Forced decomposition studies

At times the solubility of a drug in water is insufficient at room temperature to allow a meaningful kinetic study, in which case it can, at times, be carried out at elevated temperature [58]. If done at several different temperatures, it may be possible to estimate the stability at room temperature by extrapolation. Frequently, a broad screen of stability is performed on the initial small sample used for initial performulation this is frequently referred to as forced decomposition studies [59], in which the drug is exposed to acid degradation, base degradation, aqueous degradation, drug powder... 

The easiest way to perform specificity for any HPLC method is to perform this test in conjunction with a forced decomposition study. The utilization of mass spectrometry (MS) detector (in series) after a Photo Diode Array (PDA) detector to obtain more information is encouraged (in terms of mass-to-charge ratio of parent ions, initial fragmentation pattern, and peak purity). 

Even if the same drug substance HPLC method is used for the drug product, forced decomposition studies must be performed again for the drug product to confirm the resolution of potential degradation products from the API. In addition, forced decomposition studies must also be performed for different dosage forms (capsule, tablet, suspension, injectable, etc.) of the same drug substance. 

The guidance on forced degradation is available, as stated above however, the details of the investigations are left up to the pharmaceutical researcher. Forced decomposition testing within the pharmaceutical industry varies tremendously this was demonstrated by Baertschi [22], who surveyed 20 pharmaceutical companies on the practices of forced decomposition studies. 

The following four steps have been proposed by Bakshi and Singh for a development of a SIM [34] (1) critical study of an API to assess the likely decomposition route(s), (2) collection of information on physicochemical properties, (3) stress (forced decomposition) studies, and (4) preliminary separation studies on stressed samples. 

Diperoxyketals, and many other organic peroxides, are acid-sensitive, therefore removal of all traces of the acid catalysts must be accompHshed before attempting distillations or kinetic decomposition studies. The low molecular weight diperoxyketals can decompose with explosive force and commercial formulations are available only as mineral spirits or phthalate ester solutions. 

The choice of stress conditions should be consistent with product decomposition under normal manufacturing, storage, and use conditions. Recommended stress factors include high and low pH, elevated temperature, photolysis, and oxidation. The extent of the stress applied in forced degradation studies should ensure formation of the desired amount (usually 10-20%) of degradation. 

Short-time Brownian motion was simulated and compared with experiments [108]. The structural evolution and dynamics [109] and the translational and bond-orientational order [110] were simulated with Brownian dynamics (BD) for dense binary colloidal mixtures. The short-time dynamics was investigated through the velocity autocorrelation function [111] and an algebraic decay of velocity fluctuation in a confined liquid was found [112]. Dissipative particle dynamics [113] is an attempt to bridge the gap between atomistic and mesoscopic simulation. Colloidal adsorption was simulated with BD [114]. The hydrodynamic forces, usually friction forces, are found to be able to enhance the self-diffusion of colloidal particles [115]. A novel MC approach to the dynamics of fluids was proposed in Ref. 116. Spinodal decomposition [117] in binary fluids was simulated. BD simulations for hard spherocylinders in the isotropic [118] and in the nematic phase [119] were done. A two-site Yukawa system [120] was studied with... 

The first irrefutable observation of a discriminating interaction between enantiomeric surfactants in monolayers was most probably made by Filippus Johannes Zeelen (84) in a detailed study concerning the synthesis, monolayer behavior, and photochemistry of a series of A -stearoylamino acid derivatives that were employed to model the conformation and photochemical decomposition of proteins. Although Zeelen was able to demonstrate significant differences in the force-area curves obtained from racemic and optically active forms of several of these derivatives, publication of this work in 1956 was... 

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