Establishment of inherent stability of pramipexole and development of validated stability indicating LC-UV and LC-MS method

3D Printed Mini-Floating-Polypill for Parkinson's Disease: Combination of Levodopa, Benserazide, and Pramipexole in Various Dosing for Personalized Therapy

Therapy for Parkinson’s disease is quite challenging. Numerous drugs are available for symptomatic treatment, and levodopa (LD), in combination with a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor (e.g., benserazide (BZ)), has been the drug of choice for years. As the disease progresses, therapy must be supplemented with a dopamine agonist (e.g., pramipexole (PDM)). Side effects increase, as do the required dose and dosing intervals. For these specific requirements of drug therapy, the 3D printing method fused deposition modelling (FDM) was applied in this study for personalized therapy. Hot melt extrusion was utilized to produce two different compositions into filaments: PDM and polyvinyl alcohol for rapid drug release and a fixed combination of LD/BZ (4:1) in an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer matrix for prolonged drug release. Since LD is absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, a formulation that floats in gastric fluid was desired to prolong API absorption. Using the FDM 3D printing process, different polypill geometries were printed from both filaments, with variable dosages. Dosage forms with 15−180 mg LD could be printed, showing similar release rates (f2 > 50). In addition, a mini drug delivery dosage form was printed that released 75% LD/BZ within 750 min and could be used as a gastric retentive drug delivery system due to the floating properties of the composition. The floating mini-polypill was designed to accommodate patients’ swallowing difficulties and to allow for individualized dosing with an API release over a longer period of time.

Dose-independent drug release from 3D printed oral medicines for patient-specific dosing to improve therapy safety

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing provides the ability to address individual patients' therapeutic needs without having to change the formulation every time. This is particularly interesting for dosing and release modelling. In this study, a geometry model was developed that can represent variable dosages while keeping the surface area to volume (SA/V) ratio alike, so the drug release profiles remain similar. The model was tested on three different formulations. Two BCS I active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), pramipexole and levodopa, and one BCS II API, praziquantel, were used. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, water soluble) and a combination of vinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer (PVP-VA, water soluble) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA, water insoluble) were used as the polymer matrix. The curves were compared using the similarity factor (f₂ value) and mean dissolution time (MDT). Using a hollow cylinder-based (HCb) geometry model, a dose-independent drug release could be realized. For the PVA formulations, an 8-fold dose change could be obtained and for the EVA-PVP-VA formulation a factor of 5.5 could be achieved, with f₂ > 50. Due to the layer structure of the printed objects, very fine dose variation of 0.13 mg per layer is possible within these models. This allows variable dosing in small steps with only one basis formulation.

Predicting Drug Release from 3D Printed Oral Medicines Based on the Surface Area to Volume Ratio of Tablet Geometry

3D printing offers the advantage of being able to modify dosage form geometry, which can be exploited to modify release characteristics. In this study, we investigated the influence of the surface area to volume ratio (SA/V) to change and predict release profiles of 3D printed dosage forms. Geometries with varying SA/V and dosages were designed and printed, and drug dissolution was investigated. Three drug substances were used: pramipexole, levodopa (both BCS I) and praziquantel (BCS II). Two polymers were chosen as matrix formers: polyvinyl alcohol (water-soluble) and ethylene vinyl acetate (inert). Drug release was characterized using the mean dissolution time (MDT) and established equations that describe complete dissolution curves were applied. Predictions were validated with previously un-printed dosage forms. Based on an identified MDT-SA/V correlation, the MDT can be predicted with a deviation of ≤5 min for a given SA/V. Using correlations of fit parameters and SA/V, RMSEP values of 0.6-2.8% and 1.6-3.4% were obtained for the BCS I formulations and RMSEP values of 1.0-3.8% were obtained for the BCS II formulation, indicating accurate prediction over a wide range of dissolution profiles. With this approach, MDT and release profiles of dosage forms with a given SA/V can be precisely predicted without performing dissolution tests and vice versa, the required SA/V can be predicted for a desired release profile.

The convenient use of fluorescamine for spectrofluorimetric quantitation of pramipexole in pure form and pharmaceutical formulation; application to content uniformity testing

Pramipexole is a selective dopamine receptor agonist which is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome. The present work illustrates the development and validation of a sensitive and selective spectrofluorometric method for quantitation of pramipexole (PMP) through its interaction with fluorescamine at pH 7.5 using aqueous borate buffer to produce a highly fluorescent product. The fluorescent intensity of the formed product was measured at 480 nm after excitation at 391 nm. Experimental factors that could influence the formation, stability and the fluorescence intensity of the formed product were investigated and optimized. The linearity of the proposed method was achieved in the concentration range of 0.05-2.0 μg/mL. The quantitation and detection limits were 47 and 15 ng/mL, respectively. The proposed method has been validated in respect to guidelines of ICH and pharmaceutical tablets of PMP were successfully analyzed. Moreover, the method was applied for studying the content uniformity test according to the guidelines of United States Pharmacopeia.

An Effective Technology for the Development of Immediate Release Solid Dosage Forms Containing Low-Dose Drug: Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printing

PURPOSE

Fabrication of immediate release (IR) tablet formulations with rapid release profile via fused deposition modeling 3D printing (FDM 3DP) is a challenge. The aims of this study were to prepare IR tablets with different dissolution profiles and to increase their in vitro dissolution rates by making physical modifications on them. Pramipexole was used as the model low-dose drug.

METHODS

Polymeric filaments were prepared with six different combinations of Eudragit EPO and poly(ethylene) oxide by hot melt extrusion and 3D tablets were produced using an FDM printer. Characterization studies for the filaments and tablets were carried out. The printability of the filaments was also evaluated using a novel mechanical characterization method. Tablet formulation with optimum dissolution profile was chosen and physical modifications (infill %, shape change and thickness) on this formulation were made.

RESULTS

Low-dose pramipexole loading filaments and 3D tablets were homogenously prepared. The printability of the filaments was related to their flexibility. With the physical modifications, the drug release completion time of the tablets reduced to 5 min.

CONCLUSIONS

The same rapid release profiles with conventional IR tablets can be reached by making only physical changes on 3D tablets without using any filling or disintegrating agents.

Development of a Validated LC Method for Separation of Process-Related Impurities Including the R-Enantiomer of S-Pramipexole on Polysaccharide Chiral Stationary Phases

Despite the availability of a few methods for individual separation of S-pramipexole from its process-related impurities, no common liquid chromatography (LC) method is reported so far in the literature. The present article describes the development of a single-run LC method for simultaneous determination of S-pramipexole and its enantiomeric and process-related impurities on a Chiralpak AD-H (150 x 4.6 mm, 5μm) column using n-hexane/ethanol/n-butylamine (75:25:0.1 v/v/v) as a mobile phase in an isocratic mode of elution at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min at 30°C. The chromatographic eluents were monitored at a wavelength of 260 nm using a photodiode array detector. Excellent enantioseparation with good resolutions (Rs ≥ 2.88) and peak shapes (As ≤ 1.21) for all analytes was achieved. The proposed method was validated according to International Conference Harmonization (ICH) guidelines in terms of accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and linearity. Limits of quantification of impurities (0.25-0.55 μg/ml) indicate the highest sensitivity achievable by the proposed method. The method has an advantage of selectivity and suitability for routine determination of not only chiral impurity but also all possible related substances in active pharmaceutical ingredients of S-pramipexole.