Formulation-dependent stability mechanisms affecting dissolution performance of directly compressed griseofulvin tablets

Process-Induced Crystal Surface Anisotropy and the Impact on the Powder Properties of Odanacatib

Crystalline active pharmaceutical ingredients with comparable size and surface area can demonstrate surface anisotropy induced during crystallization or downstream unit operations such as milling. To the extent that varying surface properties impacts bulk powder properties, the final drug product performance such as stability, dissolution rates, flowability, and dispersibility can be predicted by understanding surface properties such as surface chemistry, energetics, and wettability. Here, we investigate the surface properties of different batches of Odanacatib prepared through either jet milling or fast precipitation from various solvent systems, all of which meet the particle size specification established to ensure equivalent biopharmaceutical performance. This work highlights the use of orthogonal surface techniques such as Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, contact angle, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to demonstrate the effect of processing history on particle surface properties to explain differences in bulk powder properties.

Assessment of Directional-Hemispherical Reflectance of Tablets with Cefuroxime during Storage under Elevated Temperature and Ultraviolet Radiation

Environmental conditions can lead to changes in the physical and chemical structures of drug products. In this study, the stability of cefuroxime tablets stored under adverse conditions was evaluated based on total directional-hemispherical reflectance (THR). The THR value was measured before and after the tablets' exposure to stress factors (temperature of 45 °C and UV radiation). Each measurement was performed three times within seven spectral bands at the beginning of the experiment (day 0), and then on days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. In addition, hyperspectral profiles (400-1030 nm) were analyzed on days 0 and 7. A significant decrease in THR values in all wavelength ranges was observed when day 7 vs. day 0 were compared, especially for spectral bands of 335-380 nm and 1700-2500 nm (Δ = 0.220, p < 0.001 and Δ = 0.171, p < 0.001, respectively). The hyperspectral analysis confirmed a decrease in the reflectance after the end of stress conditions in the visible light range (400-700 nm) compared to tablets before the experiment. This may indicate that more radiation entered the tablets. In conclusion, the THR of cefuroxime tablets decreases during the exposure to heat and UV radiation, which may result from some physicochemical changes that have occurred during storage.

Towards halal pharmaceutical: Exploring alternatives to animal-based ingredients

Halal is a crucial concept for Muslim consumers regarding consumed products, including pharmaceutical ingredients, which are essential in modern medicine. To address the issue of using porcine-sourced ingredients in pharmaceuticals, it is essential to search for halal alternatives derived from poultry, animal by-products from meat processing, marine sources, and plants. However, the complexity of this problem is further compounded by the rapid advances in innovation and technology, which can lead to adulteration of ingredients derived from pigs. Other challenges include the sustainability of alternative materials, management of waste or by-products practice, halal awareness, certification, government policies, religious adherence of consumers, food suppliers, marketers, and purchasing of products. The importance of halal and non-halal problems, specifically in the context of pharmaceutical materials, is still rarely discussed, including alternatives derived from poultry, animal by-products, marine sources, and plants. Due to the increasing global population, there is a growing need to increase awareness and concern among Muslim consumers for halal products, including pharmaceuticals. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the importance of halal and non-halal issues in pharmaceutical ingredients, the potential impact on the Muslim community, as well as opportunities and challenges in the search for alternative ingredients.

At-line porosity sensing for non-destructive disintegration testing in immediate release tablets

Fully automated at-line terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in transmission mode is used to measure tablet porosity for thousands of immediate release tablets. The measurements are rapid and non-destructive. Both laboratory prepared tablets and commercial samples are studied. Multiple measurements on individual tablets quantify the random errors in the terahertz results. These show that the measurements of refractive index are precise, with the standard deviation on a single tablet being about 0.002, with variation between measurements being due to small errors in thickness measurement and from the resolution of the instrument. Six batches of 1000 tablets each were directly compressed using a rotary press. The tabletting turret speed (10 and 30 rpm) and compaction pressure (50, 100 and 200 MPa) were varied between the batches. As expected, the tablets compacted at the highest pressure have far lower porosity than those compacted at the lowest pressure. The turret rotation speed also has a significant effect on porosity. This variation in process parameters resulted in batches of tablets with an average porosity between 5.5 and 26.5%. Within each batch, there is a distribution of porosity values, the standard deviation of which is in the range 1.1 to 1.9%. Destructive measurements of disintegration time were performed in order to develop a predictive model correlating disintegration time and tablet porosity. Testing of the model suggested it was reasonable though there may be some small systematic errors in disintegration time measurement. The terahertz measurements further showed that there are changes in tablet properties after storage for nine months in ambient conditions.

Bromelain: a review of its mechanisms, pharmacological effects and potential applications

The utilization of plant-derived supplements for disease prevention and treatment has long been recognized because of their remarkable potential. Ananas comosus, commonly known as pineapple, produces a group of enzymes called bromelain, which contains sulfhydryl moieties. Recent studies have shown that bromelain exhibits a wide range of activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and anti-rheumatic properties. These properties make bromelain a promising drug candidate for the treatment of various diseases. The anti-inflammatory activity of bromelain has been shown to be useful in treating inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma, whereas the anti-cancer activity of bromelain is via induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, and enhancement of the body's immune response. The anti-diabetic property of bromelain is owing to the improvement in glucose metabolism and reduction in insulin resistance. The therapeutic potential of bromelain has been investigated in numerous preclinical and clinical studies and a number of patents have been granted to date. Various formulations and delivery systems are being developed in order to improve the efficacy and safety of this molecule, including the microencapsulated form to treat oral inflammatory conditions and liposomal formulations to treat cancer. The development of novel drug delivery systems and formulations has further ameliorated the therapeutic potential of bromelain by improving its bioavailability and stability, while reducing the side effects. This review intends to discuss various properties and therapeutic applications of bromelain, along with its possible mechanism of action in treating various diseases. Recent patents and clinical trials concerning bromelain have also been covered.