Yuanhui Ji

Thermodynamic Phase Behavior of API/Polymer Solid Dispersions

To improve the bioavailability of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), these materials are often integrated into a polymer matrix that acts as a carrier. The resulting mixture is called a solid dispersion. In this work, the phase behaviors of solid dispersions were investigated as a function of the API as well as of the type and molecular weight of the carrier polymer. Specifically, the solubility of artemisinin and indomethacin was measured in different poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEG 400, PEG 6000, and PEG 35000). The measured solubility data and the solubility of sulfonamides in poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) K10 and PEG 35000 were modeled using the perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT). The results show that PC-SAFT predictions are in a good accordance with the experimental data, and PC-SAFT can be used to predict the whole phase diagram of an API/polymer solid dispersion as a function of the kind of API and polymer and of the polymers molecular weight. This remarkably simplifies the screening process for suitable API/polymer combinations.

Influence of copolymer composition on the phase behavior of solid dispersions.

The incorporation of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into excipients (e.g., polymers) to formulate an amorphous solid dispersion is a promising strategy to improve the oral bioavailability of the API. The application of copolymer excipients allows access to combinations of different monomers and thus to the design of excipients to improve solid-dispersion properties. In this work, the thermodynamic phase behavior of solid dispersions was investigated as a function of the API, type of monomer, and copolymer composition. The glass-transition temperatures and API solubilities in the solid dispersions of naproxen and indomethacin in polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, and copolymers with different weight fractions of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl actetate were investigated. It is shown that the thermodynamic phase behavior of API/copolymer solid dispersions is a function of monomer type and copolymer composition. This effect was also predicted by using the perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT). The glass-transition temperature of the solid dispersions was calculated with the Gordon-Taylor equation.

Influence of humidity on the phase behavior of API/polymer formulations

Amorphous formulations of APIs in polymers tend to absorb water from the atmosphere. This absorption of water can induce API recrystallization, leading to reduced long-term stability during storage. In this work, the phase behavior of different formulations was investigated as a function of relative humidity. Indomethacin and naproxen were chosen as model APIs and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (PVPVA64) as excipients. The formulations were prepared by spray drying. The water sorption in pure polymers and in formulations was measured at 25°C and at different values of relative humidity (RH=25%, 50% and 75%). Most water was absorbed in PVP-containing systems, and water sorption was decreasing with increasing API content. These trends could also be predicted in good agreement with the experimental data using the thermodynamic model PC-SAFT. Furthermore, the effect of absorbed water on API solubility in the polymer and on the glass-transition temperature of the formulations was predicted with PC-SAFT and the Gordon-Taylor equation, respectively. The absorbed water was found to significantly decrease the API solubility in the polymer as well as the glass-transition temperature of the formulation. Based on a quantitative modeling of the API/polymer phase diagrams as a function of relative humidity, appropriate API/polymer compositions can now be selected to ensure long-term stable amorphous formulations at given storage conditions.

Thermodynamic phase behaviour of indomethacin/PLGA formulations.

In the current study, the phase behaviour of indomethacin and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) formulations was investigated as a function of the molecular weight and the copolymer composition of PLGA. The formulations were prepared by ball milling, and the phase behaviour, comprised of the glass-transition temperature of the formulations and the solubility of indomethacin in PLGA, was measured using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (mDSC). The results determined that the solubility of indomethacin in PLGA at room temperature was very low and increased with a corresponding decrease in the molecular weight of PLGA. The copolymer composition of PLGA had a minor effect on the indomethacin solubility. The effect of PLGAs molecular weight and copolymer composition on the solubility of indomethacin could be modelled using the Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) with a high degree of accuracy when compared with the experimental data. The glass-transition temperatures had a negative deviation from the weighted mean of the glass-transition temperatures of the pure substances, which could be described by the Kwei-equation.

Influence of excipients on solubility and dissolution of pharmaceuticals.

In this work, solubilities and dissolution profiles of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) indomethacin and naproxen were measured in water in the presence of one excipient out of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 2000, 6000 and 12000, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K 25 and mannitol. It was found that the solubility of indomethacin and naproxen was increased with an addition of the selected excipients, which was also predicted by the perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT). The two-step chemical-potential-gradient model was applied to investigate the dissolution mechanism of indomethacin and naproxen in water in the presence of the excipient. It was found that the dissolution mechanisms of indomethacin and naproxen were changed by the presence of excipients. Although the solubility of the API was increased by the addition of excipients, the dissolution rate of the API was decreased in some cases. This was mainly due to the combination of the molecular interactions between the API and the polymer with the influence of the excipients on the kinetic part (rate constant of the surface reaction or diffusion of the API or both) of API dissolution as function of PEG molar mass as well as of the API type. Based upon the determined rate constants, the dissolution profiles were modeled with a high accuracy compared with the experimental data.

A Novel Approach for Analyzing the Dissolution Mechanism of Solid Dispersions

ABSTRACTPurposeTo analyze the dissolution mechanism of solid dispersions of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), to predict the dissolution profiles of the APIs and to find appropriate ways to improve their dissolution rate.MethodsThe dissolution profiles of indomethacin and naproxen from solid dispersions in PVP K25 were measured in vitro using a rotating-disk system (USP II). A chemical-potential-gradient model combined with the thermodynamic model PC-SAFT was developed to investigate the dissolution mechanism of indomethacin and naproxen from their solid dispersions at different conditions and to predict the dissolution profiles of these APIs.ResultsThe results show that the dissolution of the investigated solid dispersions is controlled by dissolution of both, API and PVP K25 as they codissolve according to the initial API loading. Moreover, the dissolution of indomethacin and naproxen was improved by decreasing the API loading in polymer (leading to amorphous solid dispersions) and increasing stirring speed, temperature and pH of the dissolution medium. The dissolution of indomethacin and naproxen from their amorphous solid dispersions is mainly controlled by the surface reaction, which implies that indomethacin and naproxen dissolution can be effectively improved by formulation design and by improving their solvation performance.ConclusionsThe chemical-potential-gradient model combined with PC-SAFT can be used to analyze the dissolution mechanism of solid dispersions and to describe and predict the dissolution profiles of API as function of stirring speed, temperature and pH value of the medium. This work helps to find appropriate ways to improve the dissolution rate of poorly-soluble APIs.

A novel approach for predicting the dissolution profiles of pharmaceutical tablets

In this paper, the intrinsic dissolution profiles of naproxen (NAP) at pH values of 1.5 and 3.0 and of trimethoprim (TMP) at pH values of 1.5, 3.0, 5.0, 6.5 and 7.2 were measured. Meanwhile, the dissolution profiles of NAP and TMP from cylindrical tablets were measured at different temperatures (298.15K, 305.15K, 301.15K and 310.15K) and stirring speeds (50rpm, 100rpm and 150rpm) as well as at different pH values (1.5, 3.0, 5.0, 6.5 and 7.2). Additionally the pH-dependent solubilities of both APIs were measured and modeled. The chemical-potential-gradient model combined with the perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) was applied to predict the dissolution profiles of the cylindrical tablets of NAP and TMP under different conditions based on the analysis of their intrinsic dissolution profiles as well as on the determination of the surface-area reduction of the API tablets during dissolution. It was shown that the predicted dissolution profiles of the tablets under different conditions were in a good accordance with the experimental findings.