The Effect of the Molecular Weight of Polyvinylpyrrolidone and the Model Drug on Laser-Induced in Situ Amorphization

Laser radiation has been shown to be a promising approach for in situ amorphization, i.e., drug amorphization inside the final dosage form. Upon exposure to laser radiation, elevated temperatures in the compacts are obtained. At temperatures above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer, the drug dissolves into the mobile polymer. Hence, the dissolution kinetics are dependent on the viscosity of the polymer, indirectly determined by the molecular weight (Mw) of the polymer, the solubility of the drug in the polymer, the particle size of the drug and the molecular size of the drug. Using compacts containing 30 wt% of the drug celecoxib (CCX), 69.25 wt% of three different Mw of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP: PVP12, PVP17 or PVP25), 0.25 wt% plasmonic nanoaggregates (PNs) and 0.5 wt% lubricant, the effect of the polymer Mw on the dissolution kinetics upon exposure to laser radiation was investigated. Furthermore, the effect of the model drug on the dissolution kinetics was investigated using compacts containing 30 wt% of three different drugs (CCX, indomethacin (IND) and naproxen (NAP)), 69.25 wt% PVP12, 0.25 wt% PN and 0.5 wt% lubricant. In perfect correlation to the Noyes–Whitney equation, this study showed that the use of PVP with the lowest viscosity, i.e., the lowest Mw (here PVP12), led to the fastest rate of amorphization compared to PVP17 and PVP25. Furthermore, NAP showed the fastest rate of amorphization, followed by IND and CCX in PVP12 due to its high solubility and small molecular size.

The Influence of Drug–Polymer Solubility on Laser-Induced In Situ Drug Amorphization Using Photothermal Plasmonic Nanoparticles

In this study, laser-induced in situ amorphization (i.e., amorphization inside the final dosage form) of the model drug celecoxib (CCX) with six different polymers was investigated. The drug–polymer combinations were studied with regard to the influence of (i) the physicochemical properties of the polymer, e.g., the glass transition temperature (Tg) and (ii) the drug–polymer solubility on the rate and degree of in situ drug amorphization. Compacts were prepared containing 30 wt% CCX, 69.25 wt% polymer, 0.5 wt% lubricant, and 0.25 wt% plasmonic nanoparticles (PNs) and exposed to near-infrared laser radiation. Upon exposure to laser radiation, the PNs generated heat, which allowed drug dissolution into the polymer at temperatures above its Tg, yielding an amorphous solid dispersion. It was found that in situ drug amorphization was possible for drug–polymer combinations, where the temperature reached during exposure to laser radiation was above the onset temperature for a dissolution process of the drug into the polymer, i.e. TDStart. The findings of this study showed that the concept of laser-induced in situ drug amorphization is applicable to a range of polymers if the drug is soluble in the polymer and temperatures during the process are above TDStart.

FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF A THIRD COMPONENT USED IN TERNARY SOLID DISPERSION: A REVIEW

Ternary solid dispersion (TSD) is one of the promising approaches used in recent studies to address the issues encountered by poorly water-soluble drugs. The binary solid dispersion (BSD) with the drug and the single polymer is not sufficient to satisfy all the criteria such as improved solubility, dissolution, stability, supersaturation, and recrystallization inhibition. Hence, the TSD with the third component/ternary agent aids in overcoming the limitations, thereby enhancing the solubility and bioavailability to a greater extent when compared to the BSD. Excipients that can be used as a third component includes surfactants, pH modulator, polymer and adsorbents. All these excipients have distinct benefits in improving the efficiency of the final dosage form. However, care must be taken in selecting suitable excipients for the research. This review highlights the impact of these excipients in improving the formulation complications and the therapeutic potential of the TSD.

Drug Nanocrystals: A Comprehensive Review with Current Regulatory Guidelines

Drug nanocrystals offer an attractive approach for improving the solubility and dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs which accounts for nearly 40 % newly discovered drug molecules. Both methods for manufacturing drug nanocrystals have high industrial acceptability for being simple and easy to scale which is evident from the number of approved products available in the market. Ability to modify multiple aspects of dosage form like bioavailability, release pattern and dosage form requirement along with flexibility in choosing final dosage form starting from the tablet, capsule, suspension to parenteral one, have made nanocrystal technology one of the very promising and adaptable technology for dosage form design.

Establishment of blending control for Hand operated Double Cone Blender

In the current study, a fundamental approach is used to establish operation procedure, for a hand operated double cone blender. Initially, assuming for a potent drug, where in, the strength of the drug is very less in the final dosage form, a one percent concentration of potassium permanganate with respect to final one kilogram of blended powder using starch as diluent was planned. With a kind of geometric progression method, at a rate of 10 rotations per minute, the final outcome of the uniform distribution of the potassium permanganate was found to be for at least for fourteen hours of rotations, leading to concentration range of potassium permanganate 0.08 ± 0.025 mg per mg of final blended powder.