Crystallization Propensity of Amorphous Pharmaceuticals: Kinetics and Thermodynamics.

Four model compounds, nifedipine, indomethacin, felodipine, and ketoconazole, all with nearly identical glass transition temperatures, were chosen to study the effects of thermodynamics and molecular mobility on their crystallization propensities. The time and temperature dependence of the crystallization induction time of each compound was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and enabled the generation of their time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams. The relaxation times (τα) were measured by dielectric spectroscopy, and the Gibbs free energy (ΔG) and entropy (ΔS) difference between the crystalline and amorphous states were obtained by DSC. The temperature dependence of the crystallization induction time (τ0(T)) is a function of the thermodynamic activation barrier and the frequency of "attempted jumps" (1/τα(T)) to overcome the barrier. Even though the four model compounds exhibited very similar molecular mobility (relaxation time) over a wide range of temperatures, their crystallization propensities were very different. The observed difference in crystallization propensity was explained in terms of the difference in the thermodynamic barrier, and it is correlated to the empirical relation (TΔS3)/ΔG2.

Stability of lyophilized albumin formulations: Role of excipient crystallinity and molecular mobility.

In freeze-dried protein formulations, the composition governs the physical forms of the excipients and hence their functionality. It is also necessary to understand the effect of composition on the molecular relaxation behavior, a key factor influencing protein stability. Mannitol (bulking agent) - trehalose (lyoprotectant) - bovine serum albumin (BSA) lyophiles with varying trehalose to BSA mass ratios were investigated. The crystalline phases were characterized by X-ray diffractometry. The secondary structure of albumin in lyophiles and reconstituted solutions was evaluated by IR spectroscopy and circular dichroism, respectively. Dielectric spectroscopy was used to obtain the relaxation time of freeze-dried samples. When trehalose to BSA ratio was 0.2, while mannitol crystallized predominantly as the δ-anhydrous polymorph, trehalose remained amorphous. At lower concentrations of BSA, mannitol crystallized in both hemihydrate and anhydrous forms, and trehalose as dihydrate. The extent of dehydration during subsequent drying was dictated by the trehalose to BSA ratio in the formulation. A gradual increase in the Johari-Goldstein relaxation time was observed as the concentration of trehalose increased in the formulation. BSA was more susceptible to stresses from thawing than drying.

Molecular mobility in the supercooled and glassy states of nizatidine and perphenazine.

The dielectric properties of two pharmaceuticals nizatidine and perphenazine were investigated in the supercooled liquid and glassy states by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Two relaxation processes were observed in both the pharmaceuticals. The relaxation process observed above the glass transition temperature is the structural alpha relaxation and below the glass transition temperature is the gamma relaxation of intramolecular origin. The Johari-Goldstein beta relaxation coming from the motion of the entire molecule is found to be hidden under the structural relaxation peak in both the pharmaceuticals.

Molecular dynamics in liquid and glassy states of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug: ketoprofen.

Ketoprofen is a well known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with analgesic and antipyretic effects. It acts by inhibiting the body's production of prostaglandin. The molecular mobility of amorphous ketoprofen has been investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) covering wide temperature and frequency range. Multiple relaxation processes were observed. Besides the primary α-relaxation, one secondary relaxation, γ-have been identified. The γ-process visible in the dielectric spectra at very low temperature is non-JG relaxation, and has an activation energy E=37.91 kJ/mol typical for local mobility. Based on Ngai's coupling model smaller n or a larger Kohlrausch exponent (1-n) of the α-relaxation associated with larger τß (Tg). In the case of ketoprofen we conclude that the secondary relaxation (ß) emerging from intermolecular motions, is hidden under the dominant α-peak. The temperature dependence of the relaxation time of the α-process can be described over the entire measured range by a single Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) equation. From VFT fits, the glass transition temperature (Tg) was estimated as 267.07 K, and a fragility or steepness index m=86.57 was calculated, showing that ketoprofen is a fragile glass former. Our differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study shows that ketoprofen is a non-crystallizing compound. To confirm the hydrogen bond patterns of ketoprofen FTIR spectroscopy was applied in both crystalline and amorphous phases. Solubility test performed at 37 °C proved that amorphous phase is more soluble than the crystalline phase.