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Qiang W, Zhang M, Löbmann K, McCoy CP, Andrews GP, Zhao M. Use of solid thermolytic salts to facilitate microwave-induced in situ amorphization. Int J Pharm 2024; 651:123791. [PMID: 38195031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.123791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Moisture was frequently used as dielectric heating source in classical microwave-able systems to facilitate microwave-induced in situ amorphization, however such systems may face the potential of drug hydrolysis. In this study, solid thermolytic salts were proposed to function as moisture substitutes and their feasibility and impacts on microwave-induced in situ amorphization were investigated. It was found that NH4HCO3 was a promising solid alkaline salt to facilitate both microwave-induced in situ amorphization and in situ salt formation of acidic indomethacin (IND). Moreover, it could improve the chemical stability of the drug and the dissolution performance of compacts relative to classical moisture-based compacts upon microwaving. Further mechanistic study suggested that the in situ amorphization occurred prior to the in situ salt formation, especially in formulations with low drug loadings and high solid salt mass ratios. For compacts with low polymer ratios, in situ salt formation took place subsequently, where the previously amorphized IND within compacts could interact with the NH3 gas produced in situ by the decomposition of NH4HCO3 and form the ammonium IND salt. Microwaving time showed great impacts on the decomposition of NH4HCO3 and the in situ generation of water and NH3, which indirectly affected the amorphization and salt formation of IND. In comparison to the moisture-based systems, the NH4HCO3-based system showed a number of advantages, including the reduced potential of IND hydrolysis due to the absence of absorbed moisture, a wider category of applicable polymeric carriers other than hygroscopic polymers, and an increase in drug loading up to 50% (w/w).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Qiang
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; Life Quality Engineering Interest Group, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Korbinian Löbmann
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Colin P McCoy
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Gavin P Andrews
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Min Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; China Medical University- Queen's University Belfast Joint College (CQC), China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China.
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Qiang W, Löbmann K, McCoy CP, Andrews GP, Zhao M. The effects of surfactants on the performance of polymer-based microwave-induced in situ amorphization. Int J Pharm 2022; 630:122426. [PMID: 36427697 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Microwave-induced in situ amorphization is a novel technology for preparing amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) to address the challenges of their long-term physical stability and downstream processing. To date, only few types of dielectric materials have been reported for microwave-induced in situ amorphization, which restricted the extensive research of this technology. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and mechanisms of utilizing the non-ionic surfactants, i.e. Kollisolv P124, Kolliphor RH40, D-ɑ-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS), Tween (T) 60 (T60), T65, T80 and T85, as plasticizers to facilitate microwave-induced in situ amorphization. It was found that the successful application of surfactants could be related with their low Tm, low Mw and high HLB. Kolliphor RH40 was selected as a typical surfactant due to its excellent dielectric heating ability, plasticizing effect and solubilizing effect when facilitating amorphization. Then, the dissolution-mediated in situ amorphization mechanism was investigated and intuitively demonstrated. For the most promising formulation, i.e. microwaved systems with Korlliphor RH40 at 1.5 (w/w) plasticizer/polymer ratio, a complete and fast in vitro dissolution was observed relative to the untreated systems. In conclusion, non-ionic surfactants had the potential to facilitate microwave-induced in situ amorphization, which provided a new direction in the formulation designation for microwave-able systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Qiang
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Korbinian Löbmann
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Colin P McCoy
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Gavin P Andrews
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; China Medical University- Queen's University Belfast Joint College (CQC), China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China
| | - Min Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; China Medical University- Queen's University Belfast Joint College (CQC), China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, China.
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Hempel NJ, Knopp MM, Zeitler JA, Berthelsen R, Löbmann K. Microwave-Induced in Situ Drug Amorphization Using a Mixture of Polyethylene Glycol and Polyvinylpyrrolidone. J Pharm Sci 2021; 110:3221-3229. [PMID: 34022194 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2021.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The use of a mixture of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was investigated for microwave-induced in situ amorphization of celecoxib (CCX) inside compacts. Such amorphization requires the presence of a dipolar excipient in the formulation to ensure heating of the compact by absorption of the microwaves. Previously, the hygroscopic nature of PVP was exploited for this purpose. By exposing PVP-based compacts for set time intervals at defined relative humidity, controlled water sorption into the compacts was achieved. In the present study, PEG was proposed as the microwave absorbing excipient instead of water, to avoid the water sorption step. However, it was found that PEG alone melted upon exposure to microwave radiation and caused the compact to deform. Furthermore, CCX was found to recrystallize upon cooling in PEG-based formulations. Hence, a mixture of PEG and PVP was used, where the presence of PVP preserved the physical shape of the compact, and the physical state of the amorphous solid dispersion. To study the impact of the polymer mixture, different compact compositions of CCX, PEG and PVP were prepared. When exposing the compacts to microwave radiation, it was found that the PEG:PVP ratio was critical for in situ amorphization and that complete amorphization was only achieved above a certain temperature threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - J Axel Zeitler
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Ragna Berthelsen
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Korbinian Löbmann
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Hempel NJ, Morsch F, Knopp MM, Berthelsen R, Löbmann K. The Use of Glycerol as an Enabling Excipient for Microwave-Induced In Situ Drug Amorphization. J Pharm Sci 2020; 110:155-163. [PMID: 33058897 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2020.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Microwave-induced in situ amorphization is a promising approach to circumvent stability and manufacturing issues associated with amorphous solid dispersions (ASD). Using in situ amorphization, the crystalline state of the drug is converted into its amorphous form inside the dosage form, e.g. a compact, upon exposure to microwave radiation. The study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using glycerol as an enabling excipient in compacts prepared from mixtures of indomethacin and Soluplus®. Additionally, the possibility to form a supersaturated ASD upon exposure to microwave radiation due to elevated temperatures was investigated. It was found that glycerol i) acts as a dielectric heating source absorbing the microwaves, ii) plasticizes the polymer Soluplus® and iii) increases the solubility of the drug indomethacin in the polymer Soluplus®. Additionally, it was found that fully amorphous ASDs could be achieved with drug loadings below -, and slightly above the saturation solubility of indomethacin in the Soluplus®/glycerol mixtures, after exposure to 20 min of microwave radiation. Hence, glycerol was a feasible excipient for the microwave-induced in situ amorphization and allowed the preparation of a, at room temperature, supersaturated ASD, due to the elevated temperatures obtained during exposure to microwave radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Flemming Morsch
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ragna Berthelsen
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Korbinian Löbmann
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Hempel NJ, Knopp MM, Berthelsen R, Zeitler JA, Löbmann K. The influence of drug and polymer particle size on the in situ amorphization using microwave irradiation. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2020; 149:77-84. [PMID: 32035238 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the impact of drug and polymer particle size on the in situ amorphization using microwave irradiation at a frequency of 2.45 GHz were investigated. Using ball milling and sieve fractioning, the crystalline drug celecoxib (CCX) and the polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were divided into two particle size fractions, i.e. small (<71 µm) and large (>71 µm) particles. Subsequently, compacts containing a drug load of 30% (w/w) crystalline CCX in PVP were prepared and subjected to microwave radiation for an accumulated duration of 600 sec in intervals of 60 sec as well as continuously for 600 sec. It was found that the compacts containing small CCX particles displayed faster rates of amorphization and a higher degree of amorphization during microwave irradiation as compared to the compacts containing large CCX particles. For compacts with small CCX particles, interval exposure to microwave radiation resulted in a maximum degree of amorphization of 24%, whilst a fully amorphous solid dispersion (100%) was achieved after 600 sec of continuous exposure to microwave radiation. By monitoring the temperature in the core of the compacts during exposure to microwave radiation using a fiber optic temperature probe, it was found that the total exposure time above the glass transition temperature (Tg) was shorter for the interval exposure method compared to continuous exposure to microwave radiation. Therefore, it is proposed that the in situ formation of an amorphous solid dispersion is governed by the dissolution of drug into the polymer, which most likely is accelerated above the Tg of the compacts. Hence, prolonging the exposure time above the Tg, and increasing the surface area of the drug by particle size reduction will increase the dissolution rate and thus, rate and degree of amorphization of CCX during exposure to microwave radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ragna Berthelsen
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J Axel Zeitler
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3RA, UK
| | - Korbinian Löbmann
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Doreth M, Löbmann K, Priemel P, Grohganz H, Taylor R, Holm R, Lopez de Diego H, Rades T. Influence of PVP molecular weight on the microwave assisted in situ amorphization of indomethacin. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2017; 122:62-69. [PMID: 28986296 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In situ amorphization is an approach that enables a phase transition of a crystalline drug to its amorphous form immediately prior to administration. In this study, three different polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP K12, K17 and K25) were selected to investigate the influence of the molecular weight of the polymer on the degree of amorphization of the model drug indomethacin (IND) upon microwaving. Powder mixtures of crystalline IND and the respective PVP were compacted at 1:2 (w/w) IND:PVP ratios, stored at 54% RH and subsequently microwaved with a total energy input of 90 or 180kJ. After storage, all compacts had a similar moisture content (∼10% (w/w)). Upon microwaving with an energy input of 180kJ, 58±4% of IND in IND:PVP K12 compacts was amorphized, whereas 31±8% of IND was amorphized by an energy input of 90kJ. The drug stayed fully crystalline in all IND:PVP K17 and IND:PVP K25 compacts. After plasticization by moisture, PVP K12 reached a Tg below ambient temperature (16±2°C) indicating that the Tg of the plasticized polymer is a key factor for the success of in situ amorphization. DSC analysis showed that the amorphized drug was part of a ternary glass solution consisting of IND, PVP K12 and water. In dissolution tests, IND:PVP K12 compacts showed a delayed initial drug release due to a lack of compact disintegration, but reached a higher total drug release eventually. In summary, this study showed that the microwave assisted in situ amorphization was highly dependent on the Tg of the plasticized polymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Doreth
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Korbinian Löbmann
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Petra Priemel
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Holger Grohganz
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Robert Taylor
- Sirius Analytical Instruments Ltd., Station Rd, Forest Row RH18 5DW, United Kingdom.
| | - René Holm
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Drug Product Development, Janssen Research and Development, Johnson & Johnson, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium.
| | - Heidi Lopez de Diego
- Analytical Development & Compliance, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500 Valby, Denmark.
| | - Thomas Rades
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
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