Ball-Milling Preparation of the Drug-Drug Solid Form of Pioglitazone-Rosuvastatin at Different Molar Ratios: Characterization and Intrinsic Dissolution Rates Evaluation

Investigation of a Palbociclib and Naringin Co-Amorphous System to Ameliorate Anticancer Potential: Insights on In Silico Modeling, Physicochemical Characterization, Ex Vivo Permeation, and In Vitro Efficacy

Palbociclib (PCB), categorized as a BCS class II drug, is characterized by low aqueous solubility. The drug's limited aqueous solubility and poor dissolution rate pose significant challenges, potentially affecting its absorption and overall therapeutic efficacy. Co-amorphous (CAM) systems have been extensively investigated as a potential solution to overcome the issue of poor water solubility in numerous active pharmaceutical ingredients. This research study hypothesized that the coamorphization process involving the compounds PCB and naringin (NG) would lead to an increase in the aqueous solubility of PCB. Additionally, it was proposed that this process would also enhance the anticancer impact of PCB since NG is recognized for its pharmacological impact on breast cancer cells. In silico studies, it was revealed that PCB could interact with NG via hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, the prepared CAM (PCB-NG-CAM) system using PCB and NG was characterized by PXRD, DSC, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, and SEM. PCB-NG-CAM exhibited a significant increase in solubility, dissolution rate, and intestinal permeation compared to crystalline PCB. Furthermore, PCB-NG-CAM exhibited excellent physical stability at 40 °C/75% RH for up to 3 months. In addition, PCB-NG-CAM showed superior in vitro efficacy on MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. PCB-NG-CAM resulted in a 2.24 times higher apoptosis rate and a 1.6 times greater ROS production than free PCB. Additionally, the inhibitory effect on cell migration and alterations in MMP was more pronounced in cells treated with PCB-NG-CAM. Therefore, this study indicated that PCB-NG-CAM has the potential to significantly improve the oral administration, solubility, and therapeutic efficacy of PCB.

Enhancing the Solubility and Dissolution of Apigenin: Solid Dispersions Approach

Apigenin (APG), a bioactive flavonoid with promising therapeutic potential, suffers from poor water solubility, which limits its bioavailability. To address this, solid dispersions of APG were prepared using ball milling with sodium alginate (SA), Pluronic® F-68 (PLU68), Pluronic® F-127 (PLU127), PVP K30, and PVP VA64 as polymeric excipients. These dispersions were screened for apparent solubility in water and buffers with pH 1.2, 5.5, and 6.8. Based on improved solubility after 60 min, APG-PLU68 and APG-PLU127 dispersions were selected for further study. DSC and FT-IR analysis confirmed molecular interactions between APG and the polymer matrices, contributing to enhanced solubility and dissolution rates. Dissolution rate studies showed that APG-PLU127 achieved 100% solubility at pH 6.8, suggesting its potential use in environments such as the small intestine. Additionally, APG-PLU127 exhibited 84.3% solubility at pH 1.2, indicating potential for solid oral dosage forms, where APG could be absorbed in the acidic conditions of the stomach. The stability study confirmed that storage for one year under ambient conditions does not cause chemical degradation but affects the physical state and solubility of the dispersion. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the ABTS assay. Freshly obtained APG-PLU127 showed 68.1% ± 1.94% activity, whereas APG-PLU127 stored for one year under ambient conditions exhibited 66.2% ± 1.62% (significant difference, p < 0.05). The difference was related to a slight decrease in the solubility of APG in the solid dispersion (T0 = 252 ± 1 μg∙mL-1, T1 = 246 ± 1 μg∙mL-1). The findings demonstrate the superior performance of PLU127 as a carrier for enhancing the solubility, release, and antioxidant activity of APG.

Co-amorphous systems of sulfasalazine with matrine-type alkaloids: Enhanced solubility behaviors and synergistic therapeutic potential

Sulfasalazine (SULF), a sulfonamide antibiotic, has been utilized in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) since its discovery. However, its poor water solubility causes the high daily doses (1---3 g) for patients, which may lead to the intolerable toxic and side effects for their lifelong treatment for RA and IBD. In this work, two water-soluble natural anti-inflammatory alkaloids, matrine (MAR) and sophoridine (SPD), were employed to construct the co-amorphous systems of SULF for addressing its solubility issue. These newly obtained co-amorphous forms of SULF were comprehensively characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (mDSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We also investigated their dissolution behavior, including powder dissolution, in vitro release, and intrinsic dissolution rate. Both co-amorphous systems exhibited superior dissolution performance compared to crystalline SULF. The underlying mechanism responsible for the enhanced dissolution behaviors in co-amorphous systems were also elucidated. These mechanisms include the inhibition of nucleation, complexation, increased hydrophilicity, and robust intermolecular interactions in aqueous solutions. Importantly, these co-amorphous systems demonstrated satisfactory physical stability under various storage conditions. Network pharmacological analysis was utilized to investigate the potential therapeutic targets of both co-amorphous systems against RA, revealing similar yet distinct multi-target synergistic therapeutic mechanisms in the treatment of this condition. Our study suggests these drug-drug co-amorphous systems hold promise for optimizing SULF dosage in the future and providing a potential drug combination strategy.

Recent advances in dual-drug co-amorphous systems

Poor solubility of drugs and therapeutic candidates poses a significant challenge in drug research and development. Biopharmaceutical class II drugs exhibit limited absorption because of their weak solubility and high permeability. Co-amorphous systems (CAMs) have been studied widely as a way to improve the solubility of drugs. This review summarizes recent advancements in dual-drug CAMs, including improvements in formulation, manufacturing, and solid-state characterization, and highlights the importance of enhancing solubility and stability. It emphasizes the potential synergistic effects of two drugs in CAMs and explores formulation strategies and challenges related to maintaining the amorphous state. Case studies demonstrate the successful application of CAMs in combination therapies that offer improved therapeutic efficacy.