Mickey L. Wells

Scale-up of an oil/water cream containing 40% diethylene glycol monoethyl ether.

The purpose of this study was to scale up an oil/water (o/w) cream formulation containing 40% diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DGME), developed via 300-g laboratory batches in a 25-2 fractional factorial design, to 7-kg batch sizes in a Brogli-10 homogenizer. The o/w cream was manufactured via a standard phase-inversion process in the Brogli-10 homogenizer. Partitioning studies of DGME were conducted in test tubes at ambient temperature and after 24 hr at 70°C in a convection oven. Phase height was measured by vernier calipers. Microscopy studies of excipients with and without treatment with water or a DGME/water mixture were conducted with a Nikon microscope after equilibration at 35°C for 24 hr. During creation of the 7-kg pilot-scale batches, congealed material was observed between the sweep agitation blade and the discharge port, where the Brogli-10 homogenizer is not temperature jacketed. Factors that increased the amount of congealed material were higher temperatures during primary emulsification and longer cooling times. Partitioning studies revealed that DGME resides in the aqueous external phase of this formulation. Microscopy studies revealed that DGME in the external phase of this cream has a profound impact on the solubility of certain solid, waxy excipients (e.g., cetyl alcohol and polyoxyethylene-2-stearyl ether) at 35°C. From this study, it appears that DGME resides in the external phase of the o/w cream. During manufacturing, it is hypothesized that the presence of DGME in the external phase alters the solubility of certain solid, waxy excipients in the formula such that they no longer primarily reside in the internal oil phase. On cooling, these materials precipitate or congeal in the external phase. The fractional factorial experimental design at the 300-g laboratory scale did not predict the issues encountered during scale-up. Differences between laboratory scale and pilot plant scale that explain why this phenomenon was not seen during laboratory scale are differences in cooling times, nonjacketed or “cold spots” in the Brogli-10 homogenizer, and a low proportion of congealed material in relation to the total batch size (<1.5%).

Identification of Factors Affecting Preservative Efficacy and Chemical Stability of Lamivudine Oral Solution Through Statistical Experimental Design

AbstractTo identify factors affecting the chemical stability and preservative efficacy of lamivudine oral liquid formulations, an optimization study using a central composite design was performed. In this design, five factors, each at three levels, were investigated: pH (4.5, 5.5, and 73, sucrose (5%, 20%. and 50% w/v), propylene glycol (0% 2%, and 5% w/v), glycerin (4% 8%, and 12% w/v). and EDTA (0.100. 0.175, and 0.250 mg/mL). All formulations contained a constant concentration of lamivudine, parabens, and artificial strawberry and banana flavors. All formulations were evaluated for preservative effectiveness against USP and BP standards and for chemical stability at 30°C and 40°C for three months. All formulations were effective against bacteria and yeasts, but indicated reduced preservative effectiveness against the mold Aspergillus niger. Preservative effectiveness improved with increasing pH (4.5 to 7.5) and to a lesser extent with increasing EDTA concentration (0.100 to 0.250 mg/mL). Increasing gly...

A Four-Component Study for Estimating Solubilities of a Poorly Soluble Compound in Multisolvent Systems Using a Scheffé-Type Model

AbstractThe equilibrium solubility of GF1209184, a poorly soluble compound with potential use as a multidrug resistance (MDR) inhibitor of P-glycoprotein, was studied at 25°C in multisolvent systems containing polyethylene glycol 300, polysorbate 80, ethanol, and water. The objective was to determine the feasibility, with respect to solubility, of formulating a concentrated formulation for product presentation in an ampule or vial. Data were fit to a quadratic Scheffe-type model with excellent correlation between the experimentally determined and fitted equilibrium solubilities (R2 = 0.9875, slope = 1.043). Solubilities greater than 4 mg base/mL at 25°C were determined for mixtures in this study, making it feasible, with regard to solubility, to formulate a concentrated vial or ampule formulation. Maximum solubility, however, was dependent on the ability to adjust the apparent pH to ≤3.5 in the cosolvent/surfactant systems studied.

Models for release of chlorpheniramine and a noninteracting compound from an inert, heterogeneous matrix containing an anionic surfactant

AbstractDiffusional models in which the mole ratio of surfactant to medicinal compound does not exceed one are applied to the release of chlorpheniramine maleate from chlorinated poly(propylene) matrixes and from matrixes containing anionic surfactants (sodium lauryl sulfate, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate) that interact to form a poorly water-soluble complex. The release of a second, noninteracting compound (sodium benzoate) from these matrixes is also considered in the models. The models suggest that the rate of release is slowed by complexation reducing the amount of medicinal compound in solution and concomitantly increasing the tortuosity and decreasing the porosity of the matrix.