Design of spray dried ternary solid dispersions comprising itraconazole, soluplus and HPMCP: Effect of constituent compositions.

A range of 17 ternary formulations of itraconazole (ITZ), HPMCP and Soluplus have been manufactured using spray drying. These amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) were very stable against crystallisation and ITZ was found to be amorphous in all formulations after one year at 40°C/75% RH. A number of solid state analytical techniques including PXRD, DSC, small angle X-ray scattering, FTIR and solid state NMR were used to characterise the physicochemical properties of the ASDs following processing and storage and to assess any interactions between components. Microtrac laser scattering analysis revealed a relationship between polymer levels and particle size distribution (PSD). Dissolution studies indicated that higher Soluplus content in the formulation resulted in higher concentrations of ITZ in acidic media.

Davis MT ，Potter CB ，Mohammadpour M ，Albadarin AB ，Walker GM ... -  《-》

Development of stability-enhanced ternary solid dispersions via combinations of HPMCP and Soluplus(®) processed by hot melt extrusion.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel combination of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP-HP-50) and Soluplus® polymers for enhanced physicochemical stability and solubility of the produced amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs). This was achieved using hot melt extrusion (HME) to convert the crystalline active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) into a more soluble amorphous form within the ternary systems. Itraconazole (ITZ), a Biopharmaceutics Classification System class II (BCS II) API, was selected as the model drug. The ASDs were characterized by Powder X-Ray diffraction (PXRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssNMR) and dissolution studies. The data showed that the ASDs were physically and chemically stable at 20°C and 50% RH over 12 months. PXRD results indicated that the ITZ in the ASDs was in the amorphous state and no recrystallization occurred. DSC scans confirmed that each formulation exhibited a single intermediate glass transition (Tg), around 96.4°C, indicating that ITZ was completely miscible in the polymeric blends of HPMCP and Soluplus® at up to 30% (w/w) drug loading and that the two polymers were miscible with each other in the presence of ITZ. The FTIR analysis indicated the formation of strong hydrogen bonding between ITZ, HPMCP and Soluplus®. The dissolution end-point of the ASDs was determined to be approximately 10 times greater than that of the crystalline ITZ.

Albadarin AB ，Potter CB ，Davis MT ，Iqbal J ，Korde S ，Pagire S ，Paradkar A ，Walker G ... -  《-》

Increased dissolution and oral absorption of itraconazole/Soluplus extrudate compared with itraconazole nanosuspension.

The purpose of this article was to compare the in vitro and in vivo profiles of itraconazole (ITZ) extrudates and nanosuspension separately prepared by two different methods. And it was proved truly to form nanocrystalline and amorphous ITZ characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The release of ITZ/Soluplus solid dispersions with amorphous ITZ was almost complete while only 40% release was obtained with ITZ nanocrystals. The amorphous state need not to cross over the crystal lattice energy upon dissolution while the crystalline need to overcome it. In the in vivo assay, the AUC(0-t) and C(max) of ITZ/Soluplus were 6.9- and 11.6-time higher than those of pure ITZ. The formulation of the extrudate had an AUC(0-t) and C(max) similar to those of ITZ and also OH-ITZ compared with the commercial capsule (Sporanox®). The relative bioavailability values with their 95% confidence limit were calculated to be 98.3% (92.5-104.1%) and 101.3% (97.9-104.1%), respectively. The results of this study showed increased dissolution and bioavailability of the solid dispersion of Soluplus-based carrier loading ITZ prepared by HME compared with the ITZ nanosuspension prepared by wet milling.

Zhang K ，Yu H ，Luo Q ，Yang S ，Lin X ，Zhang Y ，Tian B ，Tang X ... -  《-》

Solid dispersions of itraconazole for inhalation with enhanced dissolution, solubility and dispersion properties.

The purpose of this study was to produce a dry powder for inhalation (DPI) of a poorly soluble active ingredient (itraconazole: ITZ) that would present an improved dissolution rate and enhanced solubility with good aerosolization properties. Solid dispersions of amorphous ITZ, mannitol and, when applicable, D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) were produced by spray-drying hydro-alcoholic solutions in which all agents were dissolved. These dry formulations were characterized in terms of their aerosol performances and their dissolution, solubility and physical properties. Modulate differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction analyses showed that ITZ recovered from the different spray-dried solutions was in an amorphous state and that mannitol was crystalline. The inlet drying temperature and, indirectly, the outlet temperature selected during the spray-drying were critical parameters. The outlet temperature should be below the ITZ glass transition temperature to avoid severe particle agglomeration. The formation of a solid dispersion between amorphous ITZ and mannitol allowed the dry powder to be produced with an improved dissolution rate, greater saturation solubility than bulk ITZ and good aerosol properties. The use of a polymeric surfactant (such as TPGS) was beneficial in terms of dissolution rate acceleration and solubility enhancement, but it also reduced aerosol performance. For example, significant dissolution rate acceleration (f(2)<50) and greater saturation solubility were obtained when introducing 1% (w/w) TPGS (mean dissolution time dropped from 50.4 min to 36.9 min and saturation solubility increased from 20 ± 3 ng/ml to 46 ± 2 ng/ml). However, the fine particle fraction dropped from 47 ± 2% to 37.2 ± 0.4%. This study showed that mannitol solid dispersions may provide an effective formulation type for producing DPIs of poorly soluble active ingredients, as exemplified by ITZ.

Duret C ，Wauthoz N ，Sebti T ，Vanderbist F ，Amighi K ... -  《-》

Spray drying ternary amorphous solid dispersions of ibuprofen - An investigation into critical formulation and processing parameters.

A design of experiment (DoE) approach was used to investigate the critical formulation and processing parameters in spray drying ternary amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) of ibuprofen. A range of 16 formulations of ibuprofen, HPMCP-HP55 and Kollidon VA 64 were spray dried. Statistical analysis revealed the interrelation of various spray drying process conditions and formulation factors, namely solution feed rate, inlet temperature, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)/excipients ratio and dichloromethane (DCM)/methanol (MeOH) ratio. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD) showed that all the samples with the lowest API/excipient ratio (1:4) were amorphous, while others were crystalline. Moreover, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis was employed to investigate ASD formulation more in-depth. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) of all ASDs were in the range 70-79°C, while crystalline formulations displayed an endothermic peak of melting of crystalline ibuprofen in the range of 50-80°C. The high Tg of ASDs was an indication of highly stable ASD formulations as verified via PXRD at zero day and afterward at 1, 1.5, 3 and 6month intervals. The intermolecular interactions between ibuprofen molecule and excipients were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy. FTIR and Carbon-13 ssNMR analysis indicated that hydrogen bond formation involving the carboxyl group in ibuprofen within the ASDs is likely. More importantly, the solubility of ibuprofen in ASD formulations is improved compared to pure ibuprofen. This was due to both the amorphous structure of ibuprofen and of the existence of amphiphilic excipient, Kollidon VA 64, in the formulation.

Ziaee A ，Albadarin AB ，Padrela L ，Faucher A ，O'Reilly E ，Walker G ... -  《-》