Optimization of ethanol precipitation process of Nauclea officinalis extract based on concept of quality by design(QbD) / 中国中药杂志

The ethanol precipitation process of Nauclea officinalis extract was optimized based on the concept of quality by design(QbD). Single factor tests were carried out to determine the levels of test factors. The ethanol volume fraction, pre-ethanol precipitation drug concentration, and ethanol precipitation time were taken as critical process parameters(CPPs). With the comprehensive scores of strictosamide transfer rate and solid removal rate as the critical quality attributes(CQAs), Box-Behnken design was employed to establish the mathematical models and space design between CPPs and CQAs, and the obtained optimal operating space was validated. The optimal operating space included ethanol volume fraction of 65%-70%, pre-ethanol precipitation drug concentration of 22-27 mg·mL~(-1), and ethanol precipitation time of 12 h. Based on the concept of QbD, this study adopted the design space to optimize the ethanol precipitation process of N. officinalis extract, which provided a reliable theoretical basis for the quality control in the production process of N. officinalis preparations. Moroever, this study provided a reference value for guiding the research and industrial production of traditional Chinese medicines.

Critical process parameter identification of manufacturing processes of Astragali Radix extract with a weighted determination coefficient method / 中草药·英文版

Objective: Critical process parameters (CPPs) identification is an important step of the implementation of quality by design (QbD) concept. There are many CPP identification methods, such as risk analysis method, sensitivity analysis method, multiple linear regression method, standard partial regression coefficient (SPRC) method, and so on. The SPRC method can consider multiple process critical quality attributes (CQAs) simultaneously, but the determination of CPP number is subjective. Therefore, new CPP identification method is still required. Methods: The manufacturing process of Astragali Radix extract, which contained water reflux extraction, concentration, and ethanol precipitation, was used as an example. First, the multiple process CQAs were determined to be the yield of pigment, dry matter, sugars, and active ingredients. Second, the potential CPPs were determined by a knowledge organization method. Plackett-Burman designed experiments were then performed. A weighted determination coefficient (Rw2) method was presented to identify CPPs. In this method, the importance of different CQAs was considered. Process parameters were removed one-by-one according to their importance index. The decrease in Rw2 was used to characterize the importance of the removed parameter. If the decrease of Rw2 was less than a preset threshold, the removed parameter was not a CPP. Results: During the manufacturing process of Astragali Radix extract, the potential CPPs determined by the knowledge organization method were water consumption, reflux extraction time, extraction frequency, ethanol content, ethanol consumption, and concentration endpoint. Reflux extraction time, the first ethanol consumption, the second ethanol consumption, and the second ethanol precipitation refrigeration temperature were found to be CPPs using the weighted determination coefficient method with the threshold of 10%. Conclusion: Using the weighted determination coefficient method, CPPs can be determined with all the CQAs considered based on their importance. The determination of CPP number is more objective compared with the SPRC method.

Spray drying technology of Shenpu Penyan Granule based on quality by design concept / 中草药

Design space approach was applied to optimize the spray drying process of Shenpu Penyan Granule (SPG) based on the concept of quality by design (QbD). The yield, moisture content, the content of paeoniflorin, chlorogenic acid, polydatin and salvianolic acid B were defined as the process critical quality attributes (CQAs). Based on the Plackett-Burman design, three critical process parameters (CPPs) including inlet temperature, specific gravity, and feeding speed were identified by using the weighted standardized partial regression coefficient method. And stepwise regression method was then used to establish the mathematical model between CQAs and CPPs in the Box-Behnken design. The variance analysis results showed that the P values of the five models were less than 0.05 and the mismatch values were all greater than 0.05, indicating that the model could describe the relationship between CQAs and CPPs. Probability based design space was obtained and verified using Monte-Carlo simulation method. According to the verification results, the robustness of first ethanol precipitation process of SPG can be guaranteed by operating within the design space parameters, which helps to improve the quality uniformity between batches of phenol extracts and provides data support for industrialization production.

Optimization of lime milk-sulfuric acid process of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma aqueous concentrate based on quality by design concept / 中草药

Objective: To optimize the lime milk-sulfuric acid process of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (SMRR) aqueous concentrate in the pretreatment of the manufacture of Danshen Chuanxiongqin Injection (DCI) based on the quality by design (QbD) concept. Methods Fishbone diagram method was applied to conduct preliminary risk assessment of various process parameters in lime milk-sulfuric acid process of SMRR aqueous extracts. Nine potential critical process parameters (CPP), including mass fraction of lime milk, flow rate of the lime milk addition, stirring speed, stirring time after lime milk addition, mass fraction of sulfuric acid, flow rate of the acid addition, stirring time after acid addition, standing time, and standing temperature, were identified. Plackett-Burman (PB) experiment design method was used to further screen the nine potential CPPs. As the result, the mass fraction of lime milk, stirring time after lime milk addition, stirring time after acid addition, and the standing time were filtered as CPPs of the lime milk-sulfuric acid process. A partial least squares regression models of critical process parameters and critical quality attributes were established using the central composite design and the design space methodology. Results: The recommended operation space of the lime milk-sulfuric acid process in the pretreatment of the manufacture of DCI was as follow: mass fraction of lime milk of 12.0%-13.0%, stirring time after lime milk addition of 40-50 min, stirring time after acid addition of 30-35 min, and standing time of 16-20 h. Conclusion: Operation in the design space is helpful to improve the consistency of lime milk-sulfuric acid process. This study is of valuable reference to actual industrial production.

Design and Optimization of the Formulation and Technology of Theophylline Gel Matrix Sustained-release Tablets Based on QbD Concept / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To design and optimize the formulation and technology of Theophylline hydrophilic gel matrix sustained-release tablets （self-made sustained-release tablets for short） based on the concept of “Quality by Design” （QbD）. METHODS： Diluent type， tablet diameter， the property of adhesive （ratio of different adhesive types）， the amount of adhesive were regarded as critical process parameters （CPPs）. Similarity factor of dissolution curves of self-made Theophylline sustained-release tablets and reference preparation and its accumulative release rate at different time points were regarded as critical quality attributes （CQAs）. L18（34） orthogonal tablet was adopted for design and trial， and secondary polynomial regression model was established. By using Modde 12.0 software， the design space and its acceptable range （PAR） were calculated through the optimal model. The optimal formulation and technology of Theophylline sustained-release tablets was determined， and validation test and Monte Carlo simulation verification were conducted. RESULTS： The optimal model with good coincidence， accuracy， validity and reproducibility was obtained， which could better fit the relationship between CQAs and CPPs. The design space and PAR value were obtained by further calculation （The optimum value of diluent was lactose； tablet diameter was 9.07-9.33 mm， and the optimal value was 9.20 mm； ratio of HPMC K4M to HPMC was 0.50-0.83， and the optimal value was 0.80； total amount of HPMC was 0.036 0-0.041 3 g per tablet， and the optimal value was 0.038 g per tablet）. The optimal formulation and technology included that ratio of theophylline， HPMC K4M and HPMC K100M were 50％， 15.48％ and 3.87％， respectively； the rest was filled with lactose and the diameter of the tablet was 9.20 mm. The results of validation confirmed that self-made Theophylline sustained-release tablets had similar in vitro release behavior compared with reference preparation. CONCLUSIONS： Based on the concept of QbD， the formulation and technology of Theophylline sustained-release tablets can meet the requirements of design， and the CPPs can be adjusted within the PAR range to meet the requirements of CQAs. This shows that the QbD concept is scientific and effective in the design and optimization of the formulation and technology of sustained and controlled release preparations.

Research on extraction process of Digeda-4 flavored decoction based on QbD concept / 中国中药杂志

To establish and validate the design space of the Digeda-4 flavored decoction( DGD-4D) extraction process by using the quality by design( Qb D) concept. With DGD-4D decoction pieces as a model drug,with the transfer rate of aesculin,picroside I,picroside Ⅱ,geniposide and the yield of extract as critical quality attributes( CQAs),the single factor experiment design was used to determine the level of each factor; the Plackett-Burman experiment design was used to select the critical process parameters( CPPs);and the Box-Behnken experiment design was used to optimize the extraction process. The design space of the DGD-4D extraction process was established,and finally,four experimental points were selected to verify the established model. The single factor experiment determined the levels of each factor,including soaking time 60 min and 30 min,water adding volume 12 times and 8 times,extraction time 90 min and 30 min,number of extraction times 3 times and 1 time,as well as extraction temperature 100 ℃ and 90 ℃.By Plackett-Burman experimental design,the DGD-4D water addition,extraction time and number of extraction times were determined to be CPPs. The Box-Behnken experimental variance analysis showed that P of the regression model was less than 0. 01 and the misstated value was more than 0. 01,indicating that the model had good predictive ability,and the operation space of CPPs in the DGD-4D extraction process was determined as follows: the amount of water addition was 10-12 times; extraction time 50-80 min; and number of extraction times was 3 times. The design space of DGD-4D extraction process based on the concept of Qb D is conducive to improving the stability of product quality and laying a foundation for the future development of DGD-4D.

Film coating process of Xianqu Tablets based on concept of quality by design / 中草药

Objective To investigate the film coating process of Xianqu Tablets based on the concept of quality by design (QbD), and improve the coating efficiency and stability. Methods Using the QbD as an experimental guidance and the Design-Expert software as a tool, the critical quality attributes affecting Xianqu film coating targets were first determined as the response values, and the process parameters of influencing critical quality attributes were selected as the key factors. Then the Box- Behnken design was used to optimize the process parameters and establish a control space. Finally, the design space were verified by measuring the hygroscopicity of Xianqu Tablets. Results The results showed that the design space was optimized to reduce the actual error by 95% confidence interval, the best range of process parameters were obtained as follow: bed temperature 37-43 ℃, coating solution concentration 9%-11%, coating weight gain 4%-5%. After the Xianqu Tablets were coated under the given conditions, the hygroscopicity of Xianqu Tablets, which had a smooth surface and uniform color, was significantly reduced. Conclusion The desired effects by using a reasonable experimental design concept of QbD were efficiently achieved, it provides a predictive model for the film coating process of Xianqu Tablets through constructing reasonable design space, which not only enhances the flexibility and applicability of the coating process, but also ensures the stable product quality.

Design space method for optimizing extraction process of Carthami Flos / 中草药

Objective To establish and verify the design space for the extraction process of Carthami Flos (CF) based on the concept of quality by design (QbD). Methods The safflower was used as a model drug. The critical evaluation indicators were determined through literature and previous research experience. Fishbone diagram and Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) were carried out to determine the critical process parameters (CPPs). The mathematical models of CPPs and critical evaluation indicators were established using the Box-Behnken experimental design method. Results The critical evaluation indicators were the extraction amount of total flavonoid, hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), and total solids. The water-adding amount, extraction temperature, extraction time, and extraction times were determined as the CPPs by the fishbone diagram and FMEA. The variance analysis results of Box-Behnken experiments showed that the P values of established models were less than 0.000 1, indicating that the models have good prediction ability. The recommended operating space were as follows: the extraction times were twice and 2.5 h for each time, the water-adding amount was 23.5-25 mL/g crude drug and the temperature was 65-71 ℃. Conclusion The establishing of design space for CF extraction improves the correlation between the extraction process parameters and extract quality, which provides a reference for the applicability of the design space approach in the field of CMM.

Optimize dropping process of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills by using design space approach / 中国中药杂志

In this paper, a design space approach was applied to optimize the dropping process of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills. Firstly, potential critical process parameters and potential process critical quality attributes were determined through literature research and pre-experiments. Secondly, experiments were carried out according to Box-Behnken design. Then the critical process parameters and critical quality attributes were determined based on the experimental results. Thirdly, second-order polynomial models were used to describe the quantitative relationships between critical process parameters and critical quality attributes. Finally, a probability-based design space was calculated and verified. The verification results showed that efficient production of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills can be guaranteed by operating within the design space parameters. The recommended operation ranges for the critical dropping process parameters of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills were as follows: dropping distance of 5.5-6.7 cm, and dropping speed of 59-60 drops per minute, providing a reference for industrial production of Ginkgo biloba dropping pills.

Studying on purification technology of Resina Draconis phenol extracts based on design space method / 中国中药杂志

The "design space" method was used to optimize the purification process of Resina Draconis phenol extracts by using the concept of "quality derived from design" (QbD). The content and transfer rate of laurin B and 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone and yield of extract were selected as the critical quality attributes (CQA). Plackett-Burman design showed that the critical process parameters (CPP) were concentration of alkali, the amount of alkali and the temperature of alkali dissolution. Then the Box-Behnken design was used to establish the mathematical model between CQA and CPP. The variance analysis results showed that the P values of the five models were less than 0.05 and the mismatch values were all greater than 0.05, indicating that the model could well describe the relationship between CQA and CPP. Finally, the control limits of the above 5 indicators (content and transfer rate of laurine B and 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone, as well as the extract yield) were set, and then the probability-based design space was calculated by Monte Carlo simulation and verified. The results of the design space validation showed that the optimized purification method can ensure the stability of the Resina Draconis phenol extracts refining process, which would help to improve the quality uniformity between batches of phenol extracts and provide data support for production automation control.

Formulation and Optimization of Chronotherapeutic Drug Delivery from Carvedilol Sulphate Compression Coated Tablets by using Design of Experiment Approach.

The aim of this present work was to develop and optimize compression coated tablet of carvedilol sulphate for chronotherapeutic application by response surface methodology based on 32 factorial designs. Compression coated tablet containing carvedilol phosphate in the core was formulated with an outer coat by eudragit L 100 and ethyl cellulose. The percentage weight ratio of ethyl cellulose to eudragit L 100 and coating level were selected as critical process parameters (CPPs), whereas critical quality attributes (CQAs) were lag time and cumulative percentage drug release at 8 hr in current study. For optimization, the effects of critical process parameters upon the critical quality attributes were modelled using the polynomial equations involving critical process parameters and their interactions for various critical quality attributes. A numerical optimization technique was adopted to achieve optimized formulation which was also used as the check point.The observed responses were closed well with the predicted values. The formulation exhibited pulsed release profile after a programmed lag time and thus suitable for chronotherapeutic delivery. The study demonstrated a successful optimized formulation followed by evaluation of compression coated tablet of carvedilol sulphate for chronotherapeutic drug delivery.