Excipient crystallization

Moisture was known to increase the mobility of the surface groups of protein as measured by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy The distribution of water between the protein and the excipients in a freeze-dried powder depends on the crystalline or amorphous nature of the excipients. For example, if a protein is formulated with an amorphous excipient and stored in a sealed container, water would distribute according to the water affinity of the protein and excipients.When the amorphous excipient crystallizes (e.g., because of elevated temperatures), it will expel its sorbed water, which may cause stability problems in the protein. ... 

Instability attributable to excipient-mediated water distribution in solids and powders has been explained by excipient physical properties. " Crystalline materials will not uptake moisture until the deliquescent point is reached. In contrast, amorphous excipients will absorb water until their glass transition temperatures fall below the ambient temperature when the mobility of the molecules has increased so much that excipient crystallization will occur to expel the absorbed water from the crystal lattice. Before crystal-... 

The sample temperature is increased in a linear fashion, while the property in question is evaluated on a continuous basis. These methods are used to characterize compound purity, polymorphism, solvation, degradation, and excipient compatibility [41], Thermal analysis methods are normally used to monitor endothermic processes (melting, boiling, sublimation, vaporization, desolvation, solid-solid phase transitions, and chemical degradation) as well as exothermic processes (crystallization and oxidative decomposition). Thermal methods can be extremely useful in preformulation studies, since the carefully planned studies can be used to indicate the existence of possible drug-excipient interactions in a prototype formulation [7]. 

Lot to lot variations of several drugs and excipients are shown in Table 9. Specially crystallized lots of ibuprofen, for example, show substantial changes in Brittle Fracture and Bonding Indices. Phenacetin shows a significant increase in brittleness at higher relative humidity. It was observed by Hiestand and Smith [31] that compacts of dried phenacetin did not fracture, while the lot equilibrated at 40% relative humidity did, consistent with the Brittle Fracture Index change. 

The freeze-drying process is initiated by the freezing of the biopharmaceutical product in its final product containers. As the temperature is decreased, ice crystals begin to form and grow. This results in an effective concentration of all the solutes present in the remaining liquid phase, including the protein and all added excipients. For example, the concentration of salts may increase to... 

Solids Solid dosage forms are the most common means for presenting the drug product for patient administration. Most APIs are in crystallized or powder forms. They are ground to predetermined sizes using mills or pulverizers. The APIs and excipients are then mixed using blenders or tumblers. 

Drug molecules with amphiphilic character may form lyotropic mesophases, and amphiphilic excipients in drug formulations also form lyotropic liquid crystals. Especially surfactants, which are commonly used as emulsifiers in dermal formulations, associate to micelles after dissolution in a solvent. With increasing concentration of these micelles the probability of interaction between these micelles increases and thus the formation of liquid crystals. 

The therapy of a chronic disease requires repeated drug dosing. In the case of a short biological half-life, the drug has to be administered up to several times daily within short intervals. To reduce the application frequency, sustained formulations have been developed. For this purpose liquid crystalline excipients are appropriate candidates, because in a liquid crystalline vehicle the drug diffusion is reduced by a factor of 10 to 1000 in comparison with a liquid vehicle such as a solution [35-37]. The factor depends on liquid crystal. 

More examples of forensic applications of Raman spectroscopy have been published recently. It has been used to identify individual crystals of drugs and excipients on paper currency [110], multilayer paint chips, inks, plastics [111], and fibers [112], A study demonstrated the feasibility of quantifying acetaminophen in the presence of many excipient types [113], Other studies seek to identify particulates, such as illicit or abused drugs, in fingerprints lifted at a crime scene [114,115]. 

The stability of excipients is almost always taken for granted. Obviously, there is the potential for a phase change with certain lower melting excipients, e.g., semisolid materials, however, this is not a chemical phenomenon although it may enhance the potential for interaction by increasing the effective interface available at which the interaction can take place. However, some materials are not stable under conditions encountered in excipient compatibility screening or accelerated stability testing. A notable example is dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate. At temperatures as low as 37°C, under certain conditions, the dihydrate can dehydrate to form the anhydrous material with the concomitant loss of water of crystallization (25), and at 25°C, it is a stable solid with a shelf life, when stored correctly, of more than two years. 

Excipients both typically contain water and are required to interact with it. The water associated with excipients can exist in various forms. Studies with different materials have shown that water can exist in association with excipients in at least four forms that may be termed free water, bound water, structural water, and water of crystallization. Water associated with a particular excipient may exist in more than one form (26). The type of water will govern how it is implicated in interactions between the excipient and the API or another excipient. The so-called free water is the form that is most frequently implicated in excipient interactions. Bound water is less easily available for interaction, and structural water is usually the least available one. Water of crystallization can be very tightly bound into the crystal structure however, there are some comparatively labile hydrates, e.g., dibasic calcium phosphate dihydrate (see above). If water of crystallization remains tightly bound within the crystal structure, it is unlikely to participate in an excipient interaction. However, any material that is in equilibrium with air above 0% RH will have some free moisture associated with it. In reality, below about 20% RH, the amount of moisture will probably be insufficient to cause problems. However, if sufficient moisture is present (e.g., at a higher RH), it can facilitate the interaction between components of the formulation. 

Although spray-crystallized dextrose-maltose (EMDEX , J. Rettenmaier Sohne GmbH Co. KG, Germany) and compressible sugars are coprocessed, they are commonly considered as single components and are listed as such in the United States Pharmacopeia, while the third edition of the Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients has listed SMCC as a separate excipient (58). 

Moreton RC. Tablet excipients to the year 2001 a look into the crystal ball. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 1996 22 11-23. 

It is essential to understand how and when the polymorphs of drug substance in oral liquid dosage forms and suspensions can be controlled. One approach to study this phenomenon is to seed the formulation with a small amount of a known polymorphic crystal (other than what is used for the product), which is a common practice to rapidly determine what effect this may have on long-term storage. From these types of studies, the appropriate excipients can be used to preserve the specific polymorphic form desired. However, even when the drug in its crystalline form is studied extensively, there are cases when a previously unknown polymorph may be formed in solution and lead to precipitation (14). 

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