The ubiquity of the tabletability flip phenomenon

The plasticity of materials plays a critical role in adequate powder tabletability, which is required in developing a successful tablet product. Generally, a more plastic material can develop larger bonding areas when other factors are the same, leading to higher tabletability than less plastic materials. However, it was observed that, for a solid form of a compound with poorer tabletability, a mixture with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) can actually exhibit better tabletability, a phenomenon termed tabletability flip. Hence, there is a chance that a solid form with poor tabletability could have been erroneously eliminated based on the expected tabletability challenges during tablet manufacturing. This study was conducted to investigate the generality of this phenomenon using two polymorph pairs, a salt and free acid pair, a crystalline and amorphous solid dispersion pair, and a pair of chemically distinct crystals. Results show that tabletability flip occurred in all six systems tested, including five pairs of binary mixtures with MCC and one pair in a realistic generic tablet formulation, suggesting the broad occurrence of the tabletability flip phenomenon, where both compaction pressure and the difference in plasticity between the pair of materials play important roles.

Sulfonic Acid Derivatives in the Production of Stable Co-Amorphous Systems for Solubility Enhancement

Co-amorphization is a promising approach to stabilize drugs in the amorphous form. Olanzapine, a poorly water-soluble drug was used in this study. Sulfonic acids (saccharin, cyclamic acid and acesulfame), free and in salt forms, were used as co-formers and compared with carboxylic acids commonly used in the preparation of co-amorphous systems. Several manufacturing techniques were tested, and the co-amorphous systems characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Free sulfonic acids produced co-amorphous systems with the drug, unlike their salts. Spectroscopy data suggests the formation of salts between olanzapine and the sulfonic acids, used as co-formers. The co-amorphous system produced with saccharin by solvent evaporation, showed the most notable solubility enhancement (145 times). The stability of amorphous and co-amorphous olanzapine systems was assessed upon exposure to stress conditions during storage. Amorphized olanzapine readily reconverted back to the crystalline form while sulfonic acids:olanzapine co-amorphous were stable for up to 24 weeks in low/medium humidity conditions (11-75% RH). Results highlight the potential advantages offered by sulfonic acids as co-formers to produce stable and more soluble co-amorphous olanzapine.

Crystal structure prediction of energetic materials and a twisted arene with Genarris and GAtor

A molecular crystal structure prediction workflow, based on the random structure generator, Genarris, and the genetic algorithm (GA), GAtor, is successfully applied to two energetic materials and a chiral arene.

Separation of a diastereomeric diol pair using the mechanical properties of crystals

The visually indistinguishable acicular crystals of a (2S,3R/S)-3-ethyl-1-phenylhex-5-ene-2,3-diol (ephd) diastereomeric pair are separated via the mechanical response based on elastic (2S,3R, right) and brittle (2S,3S, left) crystals.

The efficient development of a sildenafil orally disintegrating tablet using a material sparing and expedited approach

The purpose of this work is to develop an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) of sildenafil (SIL) using a materials sparing and expedited development approach, enabled by the materials science tetrahedron principle and predictive technologies. To overcome the problem of bitter taste of SIL, an artificial sweetener, acesulfame (Acs), was used to form a sweet SIL salt (SIL-Acs) using an effective reaction crystallization process to prepare phase pure bulk SIL-Acs with a high yield. The SIL-Acs salt shows excellent thermal stability (T_m = 200.2 °C), low hygroscopicity, and acceptable dissolution rate. Formulation and process parameters were optimized based on powder flowability, tabletability, tablet disintegration time, and expedited friability. A particle engineering approach, i.e., nanocoating, was employed to attain adequate flowability of the SIL-Acs ODT formulation required for the direct compression process. The wide range of compression forces for making tablets exhibiting both fast disintegration time (≤30 s) and low friability (≤0.8%) suggested excellent flexibility in manufacturing SIL-Acs ODT. The development of a sildenafil ODT formulation, including solid form selection and characterization, crystallization method development, formulation development, and DC process optimization, only required 5 g of SIL citrate and 2 weeks of time.

Structural and IR-spectroscopic characterization of pyridinium acesulfamate, a monoclinic twin

The crystal structure of pyridinium 6-methyl-1,2,3,-oxathiazine-4(3H)-one-2,2-dioxide [(C5NH6)(C4H4NO4S)], for short, pyH(ace), was determined by X-ray diffraction methods. It crystallizes as a twin in the monoclinic space groupP21/cwitha=6.9878(9),b=7.2211(7),c=21.740(2) Å,β=91.67(1)° andZ=4 molecules per unit cell. The structure was determined employing 1599 reflections withI>2σ(I) from one of the twin domains and refined employing 2092 reflections from both crystal domains to an agreement R1 factor of 0.0466. Besides electrostatic attractions, intermolecular pyH···O=C(ace) hydrogen bonds stabilize the acesulfamate anion and the pyridinium cation into planar discrete units parallel to the (100) crystal plane. The units form stacks of alternating ace−and pyH+ions along theaaxis that favors inter-ring π–π interactions. The Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectrum of the compound was recorded and is briefly discussed. Some comparisons with related pyridinium saccharinate salts are also made.

Crystal structure of strontium and barium acesulafame (6-methyl-4-oxo-4H-1,2,3-oxa-thia-zin-3-ide 2,2-dioxide)

Both strontium and barium acesulfames, namely poly[aqua-bis-(μ3-6-methyl-2,2-dioxo-1,2λ6,3-oxa-thia-zin-4-olato)strontium(II)], [Sr(C4H4NO4S)2(H2O)] n , and the barium(II) analogue, [Ba(C4H4NO4S)2(H2O)] n , crystallize in nearly identical isotypic forms, with barium-oxygen inter-atomic distances being longer due to the larger ionic radius of the barium(II) ion. The coordination number of the metal ion is 9; the coordination polyhedra can be described as distorted capped square anti-prisms [Johnson solid J10; Johnson (1966). Can. J. Math.18, 169-200]. The conformation of the acesulafame ions is a distorted envelope with an out-of-plane S atom. Metal and acesulfame ions are assembled into infinitive chains along the [100] axis. These chains are connected via hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional network.

Evaluating Suspension Formulations of Theophylline Cocrystals With Artificial Sweeteners

Pharmaceutical cocrystals have garnered significant interest as potential solids to address issues associated with formulation development of drug substances. However, studies concerning the understanding of formulation behavior of cocrystals are still at the nascent stage. We present results of our attempts to evaluate suspension formulations of cocrystals of an antiasthmatic drug, theophylline, with 2 artificial sweeteners. Stability, solubility, drug release, and taste of the suspension formulations were evaluated. Suspension that contained cocrystal with acesulfame showed higher drug release rate, while a cocrystal with saccharin showed a significant reduction in drug release rate. The cocrystal with saccharin was found stable in suspension for over 9 weeks at accelerated test condition; in contrast, the cocrystal with acesulfame was found unstable. Taste analysis using an electronic taste-sensing system revealed improved sweetness of the suspension formulations with cocrystals. Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic index with a short half-life which necessitates frequent dosing. This adversely impacts patient compliance and enhances risk of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse effects. The greater thermodynamic stability, sweetness, and sustained drug release of the suspension formulation of theophylline-saccharin could offer an alternative solution to the short half-life of theophylline and make it a promising formulation for treating asthmatic pediatric and geriatric patients.

Structural and IR-spectroscopic characterization of cadmium and lead(II) acesulfamates

Cadmium and lead(II) acesulfamate, Cd(C4H4NO4S)2·2H2O and Pb(C4H4NO4S)2, were prepared by the reaction of acesulfamic acid and the respective metal carbonates in aqueous solution, and characterized by elemental analysis. Their crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The Cd(II) compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with Z=4 and the corresponding Pb(II) salt in the triclinic space group P1̅ with Z=2. In both salts, acesulfamate acts both as a bi-dentate ligand through its nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atoms and also as a mono-dentate ligand through this same oxygen atom, giving rise to polymeric structures; in the Pb(II) salt the ligand also binds the cation through its sulfoxido oxygen atoms. The FTIR spectra of the compounds were recorded and are briefly discussed. Some comparisons with other related acesulfamate and saccharinate complexes are made.

Structural analysis of elastically bent organic crystals using in situ indentation and micro-Raman spectroscopy

The structural dynamics of two elastically bendable, halogenated N-benzylideneaniline organic crystals were studied using an in situ three-point bending test and Raman spectroscopy.

New polymorphs of an old drug: conformational and synthon polymorphism of 5-nitrofurazone

Two new polymorphic forms of 5-nitrofurazone (5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction methods, vibrational spectroscopy (FT-IR and temperature Raman), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Hirshfeld surface analysis. The compound crystallizes in three different polymorphic forms P21/a (polymorph α), P21 (polymorph β) and P21/c (polymorph γ), the crystal structures of two of which (polymorphs β and γ) represent new structure determinations. The solid-state molecular organization in the three crystal forms is analyzed and discussed in terms of molecular conformation, crystal packing and hydrogen-bonded networks. All three crystals are formed from trans geometrical isomers, but the molecular conformation of the α-polymorph is syn-anti-anti-anti, while that of β- and γ-polymorphs is syn-anti-syn-syn. As a consequence of this the hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor sites of the molecules are oriented differently, which in turn results in different hydrogen-bond connectivity and packing patterns.

Structural and IR-spectroscopic characterization of magnesium acesulfamate

Magnesium acesulfamate, Mg(C4H4NO4S)2·6H2O, was prepared by the reaction of acesulfamic acid and magnesium carbonate in aqueous solution, and characterized by elemental analysis. Its crystal structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The substance crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1̅ with one molecule per unit cell. The FTIR spectrum of the compound was also recorded and is briefly discussed. Some comparisons with other simple acesulfamate and saccharinate salts are also made.

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of isotypic sodium, rubidium and cesium acesulfamates

Three new acesulfamate salts, NaC4H4NO4S, RbC4H4NO4S and CsC4H4NO4S, were prepared by reactions in aqueous solutions and thoroughly characterized. Their crystal and molecular structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. They crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21/a with a = 7.2518(2), b = 8.9414(4), c = 10.5929(4) Å, β = 99.951(3)°, V = 676.52(4) Å3 for the Na salt; a = 7.4663(3), b = 9.6962(4), c = 10.4391(4) Å, β = 95.150(3)°, V = 752.68(5) Å3 for the Rb salt and a = 7.5995(4), b = 9.9439(4), c = 10.8814(6) Å, β = 91.298(5)°, V = 822.08(7) Å3 for the Cs salt, and Z = 4 molecules per unit cell. The three compounds are isotypic to each other and to the previously reported potassium salt. The metal ions are in irregular polyhedral coordination with six neighboring acesulfamate anions through their nitrogen and carbonyl and sulfoxide oxygen atoms. The FTIR spectra of the compounds were also recorded and are briefly discussed.

2 : 1 5-Fluorocytosine–acesulfame CAB cocrystal and 1 : 1 5-fluorocytosine–acesulfame salt hydrate with enhanced stability against hydration

A conjugate acid–base (CAB) cocrystal and a salt hydrate of 5-fluorocytosine were obtained with an artificial sweetener, acesulfame.

trans-Bis(ethyl-enediamine-κN,N')bis-(6-methyl-2,2,4-trioxo-3,4-dihydro-1,2λ,3-oxathia-zin-3-ido-κN)copper(II)

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu(C₄H₄NO₄S)₂(C₂H₈N₂)₂], the Cu²⁺ ion resides on a centre of symmetry. The environment of Cu²⁺ ion is a distorted octa­hedron. The axial bond lengths between the Cu^II ion and the N atoms are considerably longer than the equatorial bond distances between the Cu^II ion and the N atoms of the ethyl­enediamine ligand as a consequence of the Jahn–Teller effect. The mol­ecular conformation is stabilized by intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, mol­ecules are connected by inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains running along the a axis.