Stability study and oxidative degradation kinetics of posaconazole

AQbD-guided development and validation of an innovative extraction procedure and stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for quantification of posaconazole in tablet formulation

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work is to develop a stability-indicating HPLC method for the quantification of posaconazole (PCZ) in tablet formulation using an Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The development process involved the Design of Experiments (DOE) utilizing distinctive constraints mixture design for mobile phase ratio optimization and a 2-level factorial design for selection of extraction diluent compositions. Key responses measured included % assay and system suitability parameters. Method operable design regions (MODR) were determined, and final optimum conditions were selected. Forced degradation studies were conducted to assess method stability.

RESULTS

The optimized HPLC method employed a Zorbax C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of pH 3.5 10mM phosphate buffer, acetonitrile, and methanol in a ratio of 30:53:17% v/v/v. The method demonstrated stability-indicating capabilities, with PCZ degradation observed in acidic and oxidative environments, while remaining stable in alkali. Peak purity analysis from Empower software confirmed the absence of interaction with degradants. Validation according to ICH Q2 (R2) guidelines showed precision, linearity over the range of 0.25 to 376μg/mL, and accuracy demonstrated through recovery studies from 50 to 150%.

CONCLUSION

The developed HPLC method utilizing AQbD approach is specific, robust, precise, and accurate for the quantification of PCZ in tablet formulations, thus suitable for routine analysis.

Impact of Processing Methods on the Physico-chemical Properties of Posaconazole Amorphous Solid Dispersions

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE

Different methods have been exploited to generate amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) of poorly water-soluble drugs. However, the impact of processing methods on drug stability and dissolution hasn't been studied extensively. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the impact of the two common ASD processing methods, hot-melt extrusion (HME) and spray drying, on the chemical/physical stability and supersaturation of Posaconazole (Posa) based ASDs.

METHODS & RESULTS

ASDs with 25% drug loading in hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate were prepared using HME, and two types of spray dryers, a Procept Sprayer (ASD-Procept) and a Nano Sprayer (ASD-Nano). The relative physical stability of these ASDs upon exposure to heat and crystalline API seeding followed the order: ASD-Nano > ASD-Procept ≈HME. ASD-Procept and ASD-Nano showed similar chemical stability, slightly less stable than HME under 40°C/75%RH. All three ASDs demonstrated similar supersaturation induction times, and de-supersaturation kinetics with or without crystalline seeds.

CONCLUSIONS

Posa ASDs prepared via spray drying were chemically less stable compared with HME, which can be attributed to their smaller particle size and hollow structure allowing oxygen penetration. For ASD-Procept and HME, the detailed phase changes involving recrystallization of amorphous Posa and a solid-solid phase transition from Posa Form I to Form Ia during the seed-induced studies were proposed. Similar dissolution and supersaturation-precipitation kinetics of three Posa ASDs indicated that any residual nanocrystals in the bulk ASDs were not enough to induce crystallization to differentiate ASDs made by three processing methods.

Cyclodextrins and Their Derivatives as Drug Stability Modifiers

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides that contain a relatively hydrophobic central cavity and a hydrophilic outer surface. They are widely used to form non-covalent inclusion complexes with many substances. Although such inclusion complexes typically exhibit higher aqueous solubility and chemical stability than pure drugs, it has been shown that CDs can promote the degradation of some drugs. This property of stabilizing certain drugs while destabilizing others can be explained by the type of CD used and the structure of the inclusion complex formed. In addition, the ability to form complexes of CDs can be improved through the addition of suitable auxiliary substances, forming multicomponent complexes. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the effect that binary and multicomponent complexes have on the chemical and physical stability of complexed drugs. The objective of this review is to summarize the studies on the stabilizing and destabilizing effects of complexes with CDs on drugs that exhibit stability problems.

Advancing posaconazole quantification analysis with a new reverse-phase HPLC method in its bulk and marketed dosage form

Introduction: Posaconazole is a widely used antifungal drug, and its accurate quantification is essential for quality control and assessment of its pharmaceutical products. This study aimed to develop and validate a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical method for quantifying Posaconazole in bulk and dosage form. Methods: The HPLC method was developed and validated based on International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. The developed method was then applied to quantify Posaconazole in a marketed tablet formulation. The method's specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, and stability were evaluated. Results: The developed HPLC method showed good linearity over a 2-20 μg/mL concentration range. The percentage recovery of Posaconazole from the bulk and marketed formulations was found to be 99.01% and 99.05%, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precisions were less than 1%, and the method was stable under different conditions. The HPLC method was successfully applied to quantify Posaconazole in the marketed formulation. Conclusion: The developed and validated HPLC method is reliable and efficient for analyzing Posaconazole in bulk and dosage forms. The method's accuracy, precision, specificity, linearity, robustness, and stability demonstrate its effectiveness. The method can be used for the quality control and assessment of Posaconazole-containing pharmaceutical products.

A Current Overview of Cyclodextrin-Based Nanocarriers for Enhanced Antifungal Delivery

Fungal infections are an extremely serious health problem, particularly in patients with compromised immune systems. Most antifungal agents have low aqueous solubility, which may hamper their bioavailability. Their complexation with cyclodextrins (CDs) could increase the solubility of antifungals, facilitating their antifungal efficacy. Nanoparticulate systems are promising carriers for antifungal delivery due to their ability to overcome the drawbacks of conventional dosage forms. CD-based nanocarriers could form beneficial combinations of CDs and nanoparticulate platforms. These systems have synergistic or additive effects regarding improved drug loading, enhanced chemical stability, and enhanced drug permeation through membranes, thereby increasing the bioavailability of drugs. Here, an application of CD in antifungal drug formulations is reviewed. CD-based nanocarriers, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, nanoemulsions, nanofibers, and in situ gels, enhancing antifungal activity in a controlled-release manner and possessing good toxicological profiles, are described. Additionally, the examples of current, updated CD-based nanocarriers loaded with antifungal drugs for delivery by various routes of administration are discussed and summarized.