Drug release from HPMC matrices in milk and fat-rich emulsions.

"Biorelevant" media for the fed stomach, including fat emulsions, are routinely used during in vitro testing of solid dosage forms. However, their complexity undoubtedly creates difficulties in identifying factors which affect drug release. Here, we show fats can directly influence drug release from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC; Methocel K4M) matrices which are often subjected to biorelevant testing. Model fat systems included milk (0.1%-3.5% fat) and the parenteral emulsion Intralipid® (20%-30% fat). The matrix showed good extended-release properties for at least 12 h in these media (USP-1/USP-4), but at the highest fat concentration, release was retarded and shifted towards zero-order release. Confocal imaging studies using a water-soluble (fluorescein) and fat-soluble (Nile red) fluorophore provided evidence of phase separation of Intralipid® at the surface of the emerging gel. Combined magnetic resonance imaging-USP-4 drug release testing provided further evidence for deposition of fat on the tablets. We propose that the aqueous portion of the emulsion is removed by the hydrating matrix, causing coalescence and deposition of a fat layer at the surface, and these deposits cause slower drug release by reducing the matrix surface area available for release. Therefore, there is a risk of a direct interaction between fat emulsions and HPMC tablets, with resultant effects on drug release in vitro.

The effect of sucrose and salts in combination on the drug release behaviour of an HPMC matrix.

Previous work has shown how high concentrations of sugars can accelerate drug release from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) matrices by suppressing polymer hydration. This study investigates the effects of combining sugar and salts, using sucrose, sodium chloride and trisodium citrate, soluble ingredients commonly found in foods. A factorial study showed that each solute suppressed HPMC solution sol-gel transition temperature (a sensitive measure of molecular hydration) independently, and their effects reflected their rank order in the Hofmeister series. In mixtures, the effects were purely additive, with no evidence of antagonism or synergy. In dissolution tests, both salts significantly reduced the threshold sugar concentration required to elicit an acceleration of drug release, and when used in combination, 0.15 M sodium chloride with 0.015 M trisodium citrate reduced the threshold sucrose concentration from 0.7 M to 0.35-0.4 M, a reduction of almost 50%. The results show that food salts can significantly reduce the concentration required for sugar effects on HPMC matrices, and this may be a factor to consider when interpreting their in vivo behaviour in the fed state.

Designing HPMC matrices with improved resistance to dissolved sugar.

High concentrations of dissolved sugars can accelerate in vitro drug release in certain hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) matrices (Williams et al., 2009). This study investigated the potential for common formulation variables to modulate sucrose sensitivity, and explored if more resistant formulations could be designed. In a model matrix containing 30% HPMC (Methocel™ K4M), the inclusion of sugar as a tablet diluent was a key factor. Lactose:microcrystalline cellulose mixtures, dextrose and d-xylose all produced highly swollen, erodible matrices in 0.7M sucrose (37°C), which collapsed and rapidly released remaining drug after 1-4h. This suggests internal and external sugars combine to disrupt the diffusion barrier properties of the gel layer. In contrast, matrices containing microcrystalline cellulose as the sole diluent provided extended release for 10h. Small particle size (<63µm) and high or low viscosity HPMC (Methocel™ K100M or K100LV) also improved sugar resistance. Knowledge of these variables allowed a significantly more resistant HPMC matrix to be designed which provided extended release for >16h in 0.9M sucrose. By judicious selection of excipient properties, the tolerance of HPMC matrices to high sucrose environments can be significantly improved.

A liquid chromatography method for quantifying caffeine dissolution from pharmaceutical formulations into colloidal, fat-rich media.

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid-chromatography method is presented that permits quantification of caffeine in colloidal fat emulsions proposed as new 'biorelevant' dissolution media (Intralipid and various milks). Using a mobile phase of 0.1 M sodium acetate (pH 4.0) and acetonitrile (89.5:10.5, v/v) at 1 ml min(-1), the drug and internal standard (7-beta-hydroxyethyltheophylline) were eluted within 8 min. Caffeine extraction was undertaken by protein precipitation in ice-cold 12% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid and centrifugation at 10,000 rpm for 15 min. This simple extraction method generated caffeine recovery values (corrected for % fat content) of 75.4+/-1.4-100.6+/-5.5%. The limit of detection was within the range 0.25-0.4 microg ml(-1) and linearity was demonstrated in each medium up to 125 microg ml(-1). Precision was <11.5% RSD and intra- and inter-day accuracy was 93.4-109.3%. The validated method was applied to in vitro USP dissolution tests in milk which compared the kinetics of caffeine release from (i) extended release matrices containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and (ii) an immediate release commercial analgesic tablet. Good reproducibility was obtained in both extended and immediate release dissolution tests. The method provides high-throughput quantification of this common drug in fat emulsions used as biorelevant dissolution media.

The extended release properties of HPMC matrices in the presence of dietary sugars.

The mechanisms and structure-activity by which dissolved dietary sugars influence drug release from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (Methocel K4M) matrices were investigated. Drug release was retarded at lower sugar concentrations, but above a critical solute concentration (S(CRIT)), there was marked acceleration of release. Studies of early gel layer formation suggested this resulted from sugar-induced suppression of HPMC particle swelling and coalescence, leading to gel structures with poorer diffusion-barrier properties and reduced resistance to physical erosion. Sucrose, lactose, D-glucose, D-galactose and D-fructose all exhibited this pattern but S(CRIT) values varied widely between sugars (0.5 M lactose, 1.15 M D-fructose). A polynomial relationship (r(2)=0.994) existed between S(CRIT) and the ability of the sugar to depress the polymer sol-gel transition temperature (Delta CPT). Structure activity relationships across a wide range of sugars suggested Delta CPT was related to molar hydroxyl number, the orientation of the C(4) hydroxyl and the beta 1-->4 linkage, all factors which influence sugar compatibility with water structure. The study demonstrates how sugars in high concentration can directly influence the performance of the gel diffusion barrier and matrix drug release characteristics. There is therefore potential for influencing drug release kinetics when high concentrations of sugars are co-administered in the fed state or when they are present in HPMC ER formulations.

Modulation of drug release kinetics from hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose matrix tablets using polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

Hydrophilic matrix tablets are widely used to extend the release of a broad range of pharmaceutically active materials. The mechanism and kinetics of drug release are dependent on the solubility of the active moiety and the swelling and erosion properties of the polymer, with water soluble compounds released predominantly by diffusion. The swelling and erosion properties of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), typically lead to a first order release rate for water soluble compounds as opposed to the more desirable zero-order kinetics. In addition, for compounds with differences in regional absorption within the gastrointestinal tract a dosage form with a bi-modal release profile may be required, which is difficult to achieve with a simple dosage form. The following paper presents a simple, cost effective and elegant solution for achieving a range of predictable release profiles from linear to bi-modal for a water soluble drug (caffeine) from HPMC matrices, through the inclusion of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). Mechanistic studies using gel rheology, excipient dissolution and near-infrared microscopy (NIR) microscopy are presented which show that the modulation of drug release kinetics is mediated through a reduction in HPMC viscosity in the presence of a critical concentration of PVP, which leads to a break-up of the extended release tablet. A validated mathematical model is also presented which allows drug release profiles to be reliably predicted based on the initial HPMC and PVP content in the tablet.

Predictive and correlative techniques for the design, optimisation and manufacture of solid dosage forms.

There is much interest in predicting the properties of pharmaceutical dosage forms from the properties of the raw materials they contain. Achieving this with reasonable accuracy would aid the faster development and manufacture of dosage forms. A variety of approaches to prediction or correlation of properties are reviewed. These approaches have variable accuracy, with no single technique yet able to provide an accurate prediction of the overall properties of the dosage form. However, there have been some successes in predicting trends within a formulation series based on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of raw materials, predicting process scale-up through mechanical characterisation of materials and predicting product characteristics by process monitoring. Advances in information technology have increased predictive capability and accuracy by facilitating the analysis of complex multivariate data, mapping formulation characteristics and capturing past knowledge and experience.

Rational design of powder formulations for tamp filling processes.

Tamp filling processes are widely used for the filling of powders into hard gelatin capsules, whereby capsule fill weight is controlled by the formation of a loosely packed plug of material that is dispensed into the capsule shell. To rationally design formulations for tamp filling processes the formulator must have an intimate knowledge of the synergy between machine parameters and powder properties and the corresponding effect on product quality. However, despite ubiquitous use throughout the pharmaceutical industry, relatively little is understood about the design of powders for tamp filling processes. The aim of the following review is to summarize the published literature to date from a formulation design perspective and to provide a framework for future scientific research.