Analytical method development for characterizing ingredient-specific particle size distributions of nasal spray suspension products

O-PTIR spectroscopy for characterizing active pharmaceutical ingredient specific particle size distributions of nasal spray suspension products

Evaluation of the particle size distribution (PSD) of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in nasal suspension products is challenging due to the presence of both API and excipients. To characterize these intricate formulations, it is essential to have sophisticated analytical methods that offer high spatial resolution and the ability to chemically pinpoint and map out the presence of API particles. However, such advanced techniques have not been documented for nasal formulations yet. In this proof-of-concept study, we investigated the utility of optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy (O-PTIR) to analyze the PSD of commercially available Nasonex® and its generic Azonaire® nasal mometasone furoate (MM) suspensions. Simultaneous O-PTIR and Raman spectra, as well as IR chemical maps, were collected from the particles in both formulations. Spatially resolved spectra from the particles confirmed the presence of peaks related to MM (1727 cm-1, 1661 cm-1, and 1122 cm-1) and excipient microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) (1061 cm-1). The PSD of MM particles was characterized using chemical maps specific to MM (1661 cm-1) and automated imaging. Results confirmed that the PSD of both formulations were comparable. Spectral analysis also revealed the presence of free MM, free MCC, and particles containing co-localized MM and MCC. For suspension-based nasal products, O-PTIR enables the measurement of API PSD, which is critical for formulators in developing nasal suspension products. This approach holds potential as an innovative complimentary analytical tool that could diminish the need for extensive clinical endpoint bioequivalence studies when evaluating the comparability of generic and brand-name nasal suspension products.

Enhancing Acute Migraine Treatment: Exploring Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for the Nose-to-Brain Route

Migraine has a high prevalence worldwide and is one of the main disabling neurological diseases in individuals under the age of 50. In general, treatment includes the use of oral analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for mild attacks, and, for moderate or severe attacks, triptans or 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonists. However, the administration of antimigraine drugs in conventional oral pharmaceutical dosage forms is a challenge, since many molecules have difficulty crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to reach the brain, which leads to bioavailability problems. Efforts have been made to find alternative delivery systems and/or routes for antimigraine drugs. In vivo studies have shown that it is possible to administer drugs directly into the brain via the intranasal (IN) or the nose-to-brain route, thus avoiding the need for the molecules to cross the BBB. In this field, the use of lipid nanoparticles, in particular solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), has shown promising results, since they have several advantages for drugs administered via the IN route, including increased absorption and reduced enzymatic degradation, improving bioavailability. Furthermore, SLN and NLC are capable of co-encapsulating drugs, promoting their simultaneous delivery to the site of therapeutic action, which can be a promising approach for the acute migraine treatment. This review highlights the potential of using SLN and NLC to improve the treatment of acute migraine via the nose-to-brain route. First sections describe the pathophysiology and the currently available pharmacological treatment for acute migraine, followed by an outline of the mechanisms underlying the nose-to-brain route. Afterwards, the main features of SLN and NLC and the most recent in vivo studies investigating the use of these nanoparticles for the treatment of acute migraine are presented.

Past, Current, and Future: Application of Image Analysis in Small Molecule Pharmaceutical Development

The often-perceived limitations of image analysis have for many years impeded the widespread application of such systems as first line characterisation tools. Image analysis has, however, undergone a notable resurgence in the pharmaceutical industry fuelled by developments system capabilities and the desire of scientists to characterize the morphological nature of their particles more adequately. The importance of particle shape as well as size is now widely acknowledged. With the increasing use of modelling and simulations, and ongoing developments though the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence, the utility of image analysis is increasing significantly driven by the richness of the data obtained. Such datasets provide means to circumvent the requirement to rely on less informative descriptors and enable the move towards the use of whole distributions. Combining the improved particle size and shape measurement and description with advances in modelling and simulations is enabling improved means to elucidate the link between particle and bulk powder properties. In addition to improved capabilities to describe input materials, approaches to characterize single components within multicomponent systems are providing scientists means to understand how their material may change during manufacture thus providing a means to link the behaviour of final dosage forms with the particle properties at the point of action. The aim is to provide an overview of image analysis and update readers with innovations and capabilities to other methods in the small molecule arena. We will also describe the use of AI for the improved analysis using image analysis.

Determining the Impact of Roller Compaction Processing Conditions on Granulate and API Properties: Impact of Formulation API Load

Previous work demonstrated that roller compaction of a 40%w/w theophylline-loaded formulation resulted in granulate consisting of un-compacted fractions which were shown to constitute between 34 and 48%v/v of the granulate dependent on processing conditions. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) primary particle size within the un-compacted fraction was also shown to have undergone notable size reduction. The aim of the current work was to test the hypothesis that the observations may be more indicative of the relative compactability of the API due to the formulation being above the percolation threshold. This was done by assessing the impact of varied API loads in the formulation on the non-granulated fraction of the final granulate and the extent of attrition of API particles within the non-granulated fraction. The influence of processing conditions for all formulations was also investigated. The results verify that the observations, both of this study and the previous work, are not a consequence of exceeding the percolation threshold. The volume of un-compacted material within the granulate samples was observed to range between 34.7 and 65.5% depending on the API load and roll pressure, whilst the API attrition was equivalent across all conditions.

Morphologically-Directed Raman Spectroscopy as an Analytical Method for Subvisible Particle Characterization in Therapeutic Protein Product Quality

Subvisible particles (SVPs) are a critical quality attribute of injectable therapeutic proteins (TPs) that needs to be controlled due to potential risks associated with drug product quality. The current compendial methods routinely used to analyze SVPs for lot release provide information on particle size and count. However, chemical identification of individual particles is also important to address root-cause analysis. Herein, we introduce Morphologically-Directed Raman Spectroscopy (MDRS) for SVP characterization of TPs. The following particles were used for method development: (1) polystyrene microspheres, a traditional standard used in industry; (2) photolithographic (SU-8); and (3) ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) particles, candidate reference materials developed by NIST. In our study, MDRS rendered high-resolution images for the ETFE particles (> 90%) ranging from 19 to 100 μm in size, covering most of SVP range, and generated comparable morphology data to flow imaging microscopy. Our method was applied to characterize particles formed in stressed TPs and was able to chemically identify individual particles using Raman spectroscopy. MDRS was able to compare morphology and transparency properties of proteinaceous particles with reference materials. The data suggests MDRS may complement the current TPs SVP analysis system and product quality characterization workflow throughout development and commercial lifecycle.

Sensitivity of Pharmacokinetics to Differences in the Particle Size Distribution for Formulations of Locally Acting Mometasone Furoate Suspension-Based Nasal Sprays

To assess bioequivalence of locally acting suspension-based nasal sprays, the U.S. FDA currently recommends a weight-of-evidence approach. In addition to in vitro and human pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, this includes a comparative clinical endpoint study to ensure equivalent bioavailability of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) at the site of action. The present study aimed to assess, within an in vitro/in vivo correlation paradigm, whether PK studies and dissolution kinetics are sensitive to differences in drug particle size for a locally acting suspension-based nasal spray product. Two investigational suspension-based nasal formulations of mometasone furoate (MF-I and MF-II; delivered dose: 180 μg) differed in API particle size and were compared in a single-center, double-blind, single-dose, randomized, two-way crossover PK study in 44 healthy subjects with oral charcoal block. Morphology-directed Raman spectroscopy yielded volume median diameters of 3.17 μm for MF-I and 5.50 μm for MF-II, and dissolution studies showed that MF-II had a slower dissolution profile than MF-I. The formulation with larger API particles (MF-II) showed a 45% smaller Cmax and 45% smaller AUC0-inf compared to those of MF-I. Systemic bioavailability of MF-I (2.20%) and MF-II (1.18%) correlated well with the dissolution kinetics, with the faster dissolving formulation yielding the higher bioavailability. This agreement between pharmacokinetics and dissolution kinetics cross-validated both methods and supported their use in assessing potential differences in slowly dissolving suspension-based nasal spray products.

Laboratory Performance Testing of Aqueous Nasal Inhalation Products for Droplet/Particle Size Distribution: an Assessment from the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium on Regulation and Science (IPAC-RS)

Although nasal inhalation products are becoming more and more important for the delivery of medicines, characterization of these products for quality control and assessment of bioequivalence is complicated. Most of the problems encountered are associated with the assessment of aerodynamic droplet/particle size distribution (APSD). The droplets produced by the various nasal devices are large, and for suspension products, individual droplets may contain multiple drug particles or none at all. Assessment of suspension products is further complicated by the presence of solid excipient particles. These complications make it imperative that the limitations of the instruments used for characterization as well as the underlying assumptions that govern the interpretation of data produced by these instruments are understood. In this paper, we describe various methodologies used to assess APSD for nasal inhalation products and discuss proper use, limitations, and new methodologies on the horizon.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence of a Generic and a Branded Budesonide Nasal Spray in Healthy Chinese Subjects

The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic bioequivalence of a generic budesonide nasal spray and a branded product in healthy Chinese subjects under fasting condition. A single-center, single-dose, randomized, open-label, crossover study was conducted in 32 healthy Chinese subjects under fasting condition. The subjects were administered 256 μg of generic budesonide nasal spray (test drug) or branded budesonide nasal spray (RHINOCORT AQUA, reference drug), respectively. For each period, the subjects were administered with 64 μg of budesonide per spray and 2 sprays for each nostril followed by a washout period of 7 days. Plasma concentration of budesonide was determined by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated, and the bioequivalence was compared using the noncompartment model with the Phoenix WinNonlin 7.0 program. Results show that the 90% confidence intervals of the test/reference ratios of maximum concentration, area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last measurable concentration, and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity for the budesonide concentration were 84.8% to 102.7%, 84.6% to 94.4%, and 85.4% to 95.2%, respectively, all fall within the bioequivalent range of 80% to 125%. The test and reference budesonide nasal sprays were PK bioequivalents in healthy Chinese subjects with comparable PK parameters. No serious adverse events were reported, and the 2 products have a good and similar safety profile.