Influence of PVP molecular weight on the microwave assisted in situ amorphization of indomethacin.

In situ amorphization is an approach that enables a phase transition of a crystalline drug to its amorphous form immediately prior to administration. In this study, three different polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP K12, K17 and K25) were selected to investigate the influence of the molecular weight of the polymer on the degree of amorphization of the model drug indomethacin (IND) upon microwaving. Powder mixtures of crystalline IND and the respective PVP were compacted at 1:2 (w/w) IND:PVP ratios, stored at 54% RH and subsequently microwaved with a total energy input of 90 or 180kJ. After storage, all compacts had a similar moisture content (∼10% (w/w)). Upon microwaving with an energy input of 180kJ, 58±4% of IND in IND:PVP K12 compacts was amorphized, whereas 31±8% of IND was amorphized by an energy input of 90kJ. The drug stayed fully crystalline in all IND:PVP K17 and IND:PVP K25 compacts. After plasticization by moisture, PVP K12 reached a Tg below ambient temperature (16±2°C) indicating that the Tg of the plasticized polymer is a key factor for the success of in situ amorphization. DSC analysis showed that the amorphized drug was part of a ternary glass solution consisting of IND, PVP K12 and water. In dissolution tests, IND:PVP K12 compacts showed a delayed initial drug release due to a lack of compact disintegration, but reached a higher total drug release eventually. In summary, this study showed that the microwave assisted in situ amorphization was highly dependent on the Tg of the plasticized polymer.

Amorphization within the tablet: Using microwave irradiation to form a glass solution in situ.

In situ amorphization is a concept that allows to amorphize a given drug in its final dosage form right before administration. Hence, this approach can potentially be used to circumvent recrystallization issues that other amorphous formulation approaches are facing during storage. In this study, the feasibility of microwave irradiation to prepare amorphous solid dispersions (glass solutions) in situ was investigated. Indomethacin (IND) and polyvinylpyrrolidone K12 (PVP) were tableted at a 1:2 (w/w) ratio. In order to study the influence of moisture content and energy input on the degree of amorphization, tablet formulations were stored at different relative humidity (32, 43 and 54% RH) and subsequently microwaved using nine different power-time combinations up to a maximum energy input of 90kJ. XRPD results showed that up to 80% (w/w) of IND could be amorphized within the tablet. mDSC measurements revealed that with increasing microwaving power and time, the fractions of crystalline IND and amorphous PVP reduced, whereas the amount of in situ formed IND-PVP glass solution increased. Intrinsic dissolution showed that the dissolution rate of the microwaved solid dispersion was similar to that of a quench cooled, fully amorphous glass solution even though the microwaved samples contained residual crystalline IND.

Enantiotropically related polymorphs of gaboxadol hydrochloride.

Gaboxadol hydrochloride, also known as THIP hydrochloride (systematic name: 3-hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1,2-oxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-6-ium chloride), C6H9N2O2(+)·Cl(-), exists as two enantiotropically related polymorphs. Transformation between the polymorphs occurs in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal manner at 221 K, and the enthalpy of transformation from the high-temperature form to the low-temperature form is -0.7 kJ mol(-1). Single-crystal structures have been determined at 298 and 220 K. At 298 K, the structure is triclinic (space group P overline 1), with two formula units in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. At 220 K, the structure is monoclinic (space group I2/a), with one formula unit in the asymmetric unit. The structures contain identical hydrogen-bonded layers and the transformation between the polymorphs corresponds to a shift of adjacent layers relative to each other. The transformation is shown to be reversible by differential scanning calorimetry and variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction.

Investigation of solid phase composition on tablet surfaces by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction.

PURPOSE: To investigate solid state transformations of drug substances during compaction using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD). METHODS: The solid forms of three model drugs-theophylline (TP), nitrofurantoin (NF) and amlodipine besylate (AMB)-were compacted at different pressures (from 100 to 1000 MPa); prepared tablets were measured using GIXD. After the initial measurements of freshly compacted tablets, tablets were subjected to suitable recrystallization treatment, and analogous measurements were performed. RESULTS: Solid forms of TP, NF and AMB showed partial amorphization as well as crystal disordering during compaction; the extent of these effects generally increased as a function of pressure. The changes were most pronounced at the outer surface region. The different solid forms showed difference in the formation of amorphicity/crystal disordering. Dehydration due to compaction was observed for the TP monohydrate, whereas hydrates of NF and AMB were stable towards dehydration. CONCLUSIONS: With GIXD measurements, it was possible to probe the solid form composition at the different depths of the tablet surfaces and to obtain depth-dependent information on the compaction-induced amorphization, crystal disordering and dehydration.

Influence of the solid form of siramesine hydrochloride on its behavior in aqueous environments.

PURPOSE: To study the influence of solid form on the behavior of the salt siramesine hydrochloride in aqueous environments. METHODS: The solubilities and dissolution rates of siramesine hydrochloride anhydrate and monohydrate were determined at pH 3.4 and 6.4, and precipitates were examined by X-ray powder diffraction. The mechanism of anhydrate-hydrate conversion was investigated by optical microscopy, and wet massing of the anhydrate was carried out using water and 60% (v/v) ethanol separately as granulation liquids. The wet masses were analyzed using Raman microscopy. RESULTS: At pH 3.4 the anhydrate and monohydrate salts exhibited similar dissolution profiles. At pH 6.4 both the anhydrate and monohydrate salts formed supersaturated solutions of high apparent solubility. From the anhydrate solution, precipitation of the free base occurred, while the solution of the monohydrate salt remained in the supersaturated state. This resulted in a superior dissolution profile of the monohydrate salt. Microscopy and wet massing experiments showed that the anhydrate-hydrate conversion of siramesine hydrochloride was solution-mediated and dissolution-controlled. CONCLUSION: During development of a formulation based on the anhydrate salt, the risk of processing-induced transformation to the monohydrate form as well as precipitation of the free base should be considered.