Drug substance polymorphism

Grunenberg, A., Flenck, J-O., Siesler, FI.W., 1996, Theoretical Derivation and practical Application of Energy / Temperature Diagrams as an Instmment in Preformulation Studies of Polymorphic Drug Substances, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 129, 147-158. 

Grunenberg A, Henck JO, Siesler HW. 1996. Theoretical derivation and practical application of energy/temperature diagrams as an instrument in preformulation studies of polymorphic drug substances. Int. J. Pharm. 129 147-158. 

Griesser, U. J. and Burger, A. (1993). The polymorphic drug substances of the European Pharmacopoeia. Part 8. Thermal analytical and FTIR-microscopic investigations of etofylline crystal forms. J. Pharm. ScL, 61, 133 3. [128]... 

Burger, A. Griesser, U.J. (1989) Polymorphic drug substances of the European Pharmacopeia. Part 4. Identification and characterization of 11 crystal forms of succinylsulfathiazole. Set Pharm., 57, 293-305. 

Chemical development Proof of structure and configuration are required as part of the information on chemical development. The methods used at batch release should be validated to guarantee the identity and purity of the substance. It should be established whether a drug produced as a racemate is a true racemate or a conglomerate by investigating physical parameters such as melting point, solubility and crystal properties. The physicochemical properties of the drug substance should be characterized, e.g. crystallinity, polymorphism and rate of dissolution. 

Fig. 5 Dissolution profiles obtained from the solubility determination of two polymorphic forms of the same drug substance. A is the stable form with solubility 31 mg/mL. B is the profile of the metastable form with solubility 46 mg/mL. This solubility (circles) is not achieved in many instances, and precipitation of the stable form occurs at a point beyond the solubility of A, and the trace becomes B. C is the hypothetical profile of the metastable form. 

The structure of the 1 1 methanol solvate of olanzapine has been reported, where pairs of olanzapine molecules form a centrosymmetric dimer by means of C—H—-7t interactions [66]. The solvent molecule was linked to the drug substance through O—H-N, N—H O, and C—interactions. In a new polymorph of the 1 1 dioxane solvatomorph of (+)-pinoresinol, the structure was stabilized by O—H O hydrogen bonds between the compound and the solvent [67], Two new polymorphs of 2-cyano-3-[4-(/Y,jV-diethylamino)-phenyl]prop-2-enethioamide and its acetonitrile solvatomorph have been characterized [68], Although crystallization of the title compound was conducted out of a number of solvents, only the acetonitrile solvatomorph could be formed. 

The photostability of two polymorphs of nicardipine hydrochloride have been studied using a number of techniques [95]. After irradiation, the drug substance decomposes to a pyridine derivative, and the photodegradation of the /1-form exceeded that of the x-form. It was also found that the color of the two different forms differed with the polymorphic state, but that grinding the two forms lessened the difference in their photochemistries. A correlation between the heat of fusion (measured by differential scanning calorimetry) and the photodegradation rate constant was observed. 

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, especially when measured by means of the Fourier transform method (FTIR), is another powerful technique for the physical characterization of pharmaceutical solids [17]. In the IR method, the vibrational modes of a molecule are used to deduce structural information. When studied in the solid, these same vibrations normally are affected by the nature of the structural details of the analyte, thus yielding information useful to the formulation scientist. The FTIR spectra are often used to evaluate the type of polymorphism existing in a drug substance, and they can be very useful in studies of the water contained within a hydrate species. With modem instrumentation, it is straightforward to obtain FTIR spectra of micrometer-sized particles through the use of a microscope fitted with suitable optics. 

Fig. 11 Plot of the 13C signal intensity as a function of contact time for two distinct methyl resonances of two polymorphic forms of a developmental drug substance.

Investigations for the occurrence of polymorphism have been undertaken by ir spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray powder diffraction (Guinier-de Wolff). No polymorphism has been observed so far. An amorphous form may be prepared artificially by rapid evaporation of a methanolic solution of the drug substance. 

In recent years, with growing concern about the relative bioavailabilities of different samples of the same drug substance, polymorphism has become of prime interest. Miyazaki and co-workers (23) have reported the existence of two crystalline forms of CTC-HCl. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns, IR spectra, dissolution behaviors, and hygroscopicities that they reported were distinctly different and there were discrepancies in the bioavailabilities. 

Polymorphism is critically important in the design of new drug API [9] and affects a number of areas. The main impact is to the bioavailability and release profile of a drug substance into the body. This is due to differences in solubility and dissolution rate, between the polymorphs. The chemical and physical stability of the formulated drug substance is also dependent on the polymorphic form. Patented registration of all discovered forms and their manufacturing conditions is an important element in protecting a pharmaceutical companies intellectual property. 

A wide range of physical constants, for instance melting point, boiling point, specific gravity, viscosity, refractive index, solubility, polymorphic forms vis-a-vis particle size, in addition to characteristic absorption features and optical rotation play a vital role in characterization of pharmaceutical chemicals and drug substances. These physical constants will be discussed briefly with typical examples as under ... 

Crystalline or amorphous forms of fhe drug substance can affect product efficacy. Polymorphic forms usually exhibif different physical-chemical properties, including melting point and solubility. The occurrence of polymorphic forms with drugs is relatively... 

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