Preparation of a novel lipid-core micelle using a low-energy emulsification method.

High-energy methods for the manufacturing of nanomedicines are widely used; however, interest in low-energy methods is increasing due to their simplicity, better control over the process, and energy-saving characteristics during upscaling. Here, we developed a novel lipid-core micelle (LCM) as a nanocarrier to encapsulate a poorly water-soluble drug, nifedipine (NFD), by hot-melt emulsification, a low-energy method. LCMs are self-assembling colloidal particles composed of a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic shell.

Dry powder inhalers: An overview of the in vitro dissolution methodologies and their correlation with the biopharmaceutical aspects of the drug products.

In vitro dissolution testing is routinely used in the development of pharmaceutical products. Whilst the dissolution testing methods are well established and standardized for oral dosage forms, i.e.

Experimental cocrystal screening and solution based scale-up cocrystallization methods.

Cocrystals are crystalline single phase materials composed of two or more different molecular and/or ionic compounds generally in a stoichiometric ratio which are neither solvates nor simple salts. If one of the components is an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), the term pharmaceutical cocrystal is often used. There is a growing interest among drug development scientists in exploring cocrystals, as means to address physicochemical, biopharmaceutical and mechanical properties and expand solid form diversity of the API.

Experimental Studies and Modeling of the Drying Kinetics of Multicomponent Polymer Films.

The process of drying thin polymer films is an important operation that influences the film structure and solid state, and the stability of the product. The purpose of this work was to study and model the drying kinetics of multicomponent films based on two polymers: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC, amorphous) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, semicrystalline). The isothermal drying kinetics of the films at different temperatures (40, 60, and 80°C) were studied using thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and convection oven methods.

Relationship between mechanical properties and crystal structure in cocrystals and salt of paracetamol.

Objectives were to study mechanical properties of various solid forms of paracetamol and relate to their crystal structures. Paracetamol form I (PRA), its cocrystals with oxalic acid (PRA-OXA) and 4,4-bipyridine (PRA-BPY) and hydrochloride salt (PRA-HCL) were selected. Cocrystals and salt were scaled-up using rational crystallization methods.

Design of salmon calcitonin particles for nasal delivery using spray-drying and novel supercritical fluid-assisted spray-drying processes.

The overall aim of this study was to prepare a nasal powder formulation of salmon calcitonin (sCT) using an absorption enhancer to improve its bioavailability. In this work, powder formulations for nasal delivery of sCT were studied using various absorption enhancers and stabilizers. Powders were prepared by two different methods: conventional spray-drying (SD) and novel supercritical fluid-assisted spray-drying (SASD) to investigate the role of CO2 in the particle formation process.

Exploiting the Synergy of Powder X-ray Diffraction and Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy in Structure Determination of Organic Molecular Solids.

We report a strategy for structure determination of organic materials in which complete solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral data is utilized within the context of structure determination from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. Following determination of the crystal structure from powder XRD data, first-principles density functional theory-based techniques within the GIPAW approach are exploited to calculate the solid-state NMR data for the structure, followed by careful scrutiny of the agreement with experimental solid-state NMR data. The successful application of this approach is demonstrated by structure determination of the 1:1 cocrystal of indomethacin and nicotinamide.

Theophylline cocrystals prepared by spray drying: physicochemical properties and aerosolization performance.

The purpose of this work was to characterize theophylline (THF) cocrystals prepared by spray drying in terms of the physicochemical properties and inhalation performance when aerosolized from a dry powder inhaler. Cocrystals of theophylline with urea (THF-URE), saccharin (THF-SAC) and nicotinamide (THF-NIC) were prepared by spray drying. Milled THF and THF-SAC cocrystals were also used for comparison.

Identifying the intermolecular hydrogen-bonding supramolecular synthons in an indomethacin-nicotinamide cocrystal by solid-state NMR.

Two-dimensional (1)H double-quantum and (14)N-(1)H & (1)H-(13)C heteronuclear magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra recorded at natural isotopic abundance identify specific intermolecular COOH···N(arom) and CH(arom)···O=C hydrogen-bonding interactions in the solid-state structure of an indomethacin-nicotinamide cocrystal, thus additionally proving cocrystal formation.

pH-dependent solubility of indomethacin-saccharin and carbamazepine-saccharin cocrystals in aqueous media.

Cocrystals constitute an important class of pharmaceutical solids for their remarkable ability to modulate solubility and pH dependence of water insoluble drugs. Here we show how cocrystals of indomethacin-saccharin (IND-SAC) and carbamazepine-saccharin (CBZ-SAC) enhance solubility and impart a pH-sensitivity different from that of the drugs. IND-SAC exhibited solubilities 13 to 65 times higher than IND at pH values of 1 to 3, whereas CBZ-SAC exhibited a 2 to 10 times higher solubility than CBZ dihydrate.

Vibrational spectroscopic investigation of polymorphs and cocrystals of indomethacin.

Context: Identification of optimal solid form of an active pharmaceutical ingredient and form control are very important in drug development. Thus, the structural information of these forms and in-depth insight on the modes of molecular interactions are necessary, and vibrational spectroscopic methods are well suited for this purpose.

Objective: In-depth structural analysis of different solid forms of indomethacin (IND) using Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy is the objective.

Powder X-ray diffraction method for the quantification of cocrystals in the crystallization mixture.

Context: The solid state purity of cocrystals critically affects their performance. Thus, it is important to accurately quantify the purity of cocrystals in the final crystallization product.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) quantification method for investigating the purity of cocrystals.

Effect of carrier particle shape on dry powder inhaler performance.

The aim of this study was to characterise the aerosolisation properties of salbutamol sulphate (SS) from dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations containing different carrier products. The difference in the elongation ratio (ER) of the different carriers was highlighted. Different set of carriers, namely commercial mannitol (CM), commercial lactose (CL), cooling crystallised mannitol (CCM), acetone crystallised mannitol (ACM) and ethanol crystallised mannitol (ECM) were used and inspected in terms of size, shape, density, crystal form, flowability, and in vitro aerosolisation performance using Multi Stage Liquid Impinger (MSLI) and Aerolizer inhaler device.

Surface thermodynamics of mucoadhesive dry powder formulation of zolmitriptan.

Microparticle powders for nasal delivery were formulated to contain the model drug, zolmitriptan, and varying proportions of different polymers. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of these formulative parameters on the surface chemistry of the spray-dried microparticles and their potential for adhesion to the tested substrates, porcine mucin, and nasal tissue. The polymers used were chitosans of varying ionization states and molecular weights and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.

Hansen solubility parameter as a tool to predict cocrystal formation.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the miscibility of a drug and coformer, as predicted by Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs), can indicate cocrystal formation and guide cocrystal screening. It was also our aim to evaluate various HSPs-based approaches in miscibility prediction. HSPs for indomethacin (the model drug) and over thirty coformers were calculated according to the group contribution method.

Bioavailability of indomethacin-saccharin cocrystals.

Objectives: Pharmaceutical cocrystals are new solid forms with physicochemical properties that appear promising for drug product development. However, the in-vivo bioavailability of cocrystals has rarely been addressed. The cocrystal of indomethacin (IND), a Biopharmaceutical Classification System class II drug, with saccharin (SAC) has been shown to have higher solubility than IND at all pH.

Polymorphism in acesulfame sweetener: structure-property and stability relationships of bending and brittle crystals.

Acesulfame is found to exist in two crystalline forms of which Form I (needles) shows bending upon mechanical stress. Crystal structures explain their mechanical response. This is the first case of aliphatic organic compounds featuring a bending phenomenon.

Preparation of zolmitriptan-chitosan microparticles by spray drying for nasal delivery.

The objective of this study was to use spray drying to prepare mucoadhesive dry powders of the antimigraine drug, zolmitriptan, in combination with the natural polymer, chitosan, for nasal administration. The effect of type, molecular weight, and proportion of chitosan on the powder and particle characteristics was also studied. Solutions containing different proportions of chitosans were prepared and spray dried.

Formation of indomethacin-saccharin cocrystals using supercritical fluid technology.

The main objective of the present work is to check the feasibility of supercritical fluid (SCF) technologies in the screening and design of cocrystals (novel crystalline solids). The cocrystal formation tendencies in three different SCF techniques, focusing on distinct supercritical fluid properties - solvent, anti-solvent and atomization enhancer - were investigated. The effect of processing parameters on the cocrystal formation behaviour and particle properties in these techniques was also studied.

Monohydrous dihydrogen phosphate salts of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin.

Norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin crystallize with phosphoric acid in aqueous solution to give the salts 4-(3-carboxy-1-ethyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-7-quinolyl)piperazinium dihydrogenphosphate monohydrate, C16H19FN3O3(+) x H2PO4(-) x H2O, and 4-(3-carboxy-1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-7-quinolyl)piperazinium dihydrogenphosphate monohydrate, C17H19FN3O3(+) x H2PO4(-) x H2O, respectively. In the crystal structures, the phosphate anions and the piperazine rings of norfloxacin or ciprofloxacin form a 12-membered supramolecular synthon, viz. R4(4)(12).

Hydrogen-bonding interactions in the 4-aminobenzoic acid salt of atenolol monohydrate.

Atenolol {or 4-[2-hydroxy-3-(isopropylamino)propoxy]phenylacetamide} crystallizes with 4-aminobenzoic acid to give the salt {3-[4-(aminocarbonylmethyl)phenoxy]-2-hydroxypropyl}isopropylammonium 4-aminobenzoate monohydrate, C14H23N2O3(+) x C7H6NO2(-) x H2O. In the crystal structure, the water molecule, the carboxylate group of 4-aminobenzoate, and the hydroxy and ether O atoms of atenolol form a supramolecular R3(3) (11) heterosynthon. Three other types of supramolecular synthons link the asymmetric unit into a two-dimensional structure.

Indomethacin-saccharin cocrystal: design, synthesis and preliminary pharmaceutical characterization.

Purpose: To design and prepare cocrystals of indomethacin using crystal engineering approaches, with the ultimate objective of improving the physical properties of indomethacin, especially solubility and dissolution rate.

Materials And Methods: Various cocrystal formers, including saccharin, were used in endeavours to obtain indomethacin cocrystals by slow evaporation from a series of solvents. The melting point of crystalline phases was determined.

Stability and aerodynamic behaviour of glucocorticoid particles prepared by a supercritical fluids process.

Particle processing techniques using supercritical fluids (SF) are potential alternative technologies to design particles for inhalation. Powders of budesonide and flunisolide were prepared using solution enhanced dispersion by supercritical fluids (SEDS) process. The aim was to determine thermodynamic stability of different polymorphs of flunisolide including new forms from SEDS technology and to characterise micronised and SEDS produced powders of budesonide and flunisolide for their suitability as inhalation powders.

Supercritical fluids crystallization of budesonide and flunisolide.

Purpose: Budesonide and flunisolide anhydrate were crystallized using the solution enhanced dispersion by supercritical fluids (SEDS) technique. The aim was to investigate the possibility of preparing different pure polymorphs.

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Preparation and characterisation of hydrocortisone particles using a supercritical fluids extraction process.

Crystallisation and subsequent milling of pharmaceutical powders by traditional methods often cause variations in physicochemical properties thereby influencing bioavailability of the formulation. Crystallisation of drug substances using supercritical fluids (SFs) offers some advantages over existing traditional methods in controlling particle characteristics. The novel particle formation method, solution enhanced dispersion by supercritical (SEDS) fluids was used for the preparation of hydrocortisone (HC) particles.