Solid dispersions of diflunisal-PVP: polymorphic and amorphous states of the drug.

Coprecipitates of diflunisal and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K15, K30, and K90) and physical mixtures were studied using x-ray diffraction analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and hot-stage microscopy. X-ray diffraction results revealed an almost amorphous state, even in coprecipitates with a high content of drug, next to 70%, which was independent of the polymer molecular weight. The IR spectra of 70:30 drug-PVP solid dispersions suggest the formation of diflunisal-PVP hydrogen bonds. For 70:30 drug-polymer ratio, the physical mixture showed linear dissolution kinetics of free crystals, but the corresponding coprecipitates exhibit two different dissolution processes. When the 25:75 drug-polymer dispersion is analyzed by hot-stage microscopy, only solid plates of PVP are observed; the absence of drug particles may be due to a molecular dispersion of the drug into the polymer. Moreover, polymorphic changes of diflunisal were detected in the solid dispersions in comparison with the corresponding physical mixtures, which are always formed by polymorph II. At high concentrations of drug (75:25 and 80:20), x-ray diffraction patterns of solid dispersions showed the partial recrystallization of the drug, displaying the main diffraction peaks of polymorph I when ethanol was used as coprecipitation solvent, whereas diflunisal form IV was obtained in chloroform.

Influence of polyethylene glycol 4000 on the polymorphic forms of diflunisal.

The present study was carried out to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics of diflunisal-PEG 4000 solid dispersions prepared by melting, solvent and melting-solvent methods. The solvents chosen were chloroform, methanol and ethanol-water due to the fact that the drug presents different polymorphic forms in these solvents. The characterization of solid dispersions was performed by X-ray powder diffraction because this technique has the advantage over other identification methods that it can detect both drug and ligand simultaneously. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the diflunisal-PEG systems suggested that the drug/polymer ratio and the solvent nature play an important role in the crystallization of the drug. In this regard, diflunisal crystallizes in form I at high concentrations of the drug (drug/polymer 2:1) in the solidified melt dispersions, however, polymorph III is mainly obtained as the polymer content increases (1:1 and 2:3). Likewise, in solid systems obtained by the solvent and melting solvent methods the drug solidifies in form III in ethanol/water and methanol while polymorph IV crystallizes in chloroform. Finally, DSC thermograms and hot-stage microscopy data of solid dispersions prepared by the melting method have allowed to draw the diflunisal-PEG 4000 solid-liquid phase diagram.

Dissolution kinetics for coprecipitates of diflunisal with PVP K30.

Diflunisal is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is poorly soluble in water. The present study describes the formulation of solid dispersions of the drug designed to increase its solubility. X-ray diffraction and DSC were used to examine the physico-chemical characteristics of solid dispersions of diflunisal and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) prepared by the solvent method, using percentage proportional compositions ranging from 20:80 to 50:50. X-ray diffraction analysis detected that diflunisal is present in solid dispersions in crystalline or amorphous state depending on the PVP content. The thermal behavior of diflunisal observed in the DSC curves of solid dispersion systems, was attributed to a solid-state interaction. The increased release of the PVP-drug dispersion as compared to the PVP-drug physical mixture was attributed to the formation of a complex resulting from the interaction of the drug and the polymer.

Polymorphism of diflunisal: isolation and solid-state characteristics of a new crystal form.

Three polymorphs (I, II, and III forms) and a new crystal form (form IV) of diflunisal were prepared and characterized by powder X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hot-stage microscopy, IR spectroscopy, and dissolution studies. According to the different X-ray diffraction profiles, an identification system for the polymorphs can be developed based on the different peak positions of the diffraction patterns. The mutual transition behavior of the polymorphs was investigated and the melting points and melting enthalpies were determined from DSC and thermomicroscopy data. All forms first recrystallize to the more stable form (form I) and then melt at 210 degrees C; only one weak transition peak was detected corresponding to transformation of form III to form I. Differences observed in IR spectra indicate that intramolecular hydrogen bonding occurs between hydroxyl and carbonyl groups and/or between fluorine atoms. The intrinsic dissolution rates were determined from compressed disks in an aqueous medium. Unexpectedly the dissolution rate of form IV was lower than that of the most stable modification form I.