ABSTRACT
Tromethamine, a UV-transparent amine base excipient, was used in the liquid phase of a self-emulsifying drug delivery system-soft gelatin capsule (SEDDS-SGC) formulation as an emulsification agent and to improve solubilization of the active drug. The level of this excipient was found to be decreasing in aged and stressed drug product capsules. The decrease could potentially affect oral bioavailability of the drug; should the amount of solubilizer decrease enough to lead to precipitation of the active drug from the formulation. Therefore, further investigation was warranted. HPLC coupled with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) was used to monitor the physical and chemical stability of tromethamine in the SEDDS-SGC formulation. Confirmation of the tromethamine interaction products was done by LC-MS.
Subject(s)
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Diglycerides/chemistry , Excipients/chemistry , Monoglycerides/chemistry , Pharmaceutical Preparations/chemistry , Tromethamine/chemistry , Chemistry, Pharmaceutical , Drug Delivery Systems , Drug Stability , Light , Molecular Structure , Pharmaceutical Preparations/administration & dosage , Scattering, Radiation , SolubilityABSTRACT
This report describes the solubility properties of a poorly soluble drug-excipient complex in a lipid based formulation. Tipranavir (TPV) was used as the model drug and 1,3-dioctanoylglycerol (DOG) as the excipient. The TPV-DOG complex was prepared by dissolving TPV and DOG in ethanol at 60 degrees C followed by evaporation of ethanol. The formation of the complex with a 4:1 TPV-to-DOG molar ratio was confirmed by XRPD, DSC, and NMR. At 25 degrees C, total solubility of TPV decreased with increasing DOG concentration. The solubility properties of the TPV-DOG complex can be described by two simultaneous equilibria: a liquid-solid phase equilibrium of the complex and a species equilibrium among the various species in the liquid phase. A model equation was derived accordingly with two parameters, the intrinsic solubility of the complex (S(o)), and the solution complex constant (K(41)). The model was in good agreement with experimental results. The values of S(o) and K(41) are 0.0186 +/- 0.0025 (M) and 21.97 +/- 7.19 (1/M(4)), respectively. The equation can successfully predict the concentrations of total and free TPV as a function of DOG in the formulation. The approach developed provides a useful tool for rationale selection of excipients and their levels to avoid drug precipitation in lipid based formulations.
