Improvement of dissolution behavior for poorly water-soluble drug by application of cyclodextrin in extrusion process: comparison between melt extrusion and wet extrusion

The effect of drug loading on the properties of abiraterone-hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin solid dispersions processed by solvent free KinetiSol® technology

Abiraterone is a poorly water-soluble drug used in the treatment of prostate cancer. In our previous study, we reported that KinetiSol® processed solid dispersions (KSDs) based on hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) showed improved dissolution and pharmacokinetics of abiraterone. However, the nature of abiraterone-HPBCD interaction within the KSDs or the effect of drug loading on the physicochemical properties and in vivo performance of HPBCD-based KSDs remain largely unknown. We hypothesize that KinetiSol technology can prepare abiraterone-HPBCD complexes within KSDs and that increasing the drug loading beyond an optimal point reduces the in vitro and in vivo performance of these KSDs. To confirm our hypothesis, we developed KSDs with 10-50% w/w drug loading and analyzed them using X-ray diffractometry and modulated differential scanning calorimetry. We found that KSDs containing 10-30% drug were amorphous. Interestingly, two-dimensional solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and Raman spectroscopy indicated that the abiraterone-HPBCD complexes were formed. At elevated temperatures, the 10% and 20% drug-loaded KSDs were physically stable, while the 30% drug-loaded KSD showed recrystallization of abiraterone. In vitro dissolution and in vivo pharmacokinetic performances improved as the drug loading decreased; we attribute this to increased noncovalent interactions between abiraterone and HPBCD at lower drug loadings. Overall, the 10% drug loaded KSD showed a dissolution enhancement of 15.7-fold compared to crystalline abiraterone, and bioavailability enhancement of 3.9-fold compared to the commercial abiraterone acetate tablet Zytiga®. This study is first to confirm that KinetiSol, a high-energy, solvent-free technology, is capable of forming abiraterone-HPBCD complexes. Furthermore, in terms of in vitro and in vivo performance, a 10% drug load is optimal.

Hot liquid extrusion assisted drug-cyclodextrin complexation: a novel continuous manufacturing method for solubility and bioavailability enhancement of drugs

In this study, drug-cyclodextrin (CD) complexes were prepared using hot liquid extrusion (HLE) process with an aim to improve solubility and bioavailability of carbamazepine. Saturation solubility studies of CBZ in water and different pH media showed a pH-independent solubility. Phase solubility studies of CBZ at different molar concentrations of beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) indicated A_L-type solubility profile with stability constants of 574 M⁻¹ and 899 M⁻¹ for β-CD and HP-β-CD. Drug-β-CD and drug-HP-β-CD complexes were prepared using HLE process and conventional methods (such as physical mixture, kneading method, and solvent evaporation) as well. Optimized complexes prepared using HLE viz. CBP-4 and CHP-2 showed a solubility of 4.27 ± 0.09 mg/mL and 6.39 ± 0.09 mg/mL as compared to plain CBZ (0.140 ± 0.007 mg/mL). Formation of drug-CD inclusion complexes was confirmed using DSC, FTIR, and XRD studies. Drug release studies indicated highest release of CBZ from CHP-2 (98.69 ± 2.96%) compared to CBP-4 (82.64 ± 2.45%) and plain drug (13.47 ± 0.54%). Complexes prepared using kneading showed significantly lesser drug release (KMB 75.52 ± 2.68% and KMH 85.59 ± 2.80%) as that of CHP-2 and CBP-4. Pre-clinical pharmacokinetic studies in Wistar rats indicated a significant increase in C_max, T_max, AUC, and mean residence time for CHP-2 compared to KMH and plain CBZ. All these results suggest that HLE is an effective method to increase the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs.

Characterization of in vitro and in vivo bioactivity of a ferulic acid-2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex

Ferulic acid (FA) belongs to the family of phenolic acids and exhibits a wide variety of biological activities. However, the bioavailability of FA is not optimal, owing to its limited aqueous solubility. Several methods have been developed to increase FA bioavailability and enhance its cytoprotective effects. Complexing FA with cyclodextrins (CDs) may provide an alternative method to approach these goals. In this study, we prepared an FA-2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (FA-HP-β-CD) complex, at a 1:1 M ratio of FA to HP-β-CD, which was characterized by ¹H NMR, two-dimensional rotating frame spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Aqueous solubility of FA was improved after complexing with HP-β-CD. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experimental results indicated that the FA-HP-β-CD complex had greater bioactivity than FA alone. Therefore, we can conclude that the limitations of FA usage due to low aqueous solubility and bioavailability can be overcome by creating an HP-β-CD inclusion complex with the hydrophobic FA.

A comparison between conventional liposome and drug-cyclodextrin complex in liposome system

A drug-cyclodextrin complex in liposome system was prepared in order to make a comparison with conventional risperidone-loaded liposome. Thin film hydration, reverse phase evaporation and ethanol injection methods were taken as preparation means to obtain the two types of liposome. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the thermal characters of inclusion complexes and morphology of liposome, respectively. Particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency were studied by light scattering analysis and ultrafiltration. In vitro release was carried out in the pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution and samples were collected at the certain time. As a result, drug-cyclodextrin complex in liposome prepared by various methods displayed lower encapsulation efficiency than conventional liposome. However, size was larger and its stability was better than the latter. The second release phase of novel delivery system was slightly slower after initial burst release at the first phase, while the conventional liposome displayed a more regular trait. Thus, the novel liposome have potential to be developed as co-administration formulation with long-acting injection.

A Strategy for Co-former Selection to Design Stable Co-amorphous Formations Based on Physicochemical Properties of Non-steroidal Inflammatory Drugs

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical factors contributing to stable co-amorphous formations and to design a co-former selection strategy.

METHODS

Non-steroidal inflammatory drugs were used as main components and/or co-formers. Physical mixtures of the materials were melted. Co-amorphization was characterized by the inhibition effect of the co-former on crystallization of the main component from the undercooled melt. The contribution of physicochemical factors to the co-amorphous formation was analyzed by multivariate analysis. Co-amorphous samples prepared by melting were subjected to thermal and spectroscopic analyses and the isothermal crystallization test.

RESULTS

Naproxen (NAP) was employed as the main component having a rapid crystallization tendency. Some materials used as the co-former inhibited the crystallization of amorphous NAP; decreasing melting temperatures of the components was an indicator of co-amorphization. The contribution of some physicochemical features (e.g., crystallization tendency, glass transition temperature (Tg)/melting temperature and molecular flexibility) of the co-formers to a co-amorphous formation was suggested by multivariate analysis. Deviation of the glass transition temperature from the theoretical value and changes in the infrared spectra of the co-amorphous samples were correlated with intermolecular interaction. The crystallization behaviors of the co-amorphous samples depended on their Tg.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed a relationship between stable co-amorphous formation and the physicochemical features of the components, which should inform efficient co-former selection to design stable co-amorphous formations.

Drug delivery systems, CNS protection, and the blood brain barrier

Present review highlights various drug delivery systems used for delivery of pharmaceutical agents mainly antibiotics, antineoplastic agents, neuropeptides, and other therapeutic substances through the endothelial capillaries (BBB) for CNS therapeutics. In addition, the use of ultrasound in delivery of therapeutic agents/biomolecules such as proline rich peptides, prodrugs, radiopharmaceuticals, proteins, immunoglobulins, and chimeric peptides to the target sites in deep tissue locations inside tumor sites of brain has been explained. In addition, therapeutic applications of various types of nanoparticles such as chitosan based nanomers, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, niosomes, beta cyclodextrin carriers, cholesterol mediated cationic solid lipid nanoparticles, colloidal drug carriers, liposomes, and micelles have been discussed with their recent advancements. Emphasis has been given on the need of physiological and therapeutic optimization of existing drug delivery methods and their carriers to deliver therapeutic amount of drug into the brain for treatment of various neurological diseases and disorders. Further, strong recommendations are being made to develop nanosized drug carriers/vehicles and noninvasive therapeutic alternatives of conventional methods for better therapeutics of CNS related diseases. Hence, there is an urgent need to design nontoxic biocompatible drugs and develop noninvasive delivery methods to check posttreatment clinical fatalities in neuropatients which occur due to existing highly toxic invasive drugs and treatment methods.

Impact of drying on solid state modifications and drug distribution in ibuprofen-loaded calcium stearate pellets

Drying is a common pharmaceutical process, whose potential to alter the final drug properties-even at relatively low temperatures-is often neglected. The present study addresses the impact of drying at 20 and 50 °C on wet-extruded calcium stearate (CaSt) pellets. Drying at 20 °C caused the majority of ibuprofen to accumulate at the pellet surface due to a strong convective flow from the pellet's center to the surface. In contrast, pellets dried at 50 °C still contained ibuprofen in the pellet's interior due to the higher drying rate and the associated film breakage during drying. Moreover, the higher drying temperature caused CaSt to form a second lamellar phase and ibuprofen to convert (partly) into its amorphous state. Overall, the drying process affected the solid state and the spatial ibuprofen distribution within the pellet. Knowledge of these effects can aid in tailoring advanced multipellet formulations.

Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization and I n - vitro Dissolution Studies of Diosmin-cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes

Diosmin, a vascular-protecting agent, is practically insoluble in water, and its oral absorption is limited by its extremely low dissolution rate. In this study, β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) were obtained to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of diosmin. Phase solubility studies of diosmin with βCD and HPβCD in distilled water were conducted to characterize the complexes in liquid state. The solid-state characterization of the complexes prepared with different methods was performed by fourier transform-infra red spectroscopy (FTIR), optical microscopy analyses, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dissolution studies were carried out in distilled water using US pharmacopeia dissolution rate testing equipment. The complexation of diosmin with βCD and HPβCD both indicated an AL type of phase-solubility diagrams, and the apparent stability constants (Kc) was found to be 222.13 and 200.08 M(-1), respectively. The Kc values indicated the βCD and HPβCD showed the similar equal complexation ability with diosmin, HPβCD provided higher solubility for diosmin due to its higher water solubility. The dissolution studies suggest that the inclusion complexes provide higher dissolution rate compared with the physical mixtures and the drug alone. Furthermore, the inclusion complex prepared by freeze drying method presented higher dissolution rate than kneading method.

Investigation into mixing capability and solid dispersion preparation using the DSM Xplore Pharma Micro Extruder

Objectives

The goal of this investigation was to qualify the DSM Xplore Pharma Micro Extruder as a formulation screening tool for early-stage hot-melt extrusion.

Methods

Dispersive and distributive mixing was investigated using soluplus, copovidone or basic butylated methacrylate copolymer with sodium chloride (NaCl) in a batch size of 5 g. Eleven types of solid dispersions were prepared using various drugs and carriers in batches of 5 g in accordance with the literature.

Key findings

The dispersive mixing was a function of screw speed and recirculation time and the particle size was remarkably reduced after 1 min of processing, regardless of the polymers. An inverse relationship between the particle size and specific mechanical energy (SME) was also found. The SME values were higher than those in large-scale extruders. After 1 min recirculation at 200 rpm, the uniformity of NaCl content met the criteria of the European Pharmacopoeia, indicating that distributive mixing was achieved in this time. For the solid dispersions preparations, the results from different scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffractometry and in-vitro dissolution tests confirmed that all solid-dispersion systems were successfully prepared.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrated that the extruder is a useful tool to screen solid-dispersion formulations and their material properties on a small scale.

Melt extrusion with poorly soluble drugs

Melt extrusion (ME) over recent years has found widespread application as a viable drug delivery option in the drug development process. ME applications include taste masking, solid-state stability enhancement, sustained drug release and solubility enhancement. While ME can result in amorphous or crystalline solid dispersions depending upon several factors, solubility enhancement applications are centered around generating amorphous dispersions, primarily because of the free energy benefits they offer. In line with the purview of the current issue, this review assesses the utility of ME as a means of enhancing solubility of poorly soluble drugs/chemicals. The review describes major processing aspects of ME technology, definition and understanding of the amorphous state, manufacturability, analytical characterization and biopharmaceutical performance testing to better understand the strength and weakness of this formulation strategy for poorly soluble drugs. In addition, this paper highlights the potential advantages of employing a fusion of techniques, including pharmaceutical co-crystals and spray drying/solvent evaporation, facilitating the design of formulations of API exhibiting specific physico-chemical characteristics. Finally, the review presents some successful case studies of commercialized ME based products.