Physical properties of parabens and their mixtures: solubility in water, thermal behavior, and crystal structures

The association of bisphenol A and paraben exposure with sensorineural hearing loss in children

Bisphenol A (BPA) and parabens (PBs) are chemicals that are extensively used in personal care products (PCPs). In early childhood development, hearing is critical to speech and language development, communication, and learning. In vitro and in vivo, BPA/PBs exhibited neurotoxicity through elevated levels of oxidative stress. BPA also has the potential to be an ototoxicant. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association of exposure to BPA/PBs with sensorineural hearing loss in children. A cross-sectional study based on hearing tests was conducted. This study enrolled 320 children aged 6-12 years from elementary school. Urinary BPA and PB concentrations were analyzed by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Logistic regression models were employed to determine the association of BPA/PB exposure with sensorineural hearing loss. Children with sensorineural hearing loss had higher BPA concentrations than normal-hearing children (0.22 ng/ml vs. 0.10 ng/ml, p = 0.05). After adjustment for covariates, the risk of hearing loss at middle frequencies reached 1.83-fold (95% CI: 1.12-2.99) when BPA concentrations increased by 1 log10. The risk of slight hearing loss reached 2.24-fold (95% CI: 1.05-4.78) when children had a tenfold increase in ethyl paraben (EP) concentration. This study clarifies the role of exposure to BPA/PBs in hearing loss in children. Future research needs to be expanded to include cohort designs and nationwide studies to identify causality.

In situ growth of an ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate single crystal by the vertical Bridgman technique: a potential nonlinear optical material for third-harmonic generation

Optically transparent single crystals of ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate (EPHB) were successfully grown by the vertical Bridgman technique. The crystalline phase and unit-cell dimensions were obtained from powder X-ray diffraction using Rietveld analysis. The presence of defects and grain boundaries was investigated by high-resolution X-ray diffraction. The optical quality of the grown single crystal was assessed by UV–Vis and photoluminescent spectroscopies. A blue emission, with a bi-exponential decay time, was obtained from time-resolved photoluminescence upon laser excitation at 266 nm. The mechanical strength of the EPHB single crystal was studied by Vickers hardness testing. A decrease in the laser-damage threshold was observed with a nanosecond Nd:YAG laser source for increased pulse repetition rates. The third-order nonlinearity, nonlinear absorption coefficient and nonlinear refractive index were measured using the Z-scan technique with a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser. The third-order nonlinear coefficient values for the grown crystal were compared with those of a potassium dihydrogen phosphate single crystal.

Detection and Characterization of an Unknown Impurity in Levothyroxine Oral Solution Product: Implications for Formulation Development and Storage

An existing USP(2010) impurity method for levothyroxine drug substance was modified to expand its applicability for the analysis of levothyroxine oral solution (OS) formulation while achieving desirable resolution between the components of OS formulation. When analyzed using modified USP(2010) method, an unknown impurity was detected in one of the levothyroxine OS products. A systematic investigation of unknown impurity was carried out using a combination of chromatographic, mass spectral and physicochemical methods to understand the nature of this unknown impurity. A possible elucidation of chemical structure and reaction mechanism for the formation of this previously unreported impurity was proposed.

Mechanisms of Methylparaben Adsorption onto Activated Carbons: Removal Tests Supported by a Calorimetric Study of the Adsorbent⁻Adsorbate Interactions

: In this study, the mechanisms of methylparaben adsorption onto activated carbon (AC) are elucidated starting from equilibrium and thermodynamic data. Adsorption tests are carried out on three ACs with different surface chemistry, in different pH and ionic strength aqueous solutions. Experimental results show that the methylparaben adsorption capacity is slightly affected by pH changes, while it is significantly reduced in the presence of high ionic strength. In particular, methylparaben adsorption is directly dependent on the micropore volume of the ACs and the π- stacking interactions, the latter representing the main interaction mechanism of methylparaben adsorption from liquid phase. The equilibrium adsorption data are complemented with novel calorimetric data that allow calculation of the enthalpy change associated with the interactions between solvent-adsorbent, adsorbent-adsorbate and the contribution of the ester functional group (in the methylparaben structure) to the adsorbate⁻adsorbent interactions, in different pH and ionic strength conditions. It was determined that the interaction enthalpy of methylparaben-AC in water increases (absolute value) slightly with the basicity of the activated carbons, due to the formation of interactions with π- electrons and basic functional groups of ACs. The contribution of the ester group to the adsorbate-adsorbent interactions occurs only in the presence of phenol groups on AC by the formation of Brønsted⁻Lowry acid⁻base interactions.

Development of a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for monitoring of long-term exposure to parabens

RATIONALE

Parabens, the alkyl esters of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, are a family of compounds widely used as preservatives in cosmetic products, including for children, and some are permitted in foods. Parabens are known to be weak endocrine disruptors because they interfere with the function of endogenous hormones through binding to estrogen receptors. Therefore, the levels of parabens in biological samples indicate endocrine-disruptive exposure. In particular, hair samples can provide information on accumulated exposure to parabens.

METHODS

For monitoring of long-term exposure to parabens, an improved analytical method for rapid and direct determination in hair sample was developed involving ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using on-line extraction. Five parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl- and benzylparaben) were separated within 10 min after incubation with 1 N HCl. Parabens were separated using a Waters BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) and a mobile phase consisting of 10 mM ammonium acetate in water and acetonitrile with a gradient program at a flow rate of 300 μL/min. The analysis of the separated parabens was monitored with electrospray negative ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

The linearity of the method was demonstrated by r²  ≥ 0.994. The limits of detection as defined by a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were 1-5 ng/g. The mean concentration of the five parabens in hair of human subjects was measured to be 55.6 ± 24.3 to 136.9 ± 48.5 ng/g.

CONCLUSIONS

The levels of parabens in hair samples may play an important role in understanding probable endocrine-disruptive exposure, and the described method could be used to evaluate and monitor long-term exposure to parabens as endocrine disruptors.

In vitro skin absorption tests of three types of parabens using a Franz diffusion cell

The objective of this study was to evaluate the permeation of paraben derivatives - methylparaben (MP), propylparaben (PP), and butylparaben (BP) - in hairless mouse full skin and human cadaver epidermis using a Franz diffusion cell method, which is proposed as a reliable alternative method to an skin absorption test. Parabens, esterified hydroxybenzoic acid compounds, are widely used as preservatives in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. The skin permeation rate showed dose dependency, and the hairless mouse full skin showed a higher flux value than human cadaver epidermis. Among the permeability coefficient (K_p) values of three parabens, MP showed a higher K_p value than PP or BP. Hence, according to the definitions of Marzulli et al., parabens would be classified as "moderate" penetrants.

Sandwich crystals of butyl paraben

Sandwich crystals: one polymorph. Opaque middle layer: 0.1 μm scale size pores. Parallel outer layer: translucent crystalline layers.

Four Polymorphs of Methyl Paraben: Structural Relationships and Relative Energy Differences

Four polymorphic forms of methyl paraben (methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, 1), denoted 1-I (melting point 126 °C), 1-III (109 °C), 1-107 (107 °C), and 1-112 (112 °C), have been investigated by thermomicroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. The crystal structures of the metastable forms 1-III, 1-107, and 1-112 have been determined. All polymorphs contain the same O-H···O=C connected catemer motif, but the geometry of the resulting H-bonded chain is different in each form. The Z' = 3 structure of 1-I (stable form; space group Cc) contains local symmetry elements. The crystal packing of each of the four known crystal structures of 1 was compared with the crystal structures of 12 chemical analogues. Close two-dimensional relationships exist between 1-112 and a form of methyl 4-aminobenzoate and between 1-107 and dimethyl terephthalate. The lattice energies of the four methyl paraben structures have been calculated with a range of methods based on ab initio electronic calculations on either the crystal or single molecule. This shows that the differences in the induction energy of the different hydrogen-bonded chain geometries have a significant effect on relative lattice energies, but that conformational energy, repulsion, dispersion, and electrostatic also contribute.

Di-n-butyl 4,4'-dihy-droxy-3,3'-{[(3aRS,7aRS)-2,3,3a,4,5,6,7,7a-octa-hydro-1H-1,3-benzimidazole-1,3-di-yl]bis-(methyl-ene)}dibenzoate

The complete molecule of the title compound, C(31)H(42)N(2)O(6), is generated by crystallographic twofold symmetry, with one C atom lying on the axis. The dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 57.03 (6)°. The central heterocyclic ring adopts a half-chair conformation. The mol-ecular conformation is stabilized by two intra-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds with the N atoms of the heterocyclic ring as the acceptors. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked into chains along the c axis by non-classical C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

The influence of crystallization inhibition of HPMC and HPMCAS on model substance dissolution and release in swellable matrix tablets

One of the drawbacks with solid solution systems is their thermodynamic instability in solution. Considering the release of these systems from extended-release formulations, in particular swellable matrix tablets, a successful tablet formulation can be regarded as a composition able to maintain the molecular state of the poorly soluble crystalline drug through diffusion in the matrix. This may in turn provide molecular rather than particulate delivery of the substance from the matrix. In this study, the solid state and dissolution behavior of amorphous solid dispersions of a model crystalline substance, butyl paraben in HPMC and HPMCAS, was investigated. In addition, the suitability of HPMCAS as both effective solid solution carrier and as extended-release matrix forming polymer was examined. The release from all systems investigated showed extended-release capacity with a release rate similar to the rate of matrix erosion. However, a detailed study of the factors affecting the release mechanism revealed that upon hydration, the model substance crystallized in the gel layer of the HPMC-based formulation, whereas it remained in amorphous form in the HPMCAS tablets. In the case of HPMCAS formulation, this effect was attributed to (i) the ability of this polymer to keep the model substance in a supersaturated state and (ii) the very slow matrix hydration, resulting in a steep concentration gradient of the drug substance and a short diffusion path through the matrix into the dissolution bulk.

Ethyl-paraben and nicotinamide mixtures: apparent solubility, thermal behavior and X-ray structure of the 1:1 co-crystal

This work aims at investigating the nicotinamide (NA)-ethyl-paraben (EP) binary system both in solution and in the solid state. In particular, the apparent EP solubility in water was studied in the presence of different NA concentrations (between 0.28 and 1.64 M). It was found that the apparent EP solubility increase (nearly twofold) observed at the highest NA concentration tested can be ascribed to a change in the polarity of the solvent mixture, rather than to a direct effect of NA on EP. The effect of fusion and re-crystallization from water or ethanol solutions on EP and NA mixtures was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction both on powder and single crystal. It was discovered that EP and NA form a co-crystal having a 1:1 molar composition that can be easily crystallized from ethanol. Single crystal X-ray analysis of this species revealed that the NA and EP molecules form corrugated layers within which the two components are intimately associated by a dense network of hydrogen bonds. In the presence of an excess NA in solution, the EP-NA co-crystal has lower water solubility with respect to both the single co-crystal formers and precipitates in aqueous solutions at ambient temperature.

On the identification of slip planes in organic crystals based on attachment energy calculation

Knowledge of slip or cleavage planes can facilitate the fundamental understanding of mechanical properties of organic crystals important to pharmaceutical operations, such as tableting and milling. Slip/cleavage planes were frequently assigned based on attachment energy calculation. These crystallographic planes can also be identified by visualization of crystals characterized by stacking layers of high molecular density and often strengthened by two-dimensional hydrogen bonding network. Using 14 organic crystals exhibiting such layered structures, predicted slip planes by attachment energy calculation employing three force fields, Dreiding, cvff, and COMPASS, were compared to those identified by crystal structure visualization. Overall, slip/cleavage planes in <50% crystals were successfully predicted by attachment energy calculation. Thus predicted slip/cleavage planes by attachment energy calculation may not be always accurate and should be treated with caution.

In Silico Prediction of Drug Solubility. 3. Free Energy of Solvation in Pure Amorphous Matter

The solubility of drugs in water is investigated in a series of papers. In this work, we address the process of bringing a drug molecule from the vapor into a pure drug amorphous phase. This step enables us to actually calculate the solubility of amorphous drugs in water. In our general approach, we, on one hand, perform rigorous free energy simulations using a combination of the free energy perturbation and thermodynamic integration methods. On the other hand, we develop an approximate theory containing parameters that are easily accessible from conventional Monte Carlo simulations, thereby reducing the computation time significantly. In the theory for solvation, we assume that DeltaG* = DeltaGcav + ELJ + EC/2, where the free energy of cavity formation, DeltaGcav, in pure drug systems is obtained using a theory for hard-oblate spheroids, and ELJ and EC are the Lennard-Jones and Coulomb interaction energies between the chosen molecule and the others in the fluid. The theoretical predictions for the free energy of solvation in pure amorphous matter are in good agreement with free energy simulation data for 46 different drug molecules. These results together with our previous studies support our theoretical approach. By using our previous data for the free energy of hydration, we compute the total free energy change of bringing a molecule from the amorphous phase into water. We obtain good agreement between the theory and simulations. It should be noted that to obtain accurate results for the total process, high precision data are needed for the individual subprocesses. Finally, for eight different substances, we compare the experimental amorphous and crystalline solubility in water with the results obtained by the proposed theory with reasonable success.

Influence of Crystal Structure on the Compaction Properties of n-Alkyl 4-Hydroxybenzoate Esters (Parabens)

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to examine the influence of slip planes on the nanoindentation hardness and compaction properties of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (parabens).

METHODS

Molecular modeling calculations, embodying the attachment energy concept, were performed to predict the slip planes in the crystal lattices, whereas the nanoindentation hardness of the crystals and the tensile strength of directly compressed compacts were measured.

RESULTS

Unlike the other three parabens, methyl paraben has no slip planes in its crystal lattice, and its crystals showed greater nanoindentation hardness, corresponding to lower plasticity, whereas its tablets exhibited substantially lower tensile strength than those of ethyl, propyl, or butyl paraben.

CONCLUSIONS

The nanoindentation hardness of the crystals and the tensile strength of directly compressed tablets were each found to correlate directly with the absence or presence of slip planes in the crystal structures of the parabens because slip planes confer greater plasticity. This work presents a molecular insight into the influence of crystal structural features on the tableting performance of molecular crystals in general and of crystalline pharmaceuticals in particular.

Thermodynamics of solubility, sublimation and solvation processes of parabens

Saturated vapor pressures for a number of parabens (methyl- (MePB); ethyl- (EtPB), n-propyl- (PrPB) and n-butyl- (BuPB)) were obtained and from their respective temperature dependences the sublimation enthalpy, DeltaH(sub)( degrees ), and sublimation entropy, DeltaS(sub)(degrees), as well as their respective relative fractions in the process calculated. The sublimation enthalpies are: DeltaH(sub)(degrees)(MePB)=98.8+/-0.8; DeltaH(sub)(degrees)(EtPB)=100.9+/-0.7; DeltaH(sub)(degrees)(PrPB)=123.7+/-0.6; DeltaH(sub)(degrees)(BuPB)=108.4+/-0.8 kJmol(-1). The obtained values are discussed with regard to X-ray data from the literature. Theoretical calculations of the respective crystal lattice energies were carried out and compared to the experimental data. The following parameters were analyzed: (a) energetic contribution of van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding to the total packing energy of the crystals; (b) contributions of the different fragments of the paraben molecules to the packing energy; (c) influence of bias of the supposed C-H distances on the result of the calculation procedure. Enthalpies of evaporation were estimated from the measured enthalpies of sublimation and enthalpies of fusion, and compared with literature data. Moreover, the thermodynamic functions of solvation of the molecules in water and in a number of n-alcohols were evaluated. The thermodynamic terms (Gibbs energy, enthalpy and entropy) of the solvation process were split up in their respective specific and nonspecific fraction, and these values compared for all combinations of parabens and solvents. The influence of mutual saturation of the phases in the water-octanol system on the partitioning process of the molecules is also discussed.

Methylated purines in urinary stones

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to measure the content of methylated purines that appear as admixtures in uric acid stones.

METHODS

We analyzed urinary calculi from 48 residents of Western Pomerania who underwent surgery at the urology ward in Szczecin. Stone samples were dissolved in 0.1 mol/L NaOH. Extracts were diluted in 50 mmol/L KH(2)PO(4) and analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC with ultraviolet detection and use of a gradient of methanol concentration and pH.

RESULTS

Uric acid was the main component of 9 stones. All 9 showed admixtures of 9 other purine derivatives: endogenous purine breakdown products (xanthine, hypoxanthine, and 2,8-dihydroxyadenine) and exogenous methyl derivatives of uric acid and xanthine (1-, 3-, and 7-methyluric acid; 1,3-dimethyluric acid; and 3- and 7-methylxanthine). Amounts of these purine derivatives ranged from the limit of detection to 12 mg/g of stone weight and showed a strong positive correlation (Spearman rank correlation coefficients, 0.63-0.94) with the uric acid content of the samples. The main methylated purine in the stones was 1-methyluric acid.

CONCLUSIONS

Urinary purines at concentrations below their saturation limits may coprecipitate in samples supersaturated with uric acid and appear as admixtures in urinary stones. The amount of each purine depends on its average urinary excretion, similarity to the chemical structure of uric acid, and concentration of the latter in the stone. These findings suggest that purines in stones represent a substitutional solid solution with uric acid as solvent. Methylxanthines, which are ubiquitous components of the diet, drugs, and uric acid calculi, may be involved in the pathogenesis of urolithiasis.

The effects of parabens on the mechanosensitive channels of E. coli

Parabens are alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid used as preservatives in a wide range of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. Despite their common use for over 50 years, their mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study we examined the effects of ethyl and propyl paraben, on gating of the E. coli mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (MscL) reconstituted into azolectin liposomes. We found that propyl and ethyl paraben spontaneously activate MscL. Moreover, the addition of propyl paraben caused an increase in MscL activity and the lowering of p(1/2), the pressure at which the MscL was opened 50% of the time, the DeltaG(o), the free energy required to open the MscL, and the parameter alpha, which describes the channel sensitivity to pressure. In addition, in silico studies showed that propyl paraben binds to the channel gate of the MscL. The mechanosensitive channel of small conductance was also found to be spontaneously activated by parabens. In summary, our study indicates that one of the previously unidentified mechanisms of action of parabens as antimicrobial agents is via an interaction with the mechanosensitive channels to upset the osmotic gradients in bacteria.