Characterization of oleic acid and propranolol oleate mesomorphism using (13)C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SSNMR).

Lipids regularly exhibit complicated thermotropic and lyotropic phase behavior. In this study, the utility of (13)C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SSNMR) in characterizing the phase properties of pharmaceutical lipids was investigated. Variable temperature (13)C SSNMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)(C)) were obtained for high-purity oleic acid (OA) and propranolol oleate (POA). Spectral changes took place following OA gamma-to-alpha phase transition that indicated increased nuclear inequivalence of aliphatic chain carbons in the alpha phase. T(1)(C) data for the alpha phase demonstrated considerable conformational changes throughout the aliphatic chain, not solely in the methyl side chain as previously reported. These data support alpha-OA classification as a conformationally disordered crystalline phase. The prevalence of low T(1)(C) values in both POA I and II suggested the absence of a rigid crystalline molecular lattice, so both phases were described as conformationally disordered crystalline phases. A two-phase mixture of POA I and II was also identified, emphasizing the sensitivity of this technique. (13)C SSNMR provided valuable information regarding the nuclear environment of specific functional groups in lipid crystalline and mesomorphic structures. Understanding phase behavior at the molecular level can aid selection of appropriate formulation strategies for lipids by allowing prediction of processing properties, and physical and chemical stability. (13)C SSNMR is a powerful technique for pharmaceutical lipid characterization.

Characterisation of instantaneous water absorption properties of pharmaceutical excipients.

Powders absorb water by both capillary imbibition and swelling. The capillary process is almost instantaneous but swelling occurs over a period of time. An isothermal transient ionic current technique was used in this study to characterise the instantaneous absorption properties (rate and capacity) of a few selected pharmaceutical excipients. The results indicate that the instantaneous and long term water absorption properties of pharmaceutical powders can differ considerably. The rate of instantaneous water absorption appears to correlate with the total surface area while the absorption capacity correlates more with the porosity of the powder.

Drug-fatty acid salt with wax-like properties employed as binder in melt granulation.

The tacky and deformable properties of a wax-like drug-fatty acid salt, propranolol oleate (POA), make particle size reduction and separation challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of POA as binder in a melt granulation procedure to improve processing properties. POA is a suitable candidate for binder phase in melt granulation with a melting temperature of 50-56 degrees C. Small batches (ca 30 g) were manufactured using a high shear mixer with lactose monohydrate as the substrate phase. Optimum uniformity of drug content and minimum friability were found at 10% w/w POA binder concentration. POA melt granules exhibited a >10-fold increase in the rate of in vitro dissolution at pH 7.4 with 0.2% w/v sodium lauryl sulphate compared with raw POA. The increased drug surface area in granular form was thought to be responsible for the change in dissolution behaviour. This study has demonstrated that melt granulation using POA as binder is a viable process which leads to beneficial changes in dissolution behaviour for the lipophilic drug-fatty acid salt.

Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin inhibits spray-drying-induced inactivation of beta-galactosidase.

The single-step, fast spray-drying process may represent a valuable alternative to the multistep, time-consuming freeze-drying process in the area of formulation and processing of biopharmaceuticals. In this study, we tested the use of sucrose and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) as stabilizing excipients in the spray-drying of a model protein, beta-galactosidase. The solutions were processed using a Büchi 190 cocurrent Mini Spray Dryer at an outlet temperature of 61 +/- 2 degrees C. The powders were redissolved and analyzed for catalytic activity, aggregation, chemical decomposition, and thermal susceptibility as observed by high-resolution calorimetry. Spray-drying significantly inactivated beta-galactosidase. Spray-drying beta-galactosidase in the presence of sucrose did not prevent inactivation. However, after spray-drying beta-galactosidase in the presence of HP-beta-CD, or HP-beta-CD and sucrose, full catalytic activity was exhibited on reconstitution. Furthermore, the reconstituted product was unchanged in terms of molecular weight, charge, and thermal stability. These findings are consistent with a hypothesis that the change responsible for inactivation of beta-galactosidase was mainly a monomolecular, noncovalent change, i. e., the formation of incorrect structures, that arose from surface denaturation. This study clearly demonstrates that cyclodextrins can be useful stabilizing excipients in the preparation of spray-dried protein pharmaceuticals.

Oleate salt formation and mesomorphic behavior in the propranolol/oleic acid binary system.

Thermal analysis of propranolol/oleic acid mixtures prepared by solvent evaporation enabled construction of the binary system phase diagram. This allowed both physical and chemical interactions to be identified, including complex formation at the equimolar composition. An incongruent melting complex with a characteristic reaction point was identified in excess oleic acid compositions, a common property of fatty acid/fatty acid salt binary systems. The equimolar complex was confirmed to be propranolol oleate using infrared spectroscopy. Wide-angle X-ray powder diffractometry demonstrated that propranolol oleate possessed long-range positional order ( approximately 25 A d spacing) accompanied by a degree of disorder over shorter d spacings. Such a pattern suggested mesophase formation, explaining the unctuous nature of propranolol oleate at room temperature. Accurate measurement of the long-range d spacing was achieved using small-angle X-ray scattering, permitting differentiation of the three different phases identified (phase I: 25.4 A, phase II: 24.6 A, phase III: 25.4-25.5 A). The implications of drug fatty acid salt formation and also mesomorphism in pharmaceutical systems are discussed.

Nasal drug delivery--evaluation of an in vitro model using porcine nasal mucosa.

An in vitro model for permeation studies using porcine nasal mucosa was developed and evaluated. The viability and integrity of the mucosa were determined by electrophysiological measurements, permeation studies involving 14C-mannitol and D-(2-3H) glucose, histological studies and a biochemical assay. Enzymatic activity in the mucosa was determined by serosal addition of ouabain. Three different types of porcine nasal mucosa (cavity mucosa, natural septum mucosa and dermatomed septum mucosa) were examined. The results showed that cavity mucosa was the most suitable; this type remained viable for up to 8 h after removal. Lower limits for electrophysiological data were defined in order to establish criteria for tissue viability. This in vitro method using porcine nasal mucosa appears potentially valuable as a tool for further permeation and mechanistic studies within nasal drug delivery research.

Effect of particle size on ocular permeability of prednisolone acetate in rabbits.

The ocular permeability of two sieved fractions of prednisolone acetate with a mean particle size of less than 5 microns and 5-10 microns was studied in rabbits. The results show that there was not significant difference between the corneal uptake of the two fractions of prednisolone acetate. Prednisolone acetate was rapidly taken up by the cornea where it is hydrolyzed rapidly to prednisolone. Only prednisolone was detected in the aqueous humor showing that prednisolone acetate is completely hydrolyzed in the cornea. Both fractions produced similar concentrations of prednisolone in the aqueous humor. For prednisolone acetate, the permeability rate rather than the dissolution rate seems to be the rate-limiting step for corneal transport.

Precorneal residence time in humans of sodium hyaluronate as measured by gamma scintigraphy.

The aim of the present study was to quantify in man the distribution and clearance of two aqueous sodium hyaluronate (SH) solutions of 0.125% and 0.250% after the administration of 25 microliters onto the cornea. Isotonic phosphate buffer (PB) was used as a reference instillation. No systemic or local medication was given to the seven 18- to 30-year-old, healthy male volunteers. A detailed evaluation of the anterior segment of the eye, as well as a Schirmer test and a break-up time measurement, yielded results within the normal range. The clearance of 0.125% and 0.250% SH solutions radiolabelled with sodium pertechnetate Tc-99m was measured by gamma scintigraphy and compared with that of a PB solution tagged with the same radiolabel. There was no statistically significant difference between the quantities of 0.125% SH and PB solutions remaining in the precorneal space at 20 min (paired t-test, P = 0.78, n = 7). However, in comparing the 0.250% SH with the PB solution, we observed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.01, n = 7) in the amount remaining in the precorneal space after the same interval. Actually, 53% of the radiolabelled 0.250% SH solution remained on the cornea as compared with 30% for the 0.125% SH solution and 18.3% for the PB solution. These results suggest that an SH solution of 0.250% might have a prolonged residence time on the precorneal surface, and that SH could therefore be used as an additive in various drug-release systems for the eye.

Sodium hyaluronate as an ophthalmic vehicle: some factors governing its effect on the ocular absorption of pilocarpine.

Sodium hyaluronate, as an additive to aqueous ophthalmic formulations, has been claimed to increase the ocular contact time and, thereby, the drug bioavailability. In the present study, the effect of sodium hyaluronate on corneal residence time and drug absorption in rabbits was investigated. Addition of sodium hyaluronate (0.125%) to a 3H-pilocarpine HCl solution resulted in increased retention of radioactivity in tear fluid and a 2-fold increase in drug concentration in the cornea and aqueous humor. Further, the effects of concentration and molecular weight of sodium hyaluronate on the miosis induced by pilocarpine in rabbits were studied. A significant increase of miotic response was seen at concentrations just less than 0.1% sodium hyaluronate. Pilocarpine solutions prepared from high mol.wt. sodium hyaluronate exhibited a greater miotic response than those prepared from lower mol.wt. samples. This might indicate that other physicochemical properties of sodium hyaluronate influence drug bioavailability.

Influence of sodium hyaluronate on the meiotic effect of pilocarpine in rabbits.

Sodium hyaluronate is a potential vehicle for drugs given topically to the eye. In the present study, the effect of sodium hyaluronate on the miosis induced by pilocarpine in rabbits was investigated. Addition of 0.2 and 0.75% sodium hyaluronate to 1% pilocarpine hydrochloride in buffer resulted in an increased effect measured as area under the miosis-time curve (AUC) and duration of miosis. A comparison between a commercially available 1% pilocarpine preparation and the preparations containing sodium hyaluronate showed that sodium hyaluronate improves the effect parameters. No adverse effects with sodium hyaluronate were observed. Possible mechanisms inducing these improvements are discussed.