Experimental Aspects of Measuring the Vial Heat Transfer Coefficient in Pharmaceutical Freeze-Drying.

One of the current methods for cycle optimization in primary drying to is develop a graphical design space based on quality by design (QbD). In order to construct the design space, the vial heat transfer coefficient (Kv) is needed. This paper investigated experimental factors that can affect the Kv result, examined the relationship between the batch average Kv and Kv values for individual vials, and recommended best practices for measuring Kv. Factors investigated included the technique for measuring ice temperature, shelf temperature, the use of a radiation shield on the door of the freeze-dry chamber, and shelf spacing. All experiments reported here used a chamber pressure of 100 mTorr. The most important factor was the technique for ice temperature measurement, where it is important to assure that any restrictions to vapor flow at the top of the vial are the same between monitored and non-monitored vials. Another factor that was found to play a role was the shelf temperature whereby the lower the shelf temperature, the larger the "edge effect," and the larger the average Kv. Factors that were found to not have a significant effect were the use of a radiation shield inside the chamber door and the shelf spacing. Being aware of these factors and knowing best practices when determining the vial heat coefficient will lead to more accurate design spaces and better cycle optimization.

The Influence of Mannitol Hemihydrate on the Secondary Drying Dynamics of a Protein Formulation: A Case Study.

The objective of this research was to study the atypical secondary drying dynamics observed during the freeze-drying of a formulation consisting of mannitol, disaccharide, and sodium chloride, where "bursts" of water vapor release were observed during secondary drying as detected by comparative pressure measurement. "Thief" samples were removed at the end of primary drying and during secondary drying as the shelf temperature was increased in a stepwise fashion. These samples were examined by X-ray powder diffraction and thermal analysis. From the X-ray powder diffraction data, we determined that mannitol crystallized predominantly as its hemihydrate. The physical state of mannitol changed from the hemihydrate form to anhydrous forms during secondary drying. Investigation of the effect of excipients on mannitol crystallization demonstrated that sodium chloride (at 225 mM, 1.3% w/v) had the greatest influence on hemihydrate crystallization, followed by trehalose and sucrose. However, only negligible hemihydrate formation was observed when mannitol was freeze-dried either by itself or in the presence of 150 mM sodium chloride and no hemihydrate in the presence of 75 mM sodium chloride. In general, a combination of a disaccharide and sodium chloride promoted the hemihydrate formation to a greater extent than the individual components. Comparative pressure measurement was demonstrated to be an effective tool to monitor mannitol hemihydrate dehydration during secondary drying.

Phase Behavior of Resveratrol Solid Dispersions Upon Addition to Aqueous media.

PURPOSE: To investigate the phase behavior of resveratrol amorphous solid dispersions upon addition to aqueous media. METHODS: Polymers with different crystallization inhibitor properties were used to form amorphous solid dispersions of resveratrol. Resveratrol crystallization in aqueous environments was monitored over time using Raman spectroscopy, and solution concentrations were determined by ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. RESULTS: The crystallization behavior varied depending on the type and amount of polymer present in the dispersion. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Eudragit E100 (E100) dispersions did not crystallize for 24 h when slurried in pH 6.8 buffer at 37°C. Even though no crystallization occurred, a supersaturated solution was not achieved, most likely because of resveratrol-polymer complexation. Dispersions formed with cellulose derivatives crystallized rapidly, and the extent of crystallization varied depending on the amount of polymer in the dispersion. The solution concentration achieved in the slurries varied considerably between the various solid dispersions and depended on several factors including the extent of resveratrol crystallization, the nature of the resveratrol-polymer interactions, and the concentration of solid dispersion added to the slurry. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the extent of supersaturation was limited not only by crystallization, but also by soluble and insoluble complex formation between resveratrol and the polymer.

Pairwise polymer blends for oral drug delivery.

Blends of polymers with complementary properties hold promise for addressing the diverse, demanding polymer performance requirements in amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), but we lack comprehensive property understanding for blends of important ASD polymers. Herein, we prepare pairwise blends of commercially available polymers polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), the cationic acrylate copolymer Eudragit 100 (E100), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS), carboxymethyl cellulose acetate butyrate (CMCAB), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and the new derivative cellulose acetate adipate propionate (CAAdP). This study identifies miscible binary blends that may find use, for example, in ASDs for solubility and bioavailability enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs. Differential scanning calorimetry, FTIR spectroscopy, and film clarity were used to determine blend miscibility. Several polymer combinations including HPMCAS/PVP, HPMC/CMCAB, and PVP/HPMC appear to be miscible in all proportions. In contrast, blends of E100/PVP and E100/HPMC showed a miscibility gap. Combinations of water-soluble and hydrophobic polymers like these may permit effective balancing of ASD performance criteria such as release rate and polymer-drug interaction to prevent nucleation and crystal growth of poorly soluble drugs. Miscible polymer combinations described herein will enable further study of their drug delivery capabilities, and provide a potentially valuable set of ASD formulation tools.

Mid-infrared spectroscopy as a polymer selection tool for formulating amorphous solid dispersions.

OBJECTIVES: The development of amorphous solid dispersions is of increasing interest in the delivery of bioactive compounds; however, there is a need for a methodology that enables the rational selection of polymers for solid dispersion formulations with optimal stability to crystallization. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of mid-infrared (IR) spectroscopy for this purpose. METHODS: Polymers evaluated included poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), Eudragit E100 (E100), carboxymethylcellulose acetate butyrate (CMCAB), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), HPMC acetate succinate (HPMCAS) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). Model crystalline bioactive polyphenols included quercetin and naringenin. Amorphous solid dispersions were prepared by dissolving both polyphenol and polymer in a common solvent followed by solvent evaporation. Mid-IR spectroscopy was used to determine and quantify the extent of polyphenol-polymer interactions, and powder X-ray diffraction was used to monitor physical stability following storage at different environmental conditions. KEY FINDINGS: The mid-IR analysis suggested the following rank order for the crystallization-inhibiting performance of the different polymers: E100 > PVP > HPMCAS > HPMC ≥ CMCAB > PAA. The initial performance of the different polymers was evaluated using the highest concentration of polyphenol for which x-ray amorphous solid dispersions could be prepared via rotary evaporation. The observed stability followed that predicted from the mid-infrared spectroscopy evaluation of intermolecular interactions. The dispersions with better polyphenol-polymer interactions were stable against crystallization when exposed to high relative humidity and high temperatures; on the other hand, systems that had weak interactions were not stable to crystallization when stored at moderate environmental conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the observed ability of mid-IR analysis to enable the characterization of intermolecular polyphenol-polymer interactions and based on the correlation between the extent of intermolecular interactions and the crystallization-inhibiting performance of polymers, it can be concluded that this technique is an important tool for the rational formulation of solid dispersions with optimized physical stability.

Curcumin amorphous solid dispersions: the influence of intra and intermolecular bonding on physical stability.

We have investigated the physical stability of amorphous curcumin dispersions and the role of curcumin-polymer intermolecular interactions in delaying crystallization. Curcumin is an interesting model compound as it forms both intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the crystal. A structurally diverse set of amorphous dispersion polymers was investigated; poly(vinylpyrrolidone), Eudragit E100, carboxymethyl cellulose acetate butyrate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and HPMC-acetate succinate. Mid-infrared spectroscopy was used to determine and quantify the extent of curcumin-polymer interactions. Physical stability under different environmental conditions was monitored by powder X-ray diffraction. Curcumin chemical stability was monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Isolation of stable amorphous curcumin was difficult in the absence of polymers. Polymers proved to be effective curcumin crystallization inhibitors enabling the production of amorphous solid dispersions; however, the polymers showed very different abilities to inhibit crystallization during long-term storage. Curcumin intramolecular hydrogen bonding reduced the extent of its hydrogen bonding with polymers; hence most polymers were not highly effective crystallization inhibitors. Overall, polymers proved to be crystallization inhibitors, but inhibition was limited due to the intramolecular hydrogen bonding in curcumin, which leads to a decrease in the ability of the polymers to interact at a molecular level.

Both solubility and chemical stability of curcumin are enhanced by solid dispersion in cellulose derivative matrices.

Amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) of curcumin (Cur) in cellulose derivative matrices, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS), carboxymethylcellulose acetate butyrate (CMCAB), and cellulose acetate adipate propionate (CAAdP) were prepared in order to investigate the structure-property relationship and identify polymer properties necessary to effectively increase Cur aqueous solution concentration. XRD results indicated that all investigated solid dispersions were amorphous, even at a 9:1 Cur:polymer ratio. Both stability against crystallization and Cur solution concentration from these ASDs were significantly higher than those from physical mixtures and crystalline Cur. Remarkably, curcumin was also stabilized against chemical degradation in solution. Chemical stabilization was polymer-dependent, with stabilization in CAAdP>CMCAB>HPMCAS>PVP, while matrices enhanced solution concentration as PVP>HPMCAS>>CMCAB≈CAAdP. HPMCAS/Cur dispersions have useful combinations of pH-triggered release profile, chemical stabilization, and strong enhancement of Cur solution concentration.

Crystallization of amorphous solid dispersions of resveratrol during preparation and storage-Impact of different polymers.

The objective of this study was to investigate intermolecular interactions between resveratrol and polymers in amorphous blends and to study the potential correlations between compound-polymer interactions, manufacturability, and stability of the amorphous system to crystallization during storage. Polymers included two grades of poly (vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), Eudragit E100 (E100), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS), carboxymethyl cellulose acetate butyrate, and poly (acrylic acid) (PAA). Amorphous blends ("solid dispersions") were prepared by dissolving both resveratrol and polymer in a solvent followed by rotary evaporation. Crystallinity was evaluated using X-ray powder diffraction and was studied as a function of time. Mid-infrared (IR) spectroscopy was used to investigate resveratrol-polymer interactions. Polymer influence on the crystallization behavior of resveratrol varied and could be correlated to the polymer structure, whereby polymers with good hydrogen bond acceptor groups performed better as crystallization inhibitors. Resveratrol-polymer hydrogen bonding interactions could be inferred from the IR spectra. Somewhat surprisingly, E100 and resveratrol showed evidence of an acid-base reaction, in addition to intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. PVP K29/32 appeared to form stronger hydrogen bond interactions with resveratrol relative to HPMC, HPMCAS, and PAA, consistent with acceptor group chemistry. Long-term stability of the systems against crystallization suggested that stability is linked to the type and strength of intermolecular interactions present. whereby resveratrol blended with E100 and PVP K29/32 showed the greatest stability to crystallization. In conclusion, amorphous resveratrol is unstable and difficult to form, requiring the assistance of a polymeric crystallization inhibitor to facilitate the formation of an amorphous solid dispersion. Polymers effective at inhibiting crystallization were identified, and it is rationalized that their effectiveness is based on the type and strength of their intermolecular interactions with resveratrol.

Nonlinear optical imaging for sensitive detection of crystals in bulk amorphous powders.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of second-order nonlinear imaging of chiral crystals (SONICC) to quantify crystallinity in drug-polymer blends, including solid dispersions. Second harmonic generation (SHG) can potentially exhibit scaling with crystallinity between linear and quadratic depending on the nature of the source, and thus, it is important to determine the response of pharmaceutical powders. Physical mixtures containing different proportions of crystalline naproxen and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) were prepared by blending and a dispersion was produced by solvent evaporation. A custom-built SONICC instrument was used to characterize the SHG intensity as a function of the crystalline drug fraction in the various samples. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Raman spectroscopy were used as complementary methods known to exhibit linear scaling. SONICC was able to detect crystalline drug even in the presence of 99.9 wt % HPMCAS in the binary mixtures. The calibration curve revealed a linear dynamic range with a R(2) value of 0.99 spanning the range from 0.1 to 100 wt % naproxen with a root mean square error of prediction of 2.7%. Using the calibration curve, the errors in the validation samples were in the range of 5%-10%. Analysis of a 75 wt % HPMCAS-naproxen solid dispersion with SONICC revealed the presence of crystallites at an earlier time point than could be detected with PXRD and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, results from the crystallization kinetics experiment using SONICC were in good agreement with Raman spectroscopy and PXRD. In conclusion, SONICC has been found to be a sensitive technique for detecting low levels (0.1% or lower) of crystallinity, even in the presence of large quantities of a polymer.