Acetone-assisted co-processing of meloxicam with amino acids for enhanced dissolution rate

Eutectic phase transition during tablet manufacture: effect of melting point of eutectic forming drug

The aim was to investigate eutectic transition during tableting and storage. Mixtures of lidocaine and series of NSAIDs with increasing melting point were used as model systems to guide formulators to scaleup eutectic forming materials gaining enhanced dissolution while avoiding deleterious physical changes. Physical mixtures of NSAIDs with lidocaine were prepared at eutectic forming ratio. These were directly compressed, dry co-ground before compression, or compressed after wet granulation. Dissolution of tablets was compared to corresponding dry co-ground mixture. Thermograms of direct compressed tablet were compared to co-ground mixture and pure compound. Stability of direct compressed tablets was assessed. Tableting initiated eutexia which enhanced dissolution of NSAIDs. Eutexia was associated with tablet softening in case of low melting point ketoprofen and aceclofenac. Wet granulation hastened eutexia developing unacceptable tablet in case ketoprofen and aceclofenac. Tablets prepared by direct compression of physical mixtures underwent gradual eutectic transition upon storage with the magnitude of eutectic transition reducing with increased melting point of NSAIDs. Ketoprofen was physically unstable but aceclofenac degraded chemically as well. Tenoxicam and meloxicam tablets were physically and chemically stable. Direct compression after physical mixing is the best tableting technique, but low melting point drugs should consider different strategy before compression.

A Review of Coformer Utilization in Multicomponent Crystal Formation

Most recently discovered active pharmaceutical molecules and market-approved medicines are poorly soluble in water, resulting in limited drug bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness. The application of coformers in a multicomponent crystal method is one possible strategy to modulate a drug's solubility. A multicomponent crystal is a solid phase formed when several molecules of different substances crystallize in a crystal lattice with a certain stoichiometric ratio. The goal of this review paper is to comprehensively describe the application of coformers in the formation of multicomponent crystals as solutions for pharmaceutically active ingredients with limited solubility. Owing to their benefits including improved physicochemical profile of pharmaceutically active ingredients, multicomponent crystal methods are predicted to become increasingly prevalent in the development of active drug ingredients in the future.

Pharmaceutical Salts of Piroxicam and Meloxicam with Organic Counterions

Piroxicam (PRM) and meloxicam (MEL) are two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, belonging to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class II drugs. In this study, six novel pharmaceutical salts of PRM and MEL with three basic organic counterions, that is, 4-aminopyridine (4AP), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (4DMP), and piperazine (PPZ), were prepared by both slurrying and slow evaporation. These salts were characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. All six salts, especially MEL-4DMP and MEL-4AP, showed a significantly improved apparent solubility and dissolution rate in sodium phosphate solution compared with the pure APIs. Notably, PRM-4AP and PRM-4DMP salts exhibited enhanced fluorescence, and the PRM-PPZ salt showed weaker fluorescence compared with that of pure PRM due to different luminescence mechanisms.

Amino Acids as the Potential Co-Former for Co-Crystal Development: A Review

Co-crystals are one of the most popular ways to modify the physicochemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) without changing pharmacological activity through non-covalent interactions with one or more co-formers. A "green method" has recently prompted many researchers to develop solvent-free techniques or minimize solvents for arranging the eco-friendlier process of co-crystallization. Researchers have also been looking for less-risk co-formers that produce the desired API's physicochemical properties. This review purposed to collect the report studies of amino acids as the safe co-former and explored their advantages. Structurally, amino acids are promising co-former candidates as they have functional groups that can form hydrogen bonds and increase stability through zwitterionic moieties, which support strong interactions. The co-crystals and deep eutectic solvent yielded from this natural compound have been proven to improve pharmaceutical performance. For example, l-glutamine could reduce the side effects of mesalamine through an acid-base stabilizing effect in the gastrointestinal fluid. In addition, some amino acids, especially l-proline, enhances API's solubility and absorption in its natural deep eutectic solvent and co-crystals systems. Moreover, some ionic co-crystals of amino acids have also been designed to increase chiral resolution. Therefore, amino acids are safe potential co-formers, which are suitable for improving the physicochemical properties of API and prospective to be developed further in the dosage formula and solid-state syntheses.

Ethanol-assisted kneading of apigenin with arginine for enhanced dissolution rate of apigenin: development of rapidly disintegrating tablets

Apigenin is a natural flavonoid which is claimed to have many pharmacological activities ranging from simple anti-inflammatory to anticancer action. However, poor dissolution slowed the advancement of this drug through the development pipelines. The objective of this work was to probe ethanol-aided kneading of apigenin with arginine as a new strategy for enhanced dissolution rate. The work was extended to develop rapidly disintegrating tablets of apigenin. Apigenin was mixed with increasing molar ratios of arginine before ethanol-aided kneading. The resulting products were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction in addition to probing the dissolution characteristics of apigenin. The analytical techniques highlighted the existence of new crystalline species with a possibility of salt formation. The recorded alterations in the crystalline properties were associated with a significant enhancement in the dissolution rate of apigenin. The presence of arginine did not have any negative effect of the cytotoxic power of apigenin. Optimum formulation was successfully prepared as rapidly disintegrating tablets which showed fast liberation of apigenin. The study introduced arginine as a potential excipient for enhanced dissolution of apigenin after ethanol-assisted kneading.

Co-electrospraying technology as a novel approach for dry powder inhalation formulation of montelukast and budesonide for pulmonary co-delivery

In the current study electrospraying methodology was used for particle engineering of montelukast and budesonide to prepare a combined inhalable dry powder formulation applicable as a smart regimen in asthma treatment. For this, electrospraying was carried out using different solvents and drug concentrations. No carrier was added for the formulation of montelukast-budesonide combination as montelukast played the role of both active ingredient and carrier. Scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, gas chromatography, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry were used to evaluate the physicochemical properties of the produced drug particles. In vitro drug deposition pattern was assessed using next generation impactor, and the dissolution profile of the selected formulations was characterized via modified diffusion franz cell method. The FPF value for the co-electrosprayed carrier free formulation of montelukast-budesonide was 38% with a significantly enhanced dissolution rate for budesonide compared to the budesonide alone formulations. The pharmacological effects of hypothesized combined formulation was assessed by measuring its power to inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species in human normal lung cells. The results showed that the combination of montelukast and budesonide can exert a synergistic effect. The findings in the current study emphasize that using montelukast as a carrier for budesonide not only has greatly improved the aerosolization behavior and dissolution rate of budesonide but also has resulted in synergistic pharmacological effects, indicating the suitability of this combination as an anti-asthmatic therapeutic.