Impact of fillers on dissolution kinetic of fenofibrate dry foams.

Dry foam technology reveals the opportunity to improve the dissolution behavior of poorly soluble drugs tending to agglomeration due to micronization. In this study, the impact of fillers on the manufacturability, the properties of dry foams and granules as well as the dissolution kinetics of dry foam tablets was investigated using fenofibrate as a model compound. Different maltodextrins and dried glucose syrups, a maltodextrin-phosphatidylcholine complex, isomalt and a 1:1 mixture of mannitol/glucose syrup were used as filler. Within the group of maltodextrins and glucose syrups, the influences of dextrose equivalent (DE), particle morphology and botanical source of starch were investigated. Comparable macroscopic foam structures were obtained with maltodextrins and glucose syrups whereas different foam morphologies were obtained for the other fillers tested. Regarding the maltodextrins and glucose syrups, different physicochemical and particle properties had a minor impact on granule characteristics and tablet dissolution. Using the maltodextrin-phosphatidylcholine complex resulted in a low specific surface area of the granules and a slow tablet dissolution caused by a slow disintegration. In contrast, a high specific surface area and a fast release were obtained with isomalt and glucose syrup/mannitol mixture indicating that high soluble low molecular weight fillers enable the development of fast dissolving dry foam tablets.

Influence of process parameters and equipment on dry foam formulation properties using indomethacin as model drug.

Dry foam technology was developed to overcome insufficient oral bioavailability of poorly soluble and wettable active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It is intended to enable a faster and more efficient dissolution by avoiding API agglomeration and floating of non-wetted API particles. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of process parameters, such as paste water content and type of equipment used on dry foam morphology, granule characteristics and dissolution behavior of the corresponding tablets using indomethacin as model compound. Multiple analytical methods, namely scanning electron microscopy, X-ray micro-computed tomography and mercury porosimetry, specific surface area analysis and sieve analysis were employed. Dissolution of dry foam formulation tablets was compared to a reference formulation in biorelevant media. Process parameters proved to have a distinct influence on dry foam morphology and granule characteristics, correlations between paste viscosity and pore size distribution could be observed. Dissolution behavior of indomethacin was improved by dry foam technology compared to the reference formulation. Variation of process parameters within the studied ranges did not alter the characteristics of the dry foam formulation dissolution behavior. Therefore, dry foam technology seems a promising future technology with the option of continuous manufacturing.

Rational formulation development and in vitro assessment of SMEDDS for oral delivery of poorly water soluble drugs.

The aims of this study were to formulate a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) by a rational formulation approach using mixture experimental design and to derive general concepts that make the development of such systems more feasible. Various types of oils and surfactants were systematically combined and the phase behaviour upon dilution with simulated gastric fluid examined by construction of phase diagrams. The systems solubilising the highest amount of simulated gastric fluid in the continuous microemulsion area were selected for investigation and optimisation of drug solubility. Simvastatin was added as a poorly water-soluble, lipophilic model drug. Two different mixture experimental designs using D-optimal design were set up and used to investigate the solubility of simvastatin in the SMEDDS before and after dilution with simulated gastric fluid respectively. The solubility in each mixture region was analysed by fitting quadratic models using partial least squares analysis. The established models revealed the influence of mixture components on phase behaviour and drug solubility and gave the rationale for formulation optimisation. This study demonstrated that the development of complex self-emulsifying formulations with sufficient solubilisation capacity for poorly water-soluble drugs upon oral administration can be more feasible when using experimental design.