrystals reported in the literature and on the market is also provided, along with their applications and routes of administration.

Novel Perfluorinated Triblock Amphiphilic Copolymers for Lipid-Shelled Microbubble Stabilization.

Amphiphilic triblock (Atri) copolymers made of perfluorinated alkyl chain linked to hydrocarbon chain and methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) of three different molecular weights were synthesized. In vitro evaluation demonstrated that these new compounds were noncytotoxic. Characterization and interaction of each triblock copolymer with a branched polyamine myristoyl lipid (2-{3[bis-(3-amino-propyl)-amino]-propylamino}- N-ditetradecyl carbamoyl methyl-acetamide, DMAPAP) were studied by the Langmuir film method and thermal analysis. The triblock copolymer/cationic lipids (1:10, w/w) were mixed with perfluorobutane gas to form microbubbles (MBs). The latter were characterized by optical microscopy to get the microbubble size and concentration by densimetry to determine the amount of encapsulated gas and by ultrasound to assess oscillation properties. Atri with the lowest and intermediate weights were shown to interact with the cationic lipid DMAPAP and stabilize the Langmuir film. In that case, monodisperse microbubbles ranging from 2.3 ± 0.1 to 2.8 ± 0.1 µm were obtained. The proportion of encapsulated gas within the MB shell increased up to 3 times after the incorporation of the copolymer with the lowest and intermediate weights. Moreover, the acoustic response of the microbubbles was maintained in the presence of the copolymers.

New Melting Data of the Two Polymorphs of Prednisolone.

Prednisolone is known to exist in two anhydrous solid polymorphic forms. The substance is known to degrade upon melting, resulting in erroneous melting data, as shown by the widely scattered results reported in the literature. In this article, thermal analyses carried out at different scan rates show that the onset temperature and the enthalpy value of the signal increase with the scan rate and reach plateau values for high scan rates. Owing to flash scanning calorimetry, the plateau value for the temperature has been identified as the "true" temperature of melting of both polymorphs. This consistent set of new thermodynamic data on the two solid forms leads to the conclusion that both forms are unambiguously enantiotropes of each other. The solid-solid transition has been observed experimentally for the first time and has been confirmed by calculation.

Membrane re-arrangements and rippled phase stabilisation by the cell penetrating peptide penetratin.

Cell penetrating peptides are promising vectors for molecular drug delivery in eukaryotic cells. Despite of their discovery 20years ago, the mechanisms of peptide membrane crossing are still controversial. The different suggested penetration mechanisms reflect the high sequence and structural diversity of cell penetrating peptides. The fundamental step for peptide penetration into the cytosol is the crossing of the membrane lipid barrier at the level of the plasma membrane or the endosomes. Therefore, the study of the peptide-lipid interaction is the key for peptide penetration mechanisms understanding. In order to study the changes in lipid organisation induced by the cell penetrating peptide penetratin, several experiments by three different physicochemical approaches were performed. X-ray diffraction data shows that penetratin is able to induce membrane phase separation and lipid rearrangements observed by inter-lipid distances. These changes are accompanied by a temperature stable behaviour of some of the induced membrane domains. The membrane environment fluorescent probe laurdan showed that, in DMPC and DMPC/DMPG membranes, the peptide induces de-packing of lipids. Calorimetric analyses show that penetratin favours the gel phase to gel-like rippled phase transition. Overall, the data suggest both, that the rippled phase is a heterogeneous structure formed by gel-like and fluid-like coexisting components, and that the penetratin-induced membrane heterogeneity could be important for membrane destabilisation during cell penetration.

Vitreous State Characterization of Pharmaceutical Compounds Degrading upon Melting by Using Fast Scanning Calorimetry.

Fast scanning calorimetry, a technique mainly devoted to polymer characterization, is applied here for the first time to low molecular mass organic compounds that degrade upon melting, such as ascorbic acid and prednisolone. Due to the fast scan rates upon heating and cooling, the substances can be obtained in the molten state without degradation and then quenched into the glassy state. The hydrated form and the polymorphic Form 1 of prednisolone were investigated. It is shown that once the sesquihydrate dehydrates, a molten product is obtained. Depending on the heating rate, this molten phase may recrystallize or not into Form 1.

Preparation and Evaluation of Multiple Nanoemulsions Containing Gadolinium (III) Chelate as a Potential Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Contrast Agent.

PURPOSE: The objective was to develop, characterize and assess the potentiality of W1/O/W2 self-emulsifying multiple nanoemulsions to enhance signal/noise ratio for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). METHODS: For this purpose, a new formulation, was designed for encapsulation efficiency and stability. Various methods were used to characterize encapsulation efficiency ,in particular calorimetric methods (Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry analysis) and ultrafiltration. MRI in vitro relaxivities were assessed on loaded DTPA-Gd multiple nanoemulsions. RESULTS: Characterization of the formulation, in particular of encapsulation efficiency was a challenge due to interactions found with ultrafiltration method. Thanks to the specifically developed DSC protocol, we were able to confirm the formation of multiple nanoemulsions, differentiate loaded from unloaded nanoemulsions and measure the encapsulation efficiency which was found to be quite high with a 68% of drug loaded. Relaxivity studies showed that the self-emulsifying W/O/W nanoemulsions were positive contrast agents, exhibiting higher relaxivities than those of the DTPA-Gd solution taken as a reference. CONCLUSION: New self-emulsifying multiple nanoemulsions that were able to load satisfactory amounts of contrasting agent were successfully developed as potential MRI contrasting agents. A specific DSC protocol was needed to be developed to characterize these complex systems as it would be useful to develop these self-formation formulations.

Phase behavior and relative stability of malonamide polymorphs.

The three known polymorphs of malonamide have been characterized by thermal analysis and X-ray powder diffraction. The melting thermodynamic characteristics of the three forms are thus proposed in the present paper. From these data, the relative thermodynamic stability of these three solid forms has been determined. It appears that an enantiotropic behavior is established between the monoclinic and the orthorhombic phases while the quadratic one is monotropic with respect to the other two.

Physicochemical stability of solid dispersions of enantiomeric or racemic ibuprofen in stearic acid.

The aim of this study was to investigate the solid dispersion phase behavior of s- or rs-ibuprofen in stearic acid. By means of thermal analysis, we have demonstrated the total immiscibility, in solid state, of the corresponding binary mixtures. This indicates that no specific interactions exist between the chosen excipient and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) that lead to eutectic systems. Furthermore, based on calorimetric and X-ray diffraction experiments, we have showed that upon cooling of the molten state, only stearic acid recrystallizes in the presence of s-ibuprofen, whereas a quaternary phase mixture is obtained for the racemic ibuprofen/stearic acid preparation. The solubility of stearic acid in s-ibuprofen liquid in all proportions was also determined. Overall, the results presented here offer an approach for the study of API/excipient interactions.

Determination of quinacrine dihydrochloride dihydrate stability and characterization of its degradants.

Although quinacrine dihydrochloride dihydrate is a widely used drug substance, a comprehensive determination of its stability profile is lacking. In this work, an integrative approach is implemented to determine the drug stability both in the solid state and aqueous solutions, identify the impurities that can be found in the active pharmaceutical ingredient, and evaluate the associated toxicity risks. Thermal analyses pointed out a two-step dehydration of the solid state. This phenomenon seems to be consistent with the organization of the water molecules in the crystal structure and results in the destruction of the lattice. Seven related compounds of quinacrine have been identified by liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry. The main thermal degradant both in the solid state and the solution corresponds to the N-deethyl compound, whereas quinacrine tertiary amine oxyde appears to be a signal impurity of oxidative stress in solution. Moreover, two photolytic impurities can be formed in solution either by aromatic amine cleavage or via O-demethylation. Additionally, using computational approaches, the analysis of the potential toxicity of the impurities compared with the parent compound one shows that ketone and O-demethyl derivatives may exhibit specific toxicity profiles.

Topological and experimental approach to the pressure-temperature-composition phase diagram of the binary enantiomer system d- and l-camphor.

In 1981, Jacques, Collet, and Wilen already put forward the idea to use pressure to influence equilibria in binary enantiomer systems in analogy with temperature (Jacques et al. Enantiomers, Racemates and Resolutions; John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1981). Whereas temperature is used routinely to study phase equilibria, pressure is an all but forgotten parameter. This is therefore possibly the first paper on the influence of pressure on a binary enantiomer system: d- and l-camphor. The study consists of two parts, a topological approach, which uses data obtained from routine measurements (differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction), and the experimental determination of phase transitions as a function of pressure and temperature. This has resulted in two topological pressure-temperature phase diagrams of the pure enantiomer d-camphor and of the racemic mixture dl-camphor; both have been verified by the experiments as a function of pressure. In turn, these results have been used to construct part of the pressure-temperature-composition phase diagram of d- and l-camphor. A method to obtain the excess Gibbs energy from these binary phase diagrams as a function of pressure is proposed.

Lidocaine/L-menthol binary system: cocrystallization versus solid-state immiscibility.

We present the synthesis, structure determination, and thermodynamic properties of a never reported cocrystal prepared with lidocaine and L-menthol. The temperature-composition phase diagram of the lidocaine/L-menthol binary system was achieved using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction experiments. The present study demonstrates that the only way to perform a phase equilibrium survey of the lidocaine/L-menthol system is to prepare the binary mixtures from the cocrystal, an equimolar stoichiometric compound of L-menthol and lidocaine. We describe a process that is crucial to elaborate pharmaceutical agents that remain in their thermodynamical stable state throughout their preparation, manufacture, and storage for effective use.

Liquid-liquid miscibility gaps and hydrate formation in drug-water binary systems: pressure-temperature phase diagram of lidocaine and pressure-temperature-composition phase diagram of the lidocaine-water system.

The pressure-temperature (P-T) melting curve of lidocaine was determined (dP/dT = 3.56 MPa K(-1)), and the lidocaine-water system was investigated as a function of temperature and pressure. The lidocaine-water system exhibits a monotectic equilibrium at 321 K (ordinary pressure) whose temperature increases as the pressure increases until the two liquids become miscible. A hydrate, unstable at ordinary pressure, was shown to form, on increasing the pressure, from about 70 MPa at low temperatures (200-300 K). The thermodynamic conditions of its stability were inferred from the location of the three-phase equilibria involving the hydrate in the lidocaine-water pressure-temperature-mole fraction (P-T-x) diagram.

Polymorphism of progesterone: relative stabilities of the orthorhombic phases I and II inferred from topological and experimental pressure-temperature phase diagrams.

Temperatures and melting enthalpies of orthorhombic Phases I and II of natural progesterone, together with the temperature dependence of their lattice parameters and the specific volume of the melt at ordinary pressure, have been determined. With these results, a topological pressure-temperature (P-T) phase diagram accounting for the thermodynamic relationships between these phases has been constructed by way of the Clapeyron equation. The dependence of the melting temperature on the pressure has also been determined for each phase by high-pressure differential thermal analysis. It was found that, upon increasing the pressure, the melting curves converge to the I-II-liquid triple point (T(I-II-liquid) = 459.4 K, P(I-II-liquid) = 149.0 MPa), in close agreement with its topological location. This entails that Phase II should exhibit a stable phase region at higher pressure.