Antisolvent precipitation of novel xylitol-additive crystals to engineer tablets with improved pharmaceutical performance

Sugars and Polyols of Natural Origin as Carriers for Solubility and Dissolution Enhancement

Crystalline carriers such as dextrose, sucrose, galactose, mannitol, sorbitol, and isomalt have been reported to increase the solubility, and dissolution rates of poorly soluble drugs when employed as carriers in solid dispersions (SDs). However, synthetic polymers dominate the preparation of drugs: excipient SDs have been created in recent years, but these polymer-based SDs exhibit the major drawback of recrystallisation upon storage. Also, the use of high-molecular-weight polymers with increased chain lengths brings forth problems such as increased viscosity and unnecessary bulkiness in the resulting dosage form. An ideal SD carrier should be hydrophilic, non-hygroscopic, have high hydrogen-bonding propensity, have a high glass transition temperature (Tg), and be safe to use. This review discusses sugars and polyols as suitable carriers for SDs, as they possess several ideal characteristics. Recently, the use of low-molecular-weight excipients has gained much interest in developing SDs. However, there are limited options available for safe, low molecular excipients, which opens the door again for sugars and polyols. The major points of this review focus on the successes and failures of employing sugars and polyols in the preparation of SDs in the past, recent advances, and potential future applications for the solubility enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs.

Improvement of drug processability in a connected continuous crystallizer system using formulation additive

Continuous crystallization in the presence of polymer additives is a promising method to omit some drug formulation steps by improving the technological and also pharmacological properties of crystalline active ingredients. Accordingly, this study focuses on developing an additive-assisted continuous crystallization process using polyvinylpyrrolidone in a connected ultrasonicated plug flow crystallizer and an overflow mixed suspension mixed product removal (MSMPR) crystallizer system. We aimed to improve the flowability characteristics of small, columnar primary plug flow crystallizer-produced acetylsalicylic acid crystals as a model drug by promoting their agglomeration in MSMPR crystallizer with polyvinylpyrrolidone. The impact of the cooling antisolvent crystallization process parameters (temperature, polymer amount, total flow rate) on product quality and quantity was investigated. Finally, a spatially segmented antisolvent dosing method was also evaluated. The developed technology enabled the manufacture of purified, constant quality products in a short startup period, even with an 85% yield. We found that a higher polymer amount (7.5-14%) could facilitate agglomeration resulting in "good" flowability without altering the favorable dissolution characteristics of the primary particles.

Surface Modifiers on Composite Particles for Direct Compaction

Direct compaction (DC) is considered to be the most effective method of tablet production. However, only a small number of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can be successfully manufactured into tablets using DC since most APIs lack adequate functional properties to meet DC requirements. The use of suitable modifiers and appropriate co-processing technologies can provide a promising approach for the preparation of composite particles with high functional properties. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview and classification of different modifiers and their multiple combinations that may improve API tableting properties or prepare composite excipients with appropriate co-processed technology, as well as discuss the corresponding modification mechanism. Moreover, it provides solutions for selecting appropriate modifiers and co-processing technologies to prepare composite particles with improved properties.

The Novel Use of PVP K30 as Templating Agent in Production of Porous Lactose

It is necessary to prepare porous lactose in order to improve the dissolution behavior of insoluble active ingredient. In this study, polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30) was firstly utilized as a templating agent with different use levels in preparing porous lactose. Then, the physical properties were profoundly characterized. Finally, the porous lactose was also employed as a health functional food/drug carrier to explore the effect on the dissolution behavior of curcumin. The results confirmed that (i) porous lactose was successfully prepared using PVP K30 as templating agent; (ii) PVP K30 significantly improved the yield of lactose in the spray drying; (iii) the improved powder properties of porous lactose were more conducive to the downstream operating process for the preparation of health functional food or drug; and (iv) the porous lactose significantly improved the dissolution behavior of curcumin. Therefore, the results obtained are beneficial to boosting the development of porous materials.

Development of a purification process via crystallization of xylitol produced for bioprocess using a hemicellulosic hydrolysate from the cashew apple bagasse as feedstock

Xylitol was biotechnologically produced by Kluyveromyces marxianus ATCC36907 using the hemicellulosic hydrolysate of the cashew apple bagasse (CABHH). Sequentially, the present study investigated the recovery and purification of xylitol evaluating different antisolvents [ethanol, isopropanol and the ionic liquid 2-hydroxyl-ethylammonium acetate (2-HEAA)], their proportion in the medium (10-90% v/v), and their cooling rate (V_C 0.25-0.50 °C/min). These processes were contrasted with the crystallization process of commercial xylitol. This study is the first to assess xylitol crystallization using a protic ionic liquid. The hydrolysate obtained from a mild treatment with sulfuric acid contained mainly glucose and xylose at concentrations of 15.7 g/L and 11.9 g/L, respectively. With this bioprocess, a maximum xylitol production of 4.5 g/L was achieved. The performance of the investigated antisolvents was similar in all conditions evaluated in the crystallization process of the commercial xylitol, with no significant difference in yields. For the crystallization processes of the produced xylitol, the best conditions were: 50% (v/v) isopropanol as antisolvent, cooling rate of 0.5 °C/min, with a secondary nucleation of yield and purity of 69.7% and 84.8%, respectively. Under the same linear cooling rate, using ethanol, isopropanol or the protic ionic liquid 2-hydroxyl-ethylammonium acetate (2-HEAA), crystallization did not occur, probably due to the presence of carbohydrates not metabolized by the yeast in the broth, which influences the solubility curve of xylitol. With the results of this work, a possible economical and environmentally friendly process of recovery and purification of xylitol from CABHH could be proposed.

Development of a purification process via crystallization of xylitol produced for bioprocess using a hemicellulosic hydrolysate from the cashew apple bagasse as feedstock

Xylitol was biotechnologically produced by Kluyveromyces marxianus ATCC36907 using the hemicellulosic hydrolysate of the cashew apple bagasse (CABHH). Sequentially, the present study investigated the recovery and purification of xylitol evaluating different antisolvents [ethanol, isopropanol and the ionic liquid 2-hydroxyl-ethylammonium acetate (2-HEAA)], their proportion in the medium (10-90% v/v), and their cooling rate (V_C 0.25-0.50 °C/min). These processes were contrasted with the crystallization process of commercial xylitol. This study is the first to assess xylitol crystallization using a protic ionic liquid. The hydrolysate obtained from a mild treatment with sulfuric acid contained mainly glucose and xylose at concentrations of 15.7 g/L and 11.9 g/L, respectively. With this bioprocess, a maximum xylitol production of 4.5 g/L was achieved. The performance of the investigated antisolvents was similar in all conditions evaluated in the crystallization process of the commercial xylitol, with no significant difference in yields. For the crystallization processes of the produced xylitol, the best conditions were: 50% (v/v) isopropanol as antisolvent, cooling rate of 0.5 °C/min, with a secondary nucleation of yield and purity of 69.7% and 84.8%, respectively. Under the same linear cooling rate, using ethanol, isopropanol or the protic ionic liquid 2-hydroxyl-ethylammonium acetate (2-HEAA), crystallization did not occur, probably due to the presence of carbohydrates not metabolized by the yeast in the broth, which influences the solubility curve of xylitol. With the results of this work, a possible economical and environmentally friendly process of recovery and purification of xylitol from CABHH could be proposed.

Novel olive oil phenolic (-)-oleocanthal (+)-xylitol-based solid dispersion formulations with potent oral anti-breast cancer activities

Epidemiological studies have compellingly documented the ability of the Mediterranean diet rich in extra-virgin olive oil to reduce the incidence of certain malignancies, and cardiovascular diseases, and slow the Alzheimer's disease progression. S-(-)-Oleocanthal (OC) was identified as the most bioactive olive oil phenolic with documented anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anti-Alzheimer's activities. OC consumption causes irritating sensation at the oropharynx via activation of TRPA1. Accordingly, a taste-masked formulation of OC is needed for its future use as a nutraceutical while maintaining its bioactivity and unique chemistry. Therefore, the goal of this study was to prepare a taste-masked OC solid formulation with improved dissolution and pharmacodynamic profiles, by using (+)-xylitol as an inert carrier. Xylitol was hypothesized to serve as an ideal vehicle for the preparation of OC solid dispersions due to its low melting point and sweetness. The optimized OC-(+)-xylitol solid dispersion was physically and chemically characterized and showed effective taste masking and enhanced dissolution properties. Furthermore, OC-(+)-xylitol solid dispersion maintained potent in vivo anti-breast cancer activity. It effectively suppressed the human triple negative breast cancer development, growth, and recurrence after primary tumor surgical excision in nude mice orthotopic xenograft models. Collectively, these results suggest the OC-(+)-xylitol solid dispersion formulation as a potential nutraceutical for effective control and prevention of human triple negative breast cancer.

Structure, molecular dynamics, and interactions in aqueous xylitol solutions

Broad-band dielectric relaxation studies of xylitol-water mixture show distinctly different dynamics for distal and central –OH of xylitol molecules and indicates the presence of loose xylitol aggregates.