Model drug release from matrix tablets composed of HPMC with different substituent heterogeneity

Fingerprinting of hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose by comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of monomers resulting from acid hydrolysis

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) is a type of cellulose derivative with properties that render it useful in e.g. food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industry. The substitution degree and composition of the β-glucose subunits of HPMC affect its physical and functional properties, but HPMC characterization is challenging due to its high structural heterogeneity, including many isomers. In this study, comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to examine substituted glucose monomers originating from complete acid hydrolysis of HPMC. Resolution between the different monomers was achieved using a C18 and cyano column in the first and second LC dimension, respectively. The data analysis process was structured to obtain fingerprints of the monomers of interest. The results revealed that isomers of the respective monomers could be selectively separated based on the position of substituents. The examination of two industrial HPMC products revealed differences in overall monomer composition. While both products contained monomers with a similar degree of substitution, they exhibited distinct regioselectivity.

Variability in the substitution pattern of hydroxypropyl cellulose affects its physico-chemical properties

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is a water-soluble polymer with many applications in food, pharmaceutical, medical, or paints industries. Past studies have reported that differences in functionality can occur between products of similar pharmaceutical grades. Understanding the origin of these differences is a major challenge for the industry. In this work, the structure and physico-chemical properties of several HPC samples of the same commercial grade were studied. Structural analysis by NMR and enzymatic hydrolysis were performed to study molar substitution and distribution of substituents along the polymer chain respectively. Water-polymer interactions, surface properties as well as rheological and thermal behavior were characterized to tentatively correlate them with the structure, and gain new insights into the structure-function relationship of this polymer. The differences in structure revealed between the samples affect their properties. The unexpected behavior of one sample was attributed to a more heterogeneous substitution pattern, with the coexistence of highly and weakly substituted regions along the same polymer chain. The more block-like distribution of substituents has a great effect on the clouding behavior and surface tension reduction ability of the polymer.

Therapeutically Effective Controlled Release Formulation of Pirfenidone from Nontoxic Biocompatible Carboxymethyl Pullulan-Poly(vinyl alcohol) Interpenetrating Polymer Networks

The present study was conducted to develop therapeutically effective controlled release formulation of pirfenidone (PFD) and explore the possibility to reduce the total administered dose and dosing regimen. For this purpose, pH-sensitive biomaterial was prepared by inducing carboxymethyl group on pullulan by Williamson ether synthesis reaction, and further, interpenetrating polymeric network microspheres were prepared by glutaraldehyde-assisted water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion cross-linking method, which showed higher swelling ratio in acidic and basic pH. The formation of microspheres was confirmed by different spectral characterization techniques, and thermal kinetic study indicated the formation of thermally stable microspheres. Cell viability and biocompatibility studies on hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell showed the polymeric matrix to be biocompatible. In vitro dissolution of optimized formulation (F5) showed releases of 54.09 and 76.37% in 0.1 N HCl after 2 h and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) up to 8 h, respectively. In vivo performances of prepared microsphere and marketed product of PFD were compared in rabbit. T max (time taken to reach peak plasma concentration) was found to be achieved at 0.83 h, compared to 0.5 h for Pirfenex with no significant difference complementing the immediate action, while area under curve was significantly greater for optimized formulation (9768 ± 1300 ng h/mL) compared to Pirfenex (4311 ± 110 ng h/mL), complementing the sustained action. In vivo pharmacokinetic study suggested that the prepared microsphere could be a potential candidate for therapeutically effective controlled delivery of PFD used in dyspnea and cough management due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Setting up multivariate specifications on critical raw material attributes to ensure consistent drug dissolution from high drug-load sustained-release matrix tablet

The purpose of this study was to describe the raw material variability that influenced the in-vitro dissolution behavior of high drug-load sustained-release matrix tablet and to ensure the consistent quality of the final product. The Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) - hydroxypropyl methylcellulose - anhydrous lactose - magnesium stearate (57:20:23:0.5%, w/w) was used as the model formulation. PNS extract powders with lot-to-lot and source-to-source differences were collected to cover the common cause variations and their physicochemical properties were characterized by the chromatographic fingerprints and the SeDeM expert system. It was found that the release behavior of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in PNS from different batches exhibited considerable variations. Latent variable modeling results demonstrated that the physical properties of raw materials played major roles in predicting the drug dissolution. PNS extracts with high specific surface area, the width of particle size distribution and hygroscopicity or low moisture content led to an increase in drug release. In order to perform efficient pass/fail judgments for incoming new materials, multivariate specifications of critical material attributes (CMAs) were established and the multivariate design space in line with the quality by design (QbD) principles was explored to achieve the release target.

Characterization of the substitution pattern of cellulose derivatives using carbohydrate-binding modules

BACKGROUND

Derivatized celluloses, such as methylcellulose (MC) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), are of pharmaceutical importance and extensively employed in tablet matrices. Each batch of derivatized cellulose is thoroughly characterized before utilized in tablet formulations as batch-to-batch differences can affect drug release. The substitution pattern of the derivatized cellulose polymers, i.e. the mode on which the substituent groups are dispersed along the cellulose backbone, can vary from batch-to-batch and is a factor that can influence drug release.

RESULTS

In the present study an analytical approach for the characterization of the substitution pattern of derivatized celluloses is presented, which is based on the use of carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) and affinity electrophoresis. CBM4-2 from Rhodothermus marinus xylanase 10A is capable of distinguishing between batches of derivatized cellulose with different substitution patterns. This is demonstrated by a higher migration retardation of the CBM in acrylamide gels containing batches of MC and HPMC with a more heterogeneous distribution pattern.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that CBMs have the potential to characterize the substitution pattern of cellulose derivatives and anticipate that with use of CBMs with a very selective recognition capacity it will be possible to more extensively characterize and standardize important carbohydrates used for instance in tablet formulation.

Understanding and managing the impact of HPMC variability on drug release from controlled release formulations

The purpose of this study is to identify critical physicochemical properties of hydroxypxropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) that impact the dissolution of a controlled release tablet and develop a strategy to mitigate the HPMC lot-to-lot and vendor-to-vendor variability. A screening experiment was performed to evaluate the impacts of methoxy/hydroxypropyl substitutions, and viscosity on drug release. The chemical diversity of HPMC was explored by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and the erosion rate of HPMC was investigated using various dissolution apparatuses. Statistical evaluation suggested that the hydroxypropyl content was the primary factor impacting the drug release. However, the statistical model prediction was not robust. NMR experiments suggested the existence of structural diversity of HPMC between lots and more significantly between vendors. Review of drug release from hydrophilic matrices indicated that erosion is a key aspect for both poorly soluble and soluble drugs. An erosion rate method was then developed, which enabled the establishment of a robust model and a meaningful HPMC specification. The study revealed that the overall substitution level is not the unique parameter that dictates its release-controlling properties. Fundamental principles of polymer chemistry and dissolution mechanisms are important in the development and manufacturing of hydrophilic matrices with consistent dissolution performance.

Thermal gelation of aqueous hydroxypropylmethylcellulose solutions with SDS and hydrophobic drug particles

The thermal gelation of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) solutions has been studied as a function of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration with and without griseofulvin, a model particulate BCS Class II drug by rheological measurements of gelation temperature (Tgel), steady-state viscosity (η) at 25 °C, and ζ-potential. Polymer adsorption on the drug was demonstrated by a decrease in η and potential in the absence of SDS. Griseofulvin had a synergistic effect on gelation which was attributed to an effective spanning of associated hydrophobic polymeric regions through interactions with the adsorbed polymer. Adding SDS offsets this effect on Tgel shielding hydrophobic interactions. Higher SDS concentrations had no effect on the particles surface as evidenced by constant ζ-potential and Tgel. Yet, polymeric chains are saturated and larger surfactant aggregates account for the increase in viscosity. Understanding the gelation mechanism and complex interactions of HPMC with surfactants and drugs is necessary for the design of pharmaceutical products and optimization of their performance properties.

Matrix tablets: the effect of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose/anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate ratio on the release rate of a water-soluble drug through the gastrointestinal tract I. In vitro tests

Different hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)/anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate (ADCP) matrix tablets have been developed aiming to evaluate the influence of both components ratio in the control release of a water-soluble drug (theophylline). In order to characterise the matrix tablets, swelling, buoyancy and dissolution studies have been carried out in different aqueous media (demineralised water, progressive pH medium, simulated gastric fluid, simulated intestinal fluid and simulated colonic fluid). The HPMC/ADCP ratio has turned out to be the determinant in the matrix behaviour: the HPMC characteristic swelling behaviour was modulated, in some cases, by the ADCP characteristic acidic dissolution. When the HPMC/ADCP ratio was ≥0.69, buoyancy, continuous swelling and low theophylline dissolution rate from the matrices (H1, H2 and H3) were observed in all dissolution media. Consequently, these formulations could be adequate as gastro-retentive drug delivery systems. Additionally, HPMC/ADCP ratio ≤0.11 (H5 and H6) induces a pH-dependent drug release which could be applied to design control drug release enteric formulations (with a suitable enteric coating). Finally, a HPMC/ADCP ratio between 0.11 and 0.69 (H4) yield a gastrointestinal controlled drug release, due to its time-dependent buoyancy (7 h) and a total drug delivery in 17 h in simulated colonic fluid.

Quantification of protein concentration by the Bradford method in the presence of pharmaceutical polymers

We investigated how the Bradford assay for measurements of protein released from a drug formulation may be affected by a concomitant release of a pharmaceutical polymer used to formulate the protein delivery device. The main result is that polymer-caused perturbations of the Coomassie dye absorbance at the Bradford monitoring wavelength (595nm) can be identified and corrected by recording absorption spectra in the region of 350-850mm. The pharmaceutical polymers Carbopol and chitosan illustrate two potential types of perturbations in the Bradford assay, whereas the third polymer, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), acts as a nonperturbing control. Carbopol increases the apparent absorbance at 595nm because the polymer aggregates at the low pH of the Bradford protocol, causing a turbidity contribution that can be corrected quantitatively at 595nm by measuring the sample absorbance at 850nm outside the dye absorption band. Chitosan is a cationic polymer under Bradford conditions and interacts directly with the anionic Coomassie dye and perturbs its absorption spectrum, including 595nm. In this case, the Bradford method remains useful if the polymer concentration is known but should be used with caution in release studies where the polymer concentration may vary and needs to be measured independently.