J. Knapik

Physicochemical properties of tadalafil solid dispersions – Impact of polymer on the apparent solubility and dissolution rate of tadalafil

To improve solubility of tadalafil (Td), a poorly soluble drug substance (3μg/ml) belonging to the II class of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System, its six different solid dispersions (1:1, w/w) in the following polymers: HPMC, MC, PVP, PVP-VA, Kollicoat IR and Soluplus were successfully produced by freeze-drying. Scanning electron microscopy showed a morphological structure of solid dispersions typical of lyophilisates. Apparent solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate studies revealed the greatest, a 16-fold, increase in drug solubility (50μg/ml) and a significant, 20-fold, dissolution rate enhancement for the Td/PVP-VA solid dispersion in comparison with crystalline Td. However, the longest duration of the supersaturation state in water (27μg/ml) over 24h was observed for the Td solid dispersion in HPMC. The improved dissolution of Td from Td/PVP-VA was confirmed in the standard dissolution test of capsules filled with solid dispersions. Powder X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis showed the amorphous nature of these binary systems and indicated the existence of dispersion at the molecular level and its supersaturated character, respectively. Nevertheless, as evidenced by film casting, the greatest ability to dissolve Td in polymer was determined for PVP-VA. The crystallization tendency of Td dispersed in Kollicoat IR could be explained by the low Tg (113°C) of the solid dispersion and the highest difference in Hansen solubility parameters (6.8MPa(0.5)) between Td and the polymer, although this relationship was not satisfied for the partially crystalline dispersion in PVP. Similarly, no correlation was found between the strength of hydrogen bonds investigated using infrared spectroscopy and the physical stability of solid dispersions or the level of supersaturation in aqueous solution.

Physical Stability of the Amorphous Anticholesterol Agent (Ezetimibe): The Role of Molecular Mobility

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of molecular mobility in the recrystallization process from the amorphous state of the anticholesterol drug ezetimibe. Both the molecular dynamics and crystallization kinetics have been studied using various experimental techniques, such as broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Our investigations have shown that ezetimibe easily recrystallizes from the disordered state, both below and above its glass transition temperature (Tg = 336 K). Moreover, we found that an only slightly elevated pressure (5 MPa) significantly accelerates the recrystallization process at T > Tg. We predict that the structural relaxation time of amorphous ezetimibe at 293 K (storage temperature) and ambient pressure is only 22 days. This result corresponds to the characteristic time, determined from XRD measurements, for amorphous ezetimibe to recrystallize during storage at Troom = 298 K. It leads to the conclusion that the molecular mobility reflected in structural relaxation of ezetimibe is mainly responsible for devitrification of this drug. Finally, we determined a relatively easy way to improve the physical stability of the drug by preparing a binary amorphous ezetimibe-Soluplus mixture. Ezetimibe in an amorphous mixture with 20 wt % Soluplus has a much better (over six times) solubility than the pure crystalline material.

Molecular Dynamics and Physical Stability of Coamorphous Ezetimib and Indapamide Mixtures.

Low physical stability is the main reason limiting the widespread use of amorphous pharmaceuticals. One approach to overcome this problem is to mix these drugs with various excipients. In this study coamorphous drug-drug compositions of different molar ratios of ezetimib and indapamid (i.e., EZB 10:1 IDP, EZB 5:1 IDP, EZB 2:1 IDP, EZB 1:1 IDP and EZB 1:2 IDP) were prepared and investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Our studies have shown that the easily recrystallizing ezetimib drug can be significantly stabilized in its amorphous form by using even a small amount of indapamid (8.8 wt %). DSC experiments indicate that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the tested mixtures changes with the drug concentration in accordance with the Gordon-Taylor equation. We also investigated the effect of indapamid on the molecular dynamics of the ezetimib. As a result it was found that, with increasing indapamid content, the molecular mobility of the binary drug-drug system is slowed down. Finally, using the XRD technique we examined the long-term physical stability of the investigated binary systems stored at room temperature. These measurements prove that low-molecular-weight compounds are able to significantly improve the physical stability of amorphous APIs.

Molecular origin of enhanced proton conductivity in anhydrous ionic systems.

Ionic systems with enhanced proton conductivity are widely viewed as promising electrolytes in fuel cells and batteries. Nevertheless, a major challenge toward their commercial applications is determination of the factors controlling the fast proton hopping in anhydrous conditions. To address this issue, we have studied novel proton-conducting materials formed via a chemical reaction of lidocaine base with a series of acids characterized by a various number of proton-active sites. From ambient and high pressure experimental data, we have found that there are fundamental differences in the conducting properties of the examined salts. On the other hand, DFT calculations revealed that the internal proton hopping within the cation structure strongly affects the pathways of mobility of the charge carrier. These findings offer a fresh look on the Grotthuss-type mechanism in protic ionic glasses as well as provide new ideas for the design of anhydrous materials with exceptionally high proton conductivity.

Toward a Better Understanding of the Physical Stability of Amorphous Anti-Inflammatory Agents: The Roles of Molecular Mobility and Molecular Interaction Patterns

The aim of this article is to examine the crystallization tendencies of three chemically related amorphous anti-inflammatory agents, etoricoxib, celecoxib, and rofecoxib. Since the molecular mobility is considered as one of the factors affecting the crystallization behavior of a given material, broadband dielectric spectroscopy was used to gain insight into the molecular dynamics of the selected active pharmaceutical ingredients. Interestingly, our experiments did not reveal any significant differences in their relaxation behavior either in the supercooled liquid or in the glassy state. Hence, as a possible explanation for the enhanced physical stability of etoricoxib, its ability to undergo a tautomerization reaction was recognized. The occurrence of intramolecular proton transfer in the disordered etoricoxib was proven experimentally by time-dependent dielectric and infrared (IR) measurements. Additionally, IR spectroscopy combined with density functional theory calculations pointed out that in the etoricoxib drug, being in fact a binary mixture of tautomers, the individual isomers may interact with each other through a hydrogen bonding network. A possible explanation of this issue was achieved by performing dielectric experiments at elevated pressure. Since compression results in etoricoxib recrystallization, the possible influence of pressure on the observed stabilization effect is also carefully discussed.

Molecular Dynamics and Physical Stability of Amorphous Nimesulide Drug and Its Binary Drug–Polymer Systems

In this article we study the effectiveness of three well-known polymers: inulin, Soluplus, and PVP in stabilizing the amorphous form of nimesulide (NMS) drug. The recrystallization tendency of pure drug as well as measured drug-polymer systems were examined at isothermal conditions by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and at nonisothermal conditions by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Our investigation has shown that the crystallization half-life time of pure NMS at 328 K is equal to 33 min. We found that this time can be prolonged to 40 years after adding 20% w/w PVP to NMS. This polymer proved to be the best NMS stabilizer, while the worst stabilization effect was exhibited by inulin. Additionally, our DSC, BDS, and FTIR studies indicate that for suppression of NMS recrystallization in the NMS-PVP system, the two mechanisms are responsible: the polymeric steric hindrances and the antiplastization effect exerted by the excipient.

Glass transition dynamics and conductivity scaling in ionic deep eutectic solvents: The case of (acetamide + lithium nitrate/sodium thiocyanate) melts

A detailed investigation on the molecular dynamics of ionic deep eutectic solvents (acetamide + lithium nitrate/sodium thiocyanate) is reported. The study was carried out employing dielectric relaxation spectroscopy covering seven decades in frequency (10(-1)-10(6) Hz) and in a wide temperature range from 373 K down to 173 K, accessing the dynamic observables both in liquid and glassy state. The dielectric response of the ionic system has been presented in the dynamic window of modulus formalism to understand the conductivity relaxation and its possible connection to the origin of localized motion. Two secondary relaxation processes appear below glass transition temperature. Our findings provide suitable interpretation on the nature of secondary Johari-Goldstein process describing the ion translation and orientation of dipoles in a combined approach using Ngais coupling model. A nearly constant loss feature is witnessed at shorter times/lower temperatures. We also discuss the ac conductivity scaling behavior using Summerfield approach and random free energy barrier model which establish the time-temperature superposition principle. These experimental observations have fundamental importance on theoretical elucidation of the conductivity relaxation and glass transition phenomena in molten ionic conductors.

Universal Behavior of Dielectric Responses of Glass Formers: Role of Dipole-Dipole Interactions.

From an exhaustive examination of the molecular dynamics in practically all van der Waals molecular glass formers ever probed by dielectric spectroscopy, we found that the width of the α-loss peak at or near the glass transition temperature T_{g} is strongly anticorrelated with the polarity of the molecule. The larger the dielectric relaxation strength Δε(T_{g}) of the system, the narrower is the α-loss peak. This remarkable property is explained by the contribution from the dipole-dipole interaction potential V_{dd}(r)=-Dr^{-6} to the attractive part of the intermolecular potential, making the resultant potential more harmonic, and the effect increases rapidly with the dipole moment μ and Δε(T_{g}) in view of the relation, D∝(μ^{4}/kT_{g})∝kT_{g}[Δε(T_{g})]^{2}. Since the novel correlation discovered encompasses practically all van der Waals molecular glass formers studied by dielectric spectroscopy, it impacts the large dielectric research community as well as those engaged in solving the glass transition problem.

Stabilization of the Amorphous Ezetimibe Drug by Confining Its Dimension.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of nanoconfinement on the molecular mobility, as well as on the physical stability, of amorphous ezetimibe drug. Two guest/host systems, ezetimibe-Aeroperl 300 and ezetimibe-Neusilin US2, were prepared and studied using various experimental techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). Our investigation has shown that the molecular mobility of the examined anticholesterol agent incorporated into nanopore matrices strongly depends on the pore size of the host system. Moreover, it was found that the amorphous ezetimibe confined in 30 nm pores of Aeroperl 300 has a tendency to recrystallize, while the drug incorporated into the smaller--5 nm--pores of Neusilin US2 is not able to crystallize. It has been shown that this significant stabilization of ezetimibe drug can be achieved by an interplay of three factors: changes in molecular dynamics of the confined amorphous drug, the immobilization effect of pore walls on a part of ezetimibe molecules, and the use of host materials with pores that are smaller than the critical size of the drug crystal nuclei.

Glass-Forming Tendency of Molecular Liquids and the Strength of the Intermolecular Attractions

When we cool down a liquid below the melting temperature, it can either crystallize or become supercooled, and then form a disordered solid called glass. Understanding what makes a liquid to crystallize readily in one case and form a stable glass in another is a fundamental problem in science and technology. Here we show that the crystallization/glass-forming tendencies of the molecular liquids might be correlated with the strength of the intermolecular attractions, as determined from the combined experimental and computer simulation studies. We use van der Waals bonded propylene carbonate and its less polar structural analog 3-methyl-cyclopentanone to show that the enhancement of the dipole-dipole forces brings about the better glass-forming ability of the sample when cooling from the melt. Our finding was rationalized by the mismatch between the optimal temperature range for the nucleation and crystal growth, as obtained for a modeled Lennard-Jones system with explicitly enhanced or weakened attractive part of the intermolecular 6-12 potential.