Quality by Design in Action 1: Controlling Critical Quality Attributes of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient

Autonomous model-based experimental design for rapid reaction development

To automate and democratize model-based experimental design for flow chemistry applications, we report the development of open-source software, Optipus. Reaction models are built in an iterative and automated fashion, for rapid reaction development.

Quantification and Validation of Stability-Indicating RP-HPLC Method for Efavirenz in Bulk and Tablet Dosage Form using Quality by Design (QbD): A Shifting Paradigm

The present study endeavors quality by design (QbD) assisted chromatographic method for the quantification of Efavirenz (ERZ) in bulk and tablet dosage form. Analytical QbD instigated with assignment of analytical target profile (ATP) and critical analytical attributes (CAAs). Risk assessment studies and factor screening studies facilitate to identify the critical method parameters (CMPs). Optimization was performed by employing 32 full factorial design using identified CMPs i.e., flow rate (X1) and pH of buffer (X2) at three different levels and evaluating selected CAAs i.e., retention time (Y1) and peak area (Y2). The individual and interactive influence of CMPs on CAAs were tested by statistical data and response surface plots. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed that method parameters are significant (P < 0.05). Chromatographic separation was achieved using methanol, 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer (70:30 v/v), pH adjusted at 3.1 with 0.05% ortho-phosphoric acid as a mobile phase at flow rate 1.0 mL/min, and a Nucleosil C18 (4.6 mm I.D. × 250 mm, 5 μm) column with UV detection at 247 nm. The method validation and subsequent stresses degradation studies according to ICH guidelines supported the method to be highly efficient for regular drug analysis and its degradation products. The proposed method was successfully demonstrated QbD based approach for the development of highly sensitive, reliable and suitable for routine analysis, and clinical applications.

Sulbactam pivoxil powder attributes and compatibility study with excipients

Background

Sulbactam pivoxil is an irreversible β-lactamase inhibitor that can be used with β-lactam antibiotics to improve antibacterial therapy by the oral route. Relevant properties of this drug for pharmaceutical manufacturing are not available in the open literature. In this work, a solid-state characterization of sulbactam pivoxil at the molecular, particle, and bulk levels was performed.

Results

Particles exhibited a mean diameter of about 350 μm, irregular shape crystals, and good flow properties. This work presents for the first time the crystal structure of this β-lactamase inhibitor obtained by X-ray diffraction analysis. Fourier-transform infrared results showed the characteristic bands of aliphatic hydrocarbons and ester groups. The differential scanning calorimetry curve exhibited a sharp endothermic peak at 109 °C corresponding to sulbactam pivoxil melting. The thermogravimetric curve revealed a mass loss at 184 °C associated with a decomposition process. This powder showed a moisture content of 0.34% and a water activity of 0.463. Potential interactions between sulbactam pivoxil and common pharmaceutical excipients were evaluated by thermal analysis. The endothermic peak and the enthalpies of melting were preserved in almost all the analyzed mixtures.

Conclusion

The powder was constituted by micro-sized crystals of sulbactam pivoxil that had suitable physicochemical properties for processing in controlled humidity environments. Thermal analyses suggested that sulbactam pivoxil is compatible with most of the evaluated excipients. The information obtained in the present study is relevant for the development, manufacturing, and storage of formulations that include sulbactam pivoxil.

A Systematic AQbD Approach for Optimization of the Most Influential Experimental Parameters on Analysis of Fish Spoilage-Related Volatile Amines

The volatile amines trimethylamine (TMA) and dimethylamine (DMA) could be used as important spoilage indices for seafood products, assisting in the determination of the rejection period. In the present study, a systematic analytical duality-by-design (AQbD) approach was used as a powerful strategy to optimize the most important experimental parameters of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) conditions for the quantification of TMA and DMA in Sparus aurata. This optimization enabled the selection of the best points in the method operable design region for HS-SPME extraction (30 min; 35 °C; NaOH 15 M and NaCl 35%, w/v) and GC-MS analysis (80 °C; gradient 50 °C/min; flow rate 1 mL/min and splitless mode). The rejection day, estimated through the TMA concentration (>12 mg/100 g, at days 9–10), was compared with sensory (quality index method: day 7–8), physical (Torrymeter: day 8–9), and microbial (day 9–10) analysis, corroborating the suitability of the proposed approach for estimating the period for which they will retain an acceptable level of eating quality from a safety and sensory perspective.

Comparison of multi-linear regression, particle swarm optimization artificial neural networks and genetic programming in the development of mini-tablets

In the present study, the preparation of pharmaceutical mini-tablets was attempted in the framework of Quality by Design (QbD) context, by comparing traditionally used multi-linear regression (MLR), with artificially-intelligence based regression techniques (such as standard artificial neural networks (ANNs), particle swarm optimization (PSO) ANNs and genetic programming (GP)) during Design of Experiment (DoE) implementation. Specifically, the effect of diluent type and particle size fraction for three commonly used direct compression diluents (lactose, pregelatinized starch and dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate, DCPD) blended with either hydrophilic or hydrophobic flowing aids was evaluated in terms of: a) powder blend properties (such as bulk (Y1) and tapped (Y₂) density, Carr's compressibility index (Y₃, CCI), Kawakita's compaction fitting parameters a (Y₄) and 1/b (Y₅)), and b) mini-tablet's properties (such as relative density (Y₆), average weight (Y₇) and weight variation (Y₈)). Results showed better flowing properties for pregelatinized starch and improved packing properties for lactose and DPCD. MLR analysis showed high goodness of fit for the Y₁, Y₂, Y₄, Y₆ and Y₈ with RMSE values of Y₁ = 0.028, Y₂ = 0.032, Y₄ = 0.019, Y₆ = 0.015 and Y₈ = 0.130; while for rest responses, high correlation was observed from both standard ANNs and GP. PSO-ANNs fitting was the only regression technique that was able to adequately fit all responses simultaneously (RMSE values of Y₁ = 0.026, Y₂ = 0.022, Y₃ = 0.025, Y₄ = 0.010, Y₅ = 0.063, Y₆ = 0.013, Y₇ = 0.064 and Y₈ = 0.104).