Modelling, solubility and pK(a) of five sparingly soluble drugs

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of nitrofurantoin against Escherichia coli in a murine urinary tract infection model

The antimicrobial agent nitrofurantoin is becoming increasingly important for treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to widespread occurrence of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli. Despite many years of use, little data on nitrofurantoin pharmacokinetics (PK) or -dynamics (PD) exist. The objective of this study was to (i) evaluate the pharmacokinetics of nitrofurantoin in a mouse model and (ii) use that data to design an in vivo dose fractionation study in an experimental model of UTI with E. coli for determination of the most predictive PK/PD index. Nitrofurantoin concentrations in urine were approximately 100-fold larger than concentrations in plasma after oral administration of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg nitrofurantoin. The area under the curve over the minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC) was weakly correlated to bacterial reduction in urine (r2 = 0.24), while no such correlation was found for the time that nitrofurantoin stayed above the MIC (T > MIC). Increasing size of single-dose treatment was significantly correlated to eradication of bacteria in the urine, while this was not apparent when the same doses were divided in 2 or 3 doses 8 or 12 h apart. In conclusion, the results indicate that nitrofurantoin activity against E. coli in urine is driven by AUC/MIC.

Dissociation constants of relevant secondary organic aerosol components in the atmosphere

The presented studies focus on measuring the determination of the acidity constant (pKa) of relevant secondary organic aerosol components. For our research, we selected important oxidation products (mainly carboxylic acids) of the most abundant terpene compounds, such as α-pinene, β-pinene, β-caryophyllene, and δ-3-carene. The research covered the synthesis and determination of the acidity constant of selected compounds. We used three methods to measure the acidity constant, i.e., 1H NMR titration, pH-metric titration, Bates-Schwarzenbach spectrophotometric method. Moreover, the pKa values were calculated with Marvin 21.17.0 software to compare the experimentally derived values with those calculated from the chemical structure. pKa values measured with 1H NMR titration ranged from 3.51 ± 0.01 for terebic acid to 5.18 ± 0.06 for β-norcaryophyllonic acid. Moreover, the data determined by the 1H NMR method revealed a good correlation with the data obtained with the commonly used potentiometric and UV-spectroscopic methods (R2 = 0.92). In contrast, the comparison with in silico results exhibits a relatively low correlation (R2Marvin = 0.66). We found that most of the values calculated with the Marvin Program are lower than experimental values obtained with pH-metric titration with an average difference of 0.44 pKa units. For di- and tricarboxylic acids, we obtained two and three pKa values, respectively. A good correlation with the literature values was observed, for example, Howell and Fisher (1958) used pH-metric titration and measured pKa1 and pKa2 to be 4.48 and 5.48, while our results are 4.24 ± 0.10 and 5.40 ± 0.02, respectively.

Lipid based formulations as supersaturating oral delivery systems: From current to future industrial applications

Lipid-based formulations, in particular supersaturated lipid-based formulations, are important delivery approaches when formulating challenging compounds, as especially low water-soluble compounds profit from delivery in a pre-dissolved state. In this article, the classification of lipid-based formulation is described, followed by a detailed discussion of different supersaturated lipid-based formulations and the recent advances reported in the literature. The supersaturated lipid-based formulations discussed include both the in situ forming supersaturated systems as well as the thermally induced supersaturated lipid-based formulations. The in situ forming drug supersaturation by lipid-based formulations has been widely employed and numerous clinically available products are on the market. There are some scientific gaps in the field, but in general there is a good understanding of the mechanisms driving the success of these systems. For thermally induced supersaturation, the technology is not yet fully understood and developed, hence more research is required in this field to explore the formulations beyond preclinical studies and initial clinical trials.

A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study of Nitrofuran Antibiotics: Crystal Structures, DFT Computations, Sublimation and Solution Thermodynamics

Single crystal of furazolidone (FZL) has been successfully obtained, and its crystal structure has been determined. Common and distinctive features of furazolidone and nitrofurantoin (NFT) crystal packing have been discussed. Combined use of QTAIMC and Hirshfeld surface analysis allowed characterizing the non-covalent interactions in both crystals. Thermophysical characteristics and decomposition of NFT and FZL have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and mass-spectrometry. The saturated vapor pressures of the compounds have been measured using the transpiration method, and the standard thermodynamic functions of sublimation were calculated. It was revealed that the sublimation enthalpy and Gibbs energy of NFT are both higher than those for FZL, but a gain in the crystal lattice energy of NFT is leveled by an entropy increase. The solubility processes of the studied compounds in buffer solutions with pH 2.0, 7.4 and in 1-octanol was investigated at four temperatures from 298.15 to 313.15 K by the saturation shake-flask method. The thermodynamic functions of the dissolution and solvation processes of the studied compounds have been calculated based on the experimental data. Due to the fact that NFT is unstable in buffer solutions and undergoes a solution-mediated transformation from an anhydrate form to monohydrate in the solid state, the thermophysical characteristics and dissolution thermodynamics of the monohydrate were also investigated. It was demonstrated that a combination of experimental and theoretical methods allows performing an in-depth study of the relationships between the molecular and crystal structure and pharmaceutically relevant properties of nitrofuran antibiotics.

Solubility Determination of Hydroquinone in Dichloromethane, Trichloromethane and Carbon Tetrachloride by Using the Co-solvent Calibration Method

In this report, the solubility of hydroquinone (1,4-dihydroxybenzene) was determined in dichloromethane, trichloromethane and carbon tetrachloride at 298 K by using cyclic voltammetry. By the proposed cosolvent calibration method a mixed solvent was used for the determination of solubility where acetonitrile was the co-solvent. The molar ratios of the two solvents were uniform during the whole procedure both in the calibration solutions and in solutions used for solubility determinations. The solubility of hydroquinone decreased by the decrease of solvent permittivity, which were in dichloromethane 5.683 mmol·L−1, in trichloromethane 2.785 mmol·L−1 and in carbon tetrachloride 0.321 mmol·L−1.

Experimental Data of Fluid Phase Equilibria- Correlation and Prediction Models: A Review

The examples of phase equilibria in binary systems, solid/liquid (SLE), liquid/liquid (LLE), vapor/liquid (VLE), as well as liquid/liquid equilibria in ternary systems mainly containing ionic liquids (ILs), or the infragrance materials, or pharmaceuticals with molecular organic solvents, such as an alcohol, or water, or hydrocarbons, are presented. The most popular correlation methods of the experimental phase equilibrium data are presented, related to the excess Gibbs free energy models such as Wilson, universal-quasichemical, UNIQUAC and non-random two-liquid model, NRTL as well as several popular theories for the modeling of the phase equilibria and excess molar enthalpy, HE in binary or ternary mixtures are presented: the group contribution method (Mod. UNIFAC) and modified UNIFAC model for pharmaceuticals and lattice theory based on non-random hydrogen bonding (NRHB). The SLE, LLE, or VLE and HE of these systems may be described by the Perturbed-Chain Polar Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT), or a Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS). The examples of the application of ILs as extractants for the separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from alkanes, sulfur compounds from alkanes, alkenes from alkanes, ethylbenzene from styrene, butan-1-ol from water phase, or 2-phenylethanol (PEA) from water are discussed on the basis of previously published data. The first information about the selectivity of extrahent for separation can be obtained from the measurements of the limiting activity coefficient measurements by the gas–liquid chromatography technique. This review outlines the main research work carried out over the last few years on direct measurements of phase equilibria, or HE and limiting activity coefficients, the possibility of thermodynamic modeling with emphasis on recent research achievements and potential for future research.

Influence of Dissolution Vessel Geometry and Dissolution Medium on In Vitro Dissolution Behaviour of Triamterene-Coated Model Stents in Different Test Setups

The aim of this study was to investigate if the geometry of the dissolution vessel, the dissolution medium volume and composition might contribute to the variation in drug release from drug-eluting stents (DES) in different test setups, which has been observed in previous in vitro studies. Therefore, DES containing triamterene as model substance were produced via fluidised-bed technology. Dissolution testing was carried out using different incubation setups, the reciprocating holder (USP Apparatus 7) and two flow-through methods, a method similar to the USP Apparatus 4 (FTC) and the vessel-simulating flow-through cell (vFTC) equipped with a hydrogel as a second compartment simulating the blood vessel wall. The results indicate that dissolution vessel geometry and medium volume had no influence on the release behaviour and only the flow-through cell methods yielded a lower dissolution rate than the incubation setups (80.6 ± 2.0% released in the FTC after 14 days compared to > 90% for all incubation setups). The composition of the hydrogel used in the vFTC also affected the dissolution rate (53.9 ± 4.5% within 14 days with a hydrogel based on phosphate-buffered saline compared to 78.2 ± 1.2% obtained with a hydrogel based on water) possibly due to different solubility of triamterene in the release media as well as interactions between the coating polymer and the release medium. Hence, the introduction of a hydrogel as a second compartment might lead to a more biorelevant test setup.

Enhancing the dissolution of phenylbutazone using Syloid® based mesoporous silicas for oral equine applications

Three mesoporous silica excipients (Syloid® silicas AL-1 FP, XDP 3050 and XDP 3150) were formulated with a model drug known for its poor aqueous solubility, namely phenylbutazone, in an attempt to enhance the extent and rate of drug dissolution. Although other forms of mesoporous silica have been investigated in previous studies, the effect of inclusion with these specific Syloid® silica based excipients and more interestingly, with phenylbutazone, is unknown. This work reports a significant enhancement for both the extent and rate of drug release for all three forms of Syloid® silica at a 1:1 drug:silica ratio over a period of 30 min. An explanation for this increase was determined to be conversion to the amorphous form and an enhanced drug loading ability within the pores. Differences between the release profiles of the three silicas were concluded to be a consequence of the physicochemical differences between the three forms. Overall, this study confirms that Syloid® silica based excipients can be used to enhance dissolution, and potentially therefore bioavailability, for compounds with poor aqueous solubility such as phenylbutazone. In addition, it has been confirmed that drug release can be carefully tailored based on the choice of Syloid® silica and desired release profile.

Double-Layered Matrix of Shellac Wax-Lutrol in Controlled Dual Drug Release

Double-layered matrix tablets prepared from shellac wax-lutrol were fabricated using a molding technique, and the release of hydrochlorothiazide and propranolol HCl from the inner tablet or outer layer was studied. The simultaneous determination of dual drug release was measured with first derivative UV spectrophotometry. The tablet containing shellac wax as the outer tablet and lutrol as the inner tablet showed more appropriate drug release and the size of the inner layer influenced the rate of drug release. In addition, the aqueous solubility of the drug and the components of the inner tablet or outer layer affected the drug release behavior. Most of the double-layered tablets exhibited the drug-release pattern which fitted well with zero-order kinetic due to the restriction of the release surface. Biphasic drug release pattern was found in the tablet of which the outer layer rapidly eroded. The drug dissolution data from drug-loaded-outer layer could predict the dissolution time for the outer layer of drug-loaded inner part of double-layered matrix tablet. Incorporation of lutrol increased the drug release from shellac wax matrix, and the zero-order release was attained by fabricating it into a double-layered tablet.

Glass formability in medium-sized molecular systems/pharmaceuticals. I. Thermodynamics vs. kinetics

Scrutinizing critical thermodynamic and kinetic factors for glass formation and the glass stability of materials would benefit the screening of the glass formers for the industry of glassy materials. The present work aims at elucidating the factors that contribute to the glass formation by investigating medium-sized molecules of pharmaceuticals. Glass transition related thermodynamics and kinetics are performed on the pharmaceuticals using calorimetric, dielectric, and viscosity measurements. The characteristic thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of glass transition are found to reproduce the relations established for small-molecule glass formers. The systematic comparison of the thermodynamic and kinetic contributions to glass formation reveals that the melting-point viscosity is the crucial quantity for the glass formation. Of more interest is the finding of a rough correlation between the melting-point viscosity and the entropy of fusion normalized by the number of beads of the pharmaceuticals, suggesting the thermodynamics can partly manifest its contribution to glass formation via kinetics.

Modeling solubility, acid-base properties and activity coefficients of amoxicillin, ampicillin and (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid, in NaCl(aq) at different ionic strengths and temperatures

The total solubility of three penicillin derivatives was determined, in pure water and NaCl aqueous solutions at different salt concentrations (from ∼0.15 to 1.0 mol L(-1) for ampicillin and amoxicillin, and from ∼0.05 to 2.0 mol L(-1) for (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid), using the shake-flask method for generating the saturated solutions, followed by potentiometric analysis. The knowledge of the pH of solubilization and of the protonation constants determined in the same experimental conditions, allowed us to calculate, by means of the mass balance equations, the solubility of the neutral species at different ionic strength values, to model its dependence on the salt concentration and to determine the corresponding values at infinite dilution. The salting parameter and the activity coefficients of the neutral species were calculated by the Setschenow equation. The protonation constants of ampicillin and amoxicillin, determined at different temperatures (from T=288.15 to 318.15K), from potentiometric and spectrophotometric measurements, were used to calculate, by means of the Van't Hoff equation, the temperature coefficients at different ionic strength values and the corresponding protonation entropies. The protonation enthalpies of the (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid were determined by isoperibol calorimetric titrations at T=298.15K and up to I=2.0 mol L(-1). The dependence of the protonation constants on ionic strength was modeled by means of the Debye-Hückel and SIT (Specific ion Interaction Theory) approaches, and the specific interaction parameters of the ionic species were determined. The hydrolysis of the β-lactam ring was studied by spectrophotometric and H NMR investigations as a function of pH, ionic strength and time. Potentiometric measurements carried out on the hydrolyzed (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid allowed us to highlight that the opened and the closed β-lactam forms of the (+)6-aminopenicillanic acid have quite different acid-base properties. An analysis of literature solubility, protonation constants, enthalpies and activity coefficients is reported too.