Multivariate modeling of diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform (DRIFT) spectra of mixtures with low-content polymorphic impurities with analysis of outliers.

Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (DRIFTS)-based multivariate models were developed to quantify the content of two polymorphic impurities in mixtures with the desired active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) form, with the impurities not exceeding 2% wt/wt. In addition, close attention was paid to the outlier detection criteria: Q residuals; Hotelling T2; and score bi-plot. While reasonably accurate results were obtained for the relatively simple calibration models for both forms of the impurity, the predictions for "blank" samples (separately verified to be impurity-free) were apparently biased. Thus, the model training sets were augmented with spectra from calibration mixtures incorporating some of the API from batches used in the prediction. The performance of the updated models as assessed by cross-validation was somewhat degraded as a result, while predictions against independent batches of API showed a decrease in bias indicating robustness had improved. Nevertheless, the Q residuals criterion disqualified a large number of prediction samples as outliers in contrast to the other two criteria that reported no issues at all. The results here demonstrated the effectiveness of DRIFTS for quantifying low concentration polymorphic impurities, while simultaneously highlighting the variability issues that can be encountered in practice and which need to be understood and managed appropriately to ensure the success of any automated or Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliant application of multivariate modeling.

DRIFTS-based multivariate calibration and prediction of low-concentration polymorphic impurities in multiple lots of an active pharmaceutical ingredient, and outlier criteria.

Mixtures of two polymorphic impurities with one lot of the desired form of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), mostly binary mixtures, with up to 2% wt/wt of an impurity, were used for multivariate modeling via Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) spectra. The two obtained cross-validated models, significantly differing in accuracy, were used to predict the concentrations of these impurities in independent API lots. The predictions were found to be biased and with outliers, as revealed by the Q residuals criterion but not the other two outlier criteria. Updating the models with the spectra from the mixtures using multiple API lots produced very different calibration results: the model of the impurity with the strong IR response became noticeably worse, while the model of the impurity with less responsive IR signal changed only marginally. The updated models performed much better in the prediction as the bias for both polymorphs was reduced and the outlier-related issues mostly disappeared.

Economic and simple system to combine single-spot photolysis and whole-field fluorescence imaging.

ABSTRACT. In recent years, the use of light emitting diodes (LEDs) has become commonplace in fluorescence microscopy. LEDs are economical and easy to couple to commercial microscopes, and they provide powerful and stable light that can be triggered by transistor-transistor logic pulses in the range of tens of microseconds or shorter. LEDs are usually installed on the epifluorescence port of the microscope to obtain whole-field illumination, which is ideal for fluorescence imaging. In contrast, photolysis or channelrhodopsin stimulation often requires localized illumination, typically achieved using lasers. Here we show that insertion of a long-pass (>411 nm) filter with an appropriately sized pinhole in the epifluorescence pathway, combined with dual UV/visible illumination, can produce efficient whole-field visible illumination and spot UV illumination of 15 to 20 µm. We tested our system by performing calcium imaging experiments combined with L-glutamate or N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) photorelease in hippocampal neurons from brain slices or dissociated cultures, demonstrating the ability to obtain local activation of NMDA receptors exclusively in the illuminated spot. The very inexpensive and simple system that we report here will allow many laboratories with limited budgets to run similar experiments in a variety of physiological applications.

Non-invasive viability assessment of day-4 frozen-thawed human embryos using near infrared spectroscopy.

This study investigated if metabolomic profiling of culture media using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was related to live-birth rates after single-embryo transfer of frozen-thawed embryos. Analysis of culture media of frozen-thawed embryos was performed by NIR spectroscopy. A viability score was calculated using a predictive multivariate algorithm of fresh day-5 embryos with known pregnancy outcomes. This algorithm generated with fresh day-5 embryos could help to identify the live-birth group from the no live-birth group. Multivariable regression models that tested the predictive ability of the viability score for live birth showed an odds ratio in the crude analysis of 1.50 (P=0.008), after adjustment for embryo morphology, 1.44 (P=0.022), and after adjustment for all variables, 1.71 (P=0.005); based on a 0.1 step increase in viability scores. In conclusion, higher viability scores resulted in higher live-birth rates. An algorithm generated from fresh embryos might be used to predict viability of frozen-thawed embryos. Frozen-thawed embryos have different metabolic activity which is related to implantation potential. Therefore, this method might be useful to select the best embryo for transfer within a group of embryos with similar morphology.

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of day 5 morphology grading and metabolomic Viability Score on predicting implantation outcome.

PURPOSE: Assessment of embryo viability is a key component of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and currently relies largely on embryo morphology and cleavage rate. In this study, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to compare the Viability Score (generated by metabolomic profiling of spent embryo culture media using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy) to morphologic grading for predicting pregnancy in women undergoing single embryo transfer (SET) on day 5. METHODS: A total of 198 spent embryo culture media samples were collected in four IVF centers located in the USA, Europe and Australia. First, 137 samples (training set) were analyzed by NIR to develop an algorithm that generates a Viability Score predictive of pregnancy for each sample. Next, 61 samples (validation set) were analyzed by observers blinded to embryo morphology and IVF outcome, using the Day 5 algorithm generated with the training set. Pregnancy was defined as fetal cardiac activity (FCA) at 12 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: The Area Under the Curve (AUC) was greater for the metabolomic Viability Score compared to Morphology [Training set: 0.75 versus 0.55, p = 0.0011; Validation set: 0.68 versus 0.50, P = 0.021], and for a Composite score (obtained using a model combining Viability Score with morphologic grading), compared to morphology alone [0.74 versus 0.50, p = 0.004]. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that Viability Score alone or in combination with morphologic grading has the potential to be a better classifier for pregnancy outcome than morphology alone in women undergoing SET on day 5.

Development of a targeted polymorph screening approach for a complex polymorphic and highly solvating API.

Elucidation of the most stable form of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is a critical step in the development process. Polymorph screening for an API with a complex polymorphic profile can present a significant challenge. The presented case illustrates an extensively polymorphic compound with an additional propensity for forming stable solvates. In all, 5 anhydrous forms and 66 solvated forms have been discovered. After early polymorph screening using common techniques yielded mostly solvates and failed to uncover several key anhydrous forms, it became necessary to devise new approaches based on an advanced understanding of crystal structure and conformational relationships between forms. With the aid of this analysis, two screening approaches were devised which targeted high-temperature desolvation as a means to increase conformational populations and enhance overall probability of anhydrous form production. Application of these targeted approaches, comprising over 100 experiments, produced only the known anhydrous forms, without appearance of any new forms. The development of these screens was a critical and alternative approach to circumvent solvation issues associated with more conventional screening methods. The results provided confidence that the current development form was the most stable polymorph, with a low likelihood for the existence of a more-stable anhydrous form.

A practical algorithm to remove cosmic spikes in Raman imaging data for pharmaceutical applications.

Raman dispersive microscopic imaging techniques are finding ever-increasing applications in pharmaceutical research for their ability to provide spatial and spectral information about the sample. Spectral data acquired from dispersive Raman instruments utilizing charge-coupled device detectors are characterized by occasional high intensity spikes arising from cosmic ray events. These random cosmic spikes are superimposed on chemically meaningful spectra. Due to their high intensity and potential influence on variance structures, it is often crucial to filter cosmic spikes from data prior to the use of multivariate algorithms to extract chemical information from the image cube. Some extremely challenging cosmic spikes are found to seriously interfere with multivariate data analysis for our application, e.g., spikes with bandwidth greater than the bandwidth from species of interest, spikes in neighboring image pixels occurring at the same spectral channels, spikes right on top of the band of interest, etc. A practical algorithm is proposed for semiautomated cosmic spike removal. The algorithm is computationally efficient, conceptually simple, and easy to implement. It is an alternative to methods using repetitive measurements by taking advantage of the spatial characteristic of imaging techniques and existing knowledge from the formulation. The algorithm has been shown to generate recovered spectra with negligible spectral distortion. The utility of the algorithm will be illustrated by the analysis of Raman images of pharmaceutical samples.

Drug characterization in low dosage pharmaceutical tablets using Raman microscopic mapping.

Raman micro-spectroscopic mapping is utilized to analyze pharmaceutical tablets containing a low concentration (0.5% w/w) of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The domain sizes and spatial distributions of the API and the major excipients are obtained. Domain size of the API is found to be dependent upon the particle size distribution of the ingoing API material, making the Raman maps good indicators of the source of API used in tablet manufacturing. Multivariate classification was performed to simultaneously check for the presence of two undesired API polymorphs within tablets. Raman mapping was demonstrated capable of detecting in the tablet matrix as little as 10% form conversion of the low-dosage (0.5% w/w) API, which is equivalent to detection of a 0.05% w/w polymorphic impurity. Overall, the information provided by Raman micro-spectroscopic mapping was found to have potential utility for manufacturing process optimization or predictive stability assessments.

Solvent effects on the conversion of dicopper(II) micro-eta(2):eta(2)-peroxo to bis-micro-oxo dicopper(III) complexes: direct probing of the solvent interaction.

A new tridentate ligand, PYAN, is employed to investigate solvent influences for dioxygen reactivity with [Cu(PYAN)(MeCN)]B(C(6)F(5))(4) (1). Stopped-flow kinetic studies confirm that the adducts [[u(II)(PYAN)]2)(O(2))][B(C(6)F(5))(4)](2) (2(Peroxo)) and [[u(III)(PYAN)]2)(O)(2)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)](2) (2(Oxo)) are in rapid equilibrium. Thermodynamic parameters for the equilibrium between 2(Peroxo) and 2(Oxo) re as follows: THF, deltaH degrees approximately -15.7 kJ/mol, deltaS degrees approximately -83 J/K.mol; acetone, deltaH degrees approximately -15.8 kJ/mol, deltaS degrees approximately -76 J/K.mol. UV-visible absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopic signatures demonstrate that the equilibrium is highly solvent dependent; the mixture is mostly 2(Peroxo) in CH(2)Cl(2), but there are significantly increasing quantities of 2(Oxo) along the series methylene chloride --> diethyl ether --> acetone --> tetrahydrofuran (THF). Copper(II)-N(eq) stretches (239, 243, 244, and 246 cm(-)(1) in CH(2)Cl(2), Et(2)O, acetone, and THF, respectively) are identified for 2(Peroxo), but they are not seen in 2(Oxo), revealing for the first time direct evidence for solvent coordination in the more open 2(Peroxo) structure.

Resonance raman investigation of equatorial ligand donor effects on the Cu(2)O(2)(2+) core in end-on and side-on mu-peroxo-dicopper(II) and bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) complexes.

The effect of endogenous donor strength on Cu(2)O(2) bonds was studied by electronically perturbing [[(R-TMPA)Cu(II)]](2)(O(2))](2+) and [[(R-MePY2)Cu](2)(O(2))](2+) (R = H, MeO, Me(2)N), which form the end-on mu-1,2 bound peroxide and an equilibrium mixture of side-on peroxo-dicopper(II) and bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) isomers, respectively. For [[(R-TMPA)Cu(II)](2)(O(2))](2+), nu(O-O) shifts from 827 to 822 to 812 cm(-1) and nu(Cu)(-)(O(sym)) shifts from 561 to 557 to 551 cm(-1), respectively, as R- varies from H to MeO to Me(2)N. Thus, increasing the N-donor strength to the copper decreases peroxide pi(sigma) donation to the copper, weakening the Cu-O and O-O bonds. A decrease in nu(Cu-O) of the bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) complex was also observed with increasing N-donor strength for the R-MePY2 ligand system. However, no change was observed for nu(O-O) of the side-on peroxo. This is attributed to a reduced charge donation from the peroxide pi(sigma) orbital with increased N-donor strength, which increases the negative charge on the peroxide and adversely affects the back-bonding from the Cu to the peroxide sigma orbital. However, an increase in the bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) isomer relative to side-on peroxo-dicopper(II) species is observed for R-MePY2 with R = H < MeO < Me(2)N. This effect is attributed to the thermodynamic stabilization of the bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) isomer relative to the side-on peroxo-dicopper(II) isomer by strong donor ligands. Thus, the side-on peroxo-dicopper(II)/bis-mu-oxo-dicopper(III) equilibrium can be controlled by electronic as well as steric effects.

Contrasting copper-dioxygen chemistry arising from alike tridentate alkyltriamine copper(I) complexes.

Copper(I)-dioxygen interactions are of great interest due to their role in biological O2-processing as well as their importance in industrial oxidation processes. We describe here the study of systems which lead to new insights concerning the factors which govern Cu(II)-mu-eta2:eta2 (side-on) peroxo versus Cu(III)-bis-mu-oxo species formation. Drastic differences in O2-reactivity of Cu(I) complexes which differ only by a single -CH3 versus -H substituent on the central amine of the tridentate ligands employed are observed. [Cu(MeAN)]B(C6F5)4 (1) (MeAN = N,N,N',N',N'-pentamethyl-dipropylenetriamine) reacts with O2 at -80 degrees C to form almost exclusively the side-on peroxo complex [{CuII(MeAN)}2(O2)]2+ (3) in CH2Cl2, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, and diethyl ether solvents, as characterized by UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopies. In sharp contrast, [Cu(AN)]B(C6F5)4 (2) (AN = 3, 3'-iminobis(N,N-dimethyl-propylamine) can support either Cu2O2 structures in a strongly solvent-dependent manner. Extreme behavior is observed in CH2Cl2 solvent, where 1 reacts with O2 giving 3, while 2 forms exclusively the bis-mu-oxo species [{CuIII(AN)}2(O)2]2+ (4Oxo). Stopped-flow kinetics measurements also reveal significant variations in the oxygenation reactions of 1 versus 2, including the observations that 4Oxo forms much faster than does 3; the former decomposes quickly, while the latter is quite stable at 193 K. The solvent-dependence of the bis-mu-oxo versus side-on peroxo preference observed for 2 is opposite to that reported for other known copper(I) complexes; the factors which may be responsible for the unusual behavior of 1/O2 versus 2/O2 (possibly N-H hydrogen bonding in the AN chemistry) are suggested. The factors which affect bis-mu-oxo versus side-on peroxo formation continue to be of interest.