Crystal engineering study using spray dryer was performed for scale-up and rapid, continuous crystallisation of co-crystals from solution. The study emphasise on developing co-crystals of two structurally similar compounds, caffeine (CAF) and theophylline (THEO) with various di-carboxylic acids. The incongruently soluble pair of CAF and THEO with di-carboxylic acids acquires large solubility difference which is important to consider for its utility in product development. Based on previous assumption that maleic acid (MAL) elevates CAF’s solubility; solubility of the two similar compounds was tested in various dicarboxylic acids. Other solubility enhancement strategies such as introduction of surfactant and binary solvents were also scrutinised. A kinetically similar bench-scale technique, rotary evaporator (rotavap) was investigated as a pre-screening tool for the production of co-crystals via spray drying. Furthermore, various process parameters within the spray dryer were optimised to control the kinetic conditions which influence co-crystallisation and quality of the product. Another polymorphic co-crystal pair, CBZ (carbamazepine) and SAC (saccharin) was examined in various solvents and its degradation was evaluated over a period of few months. In this study, a two-step conversion of CBZ into its degradate was hypothesised. Rotavap delivered a true reflection of co-crystal favoured via spray drying apart from co-crystal pairs depicting polymorphism. Spray dryer offered a unique environment favouring metastable forms of co-crystals irrespective of the starting component stoichiometry; generating CAF:MAL 2:1. However, due to process limitation and solubility constraint, the impurity of CAF in CAF:MAL 2:1 co-crystals could not be abolished.

As a response of the need for a natural antimicrobial to replace sodium benzoate's use as a preservative in beverages, twenty eight compounds known to have antimicrobial activity were evaluated to quantify their solubility. Twenty three of the compounds evaluated are components of plant essential oils and the remaining five compounds are alkyl esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid. The test compounds were evaluated for aqueous solubility as well as their solubility in an acid-based beverage mixture. The compounds were found to be practically insoluble (< 100 mg/L), very slightly soluble (100 mg/L – 1,000 mg/L) or slightly soluble (1,000 mg/L to 10,000 mg/L). o-Methoxycinnamaldehyde, trans,trans-2,4-decadienal, cinnamic acid, and citronellol were complexed with α- and β-cyclodextrin and evaluated through phase solubility analyses. The complexes formed showed improved aqueous solubility for all compounds. Complexation with α-CD resulted in an increase of aqueous solubility of o-methoxycinnamaldehyde by 10-fold, trans,trans-2,4-decadienal by 3.2-fold, cinnamic acid by 6.3-fold, and citronellol by 8-fold. In addition, complexation with β-CD resulted in an increase of aqueous solubility of o-methoxycinnamaldehyde by 1.6-fold, trans,trans-2,4-decadienal by 3.1-fold, cinnamic acid by 1.7-fold, and citronellol by 1.6- fold. The storage stability of the α-CD complexes of o-methoxycinnamaldehyde trans,trans-2,4-decadienal and citronellol were evaluated for 7 days in an acid-based beverage solution by SPME GC-MS. The complexes exhibited varying levels of degradation throughout the duration of the study all. The concentration of o-methoxycinnamaldehyde detected by SPME GC-MS decreased by 61.7%. Similarly, the concentration of trans,trans-2,4-decadienal and that of citronellol decreased by 62.7% and 43% respectively. Additionally, a comparison by UV/Vis of the storage stability of the complexes stored in glass and PET containers was performed. The storage stability comparison proved that absorption into the PET polymer membrane did not occur. / Master of Science

In response to a need for a natural antimicrobial to replace sodium benzoate, cinnamic acid was chosen. Due to cinnamic acid's solubility issues, α-cyclodextrin was used as a host molecule to form an inclusion complex with the cinnamic acid molecule. The cinnamic acid: α-cyclodextrin inclusion complex was then characterized using phase solubility analysis, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR), and solid inclusion. Phase solubility analysis verified the maximum amount of cinnamic acid that α-cyclodextrin was able to host. H-NMR was used to determine the complex association constant, determine the chemical shifts of available protons, and yield a stoichiometry for the complex. The solid inclusion complex allowed for a physical formation of the complex, yielding further information in support of the complex stoichiometry. Microbiological tests were also performed to quantify the antimicrobial abilities of the complex, the guest, and the host against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mold Paecilomyces variotii. Results indicated that approximately 990.29 ppm in aqueous solution was the maximum amount of cinnamic acid in the complex. The 2:1 stoichiometry yields an association constant of 21.7 M-1. Results also indicated that the cinnamic acid readily conformed to fit within the α-cyclodextrin host molecule, which remained a rigid structure. An 8.9% weight to weight of cinnamic acid was calculated for the solid inclusion again reinforcing a 2:1 stoichiometry. Microbiological studies showed little to no inhibition power by the complex at varying concentrations against S. cerevisiae and P. variotii. Free cinnamic acid showed greater antimicrobial activity compared with free α-cyclodextrin and the complex. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

No / Experimental solubilities of budesonide, hydrocortisone, and prednisolone in ethanol + water mixtures at 298.2 K are reported. The solubility of drugs was increased with the addition of ethanol and reached the maximum values of the volume fractions of 90 %, 80 %, and 80 % of ethanol. The Jouyban-Acree model was used to fit the experimental data, and the solubilities were reproduced using previously trained versions of the Jouyban-Acree model and the solubility data in monosolvents in which the overall mean relative deviations (OMRDs) of the models were 5.1 %, 6.4 %, 37.7 %, and 35.9 %, respectively, for the fitted model, the trained version for ethanol + water mixtures, and generally trained versions for various organic solvents + water mixtures. Solubilities were also predicted by a previously established log-linear model of Yalkowsky with the OMRD of 53.8 %.

Yes / Herein the potential of a relatively new water soluble fiber, resistant maltodextrin (RMD) to encapsulate grapefruit polyphenol, naringin, using spray drying was evaluated. Full factorial Design Of Experiments (DOE) for spray drying with two levels of fiber–naringin ratio and spray dryer inlet temperature was executed. Resulting powders were characterized with respect to particle size and morphology, crystallinity, thermal properties, moisture sorption and naringin aqueous solubility increase. A 60–80% encapsulation was achieved. Thermal and moisture sorption behaviors of these dispersions were found to be dominated by RMD. By varying fiber–naringin ratio and spray drying temperatures, naringin was able to disperse in amorphous form in RMD matrix, which led to 20–55% increase in aqueous solubility. Solubility enhancement was found to correlate positively with increasing fiber: naringin ratio and spray drying temperature due to multiple factors discussed in this study. In conclusion, fiber–polyphenol bicomponent nutraceutical was successfully developed based on a well-established encapsulation technology i.e. spray-drying.

Yes / Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a polyphenolic active compound present in popular apiproduct, ‘propolis’ obtained from beehives. Though it has broad therapeutic capability, the bioavailability of CAPE is limited due to poor solubility. In this study, we report novel cocrystals of CAPE engineered using coformers such as caffeine (CAF), isonicotinamide (INIC), nicotinamide (NIC) with enhanced solubility and bioavailability of CAPE. The cocrystals were prepared by microwave-assisted cocrystallization and characterized using PXRD, DSC and Raman spectroscopy. PXRD and DSC confirm the successful formation and phase purity of CAPE-CAF, CAPE-INIC and CAPE-NIC cocrystals. Raman spectra of CAPE cocrystals complement these results in confirming the formation of novel crystalline phases. CAPE-NIC cocrystal was further subjected to X-ray crystallography to understand its molecular arrangement and hydrogen bonding in the crystal structure. The CAPE-NIC cocrystal structure is found to be stabilized by a rare 1,2-benzenediol-amide heterosynthon. Cocrystallization of CAPE with NIC improved its aqueous solubility and pharmacokinetic profile thereby demonstrating 2.76 folds escalation in bioavailability. / We thank UKIERI: UK-India Education and Research Initiative (TPR26) and EPSRC (EP/J003360/1, EP/L027011/1) for providing financial support during this study.

Yes / Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) is a diuretic BCS class IV drug with poor aqueous solubility and low permeability leading to poor oral absorption. The present work explores the cocrystallization technique to enhance the aqueous solubility of HCT. Three new cocrystals of HCT with water soluble coformers phenazine (PHEN), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and picolinamide (PICA) were prepared successfully by solution crystallization method and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), fourier transform –infraredspectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Structural characterization revealed that the cocrystals with PHEN, DMAP and PICA exists in P21/n, P21/c and P21/n space groups, respectively. The improved solubility of HCT-DMAP (4 fold) and HCT-PHEN (1.4 fold) cocrystals whereas decreased solubility of HCT-PICA (0.5 fold) as compared to the free drug were determined after 4 h in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, at 25 °C by using shaking flask method. HCT-DMAP showed a significant increase in solubility than all previously reported cocrystals of HCT suggest the role of a coformer. The study demonstrates that the selection of coformer could have pronounced impact on the physicochemical properties of HCT and cocrystallization can be a promising approach to improve aqueous solubility of drugs.

Yes / There is a need to understand the nature of aggregation of cyclodextrins (CDs) with guest molecules in increasingly complex formulation systems. To this end an innovative application of Taylor dispersion analysis (TDA) and comparison with dynamic light scattering (DLS) have been carried out to probe the nature of ICT01-2588 (ICT-2588), a novel tumor-targeted vascular disrupting agent, in solvents including a potential buffered formulation containing 10% hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. The two hydrodynamic sizing techniques give measurement responses are that fundamentally different for aggregated solutions containing the target molecule, and the benefits of using TDA in conjunction with DLS are that systems are characterised through measurement of both mass- and z-average hydrodynamic radii. Whereas DLS measurements primarily resolve the large aggregates of ICT01-2588 in its formulation medium, methodology for TDA is described to determine the size and notably to quantify the proportion of monomers in the presence of large aggregates, and at the same time measure the formulation viscosity. Interestingly TDA and DLS have also distinguished between aggregate profiles formed using HP-β-CD samples from different suppliers. The approach is expected to be widely applicable to this important class of drug formulations where drug solubility is enhanced by cyclodextrin and other excipients.

Yes / Literature solubilities and NMR and IR studies have been used to obtain properties or descriptors of edaravone. These show that edaravone has a significant hydrogen bond acidity so that it must exist in solution partly as the OH and NH forms, as found by Freyer et al. Descriptors have been assigned to the keto form which has a low hydrogen bond acidity, and which is the dominant form in nonpolar solvents. Physicochemical properties of the keto form can be been calculated such as solubilities in nonpolar solvents, partition coefficients from water to nonpolar solvents, and partition coefficients from air to biological phases.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease associated with high levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) in synovial fluid and synovial tissue (Saxne et al., 1989). Thalidomide is a proven inhibitor of the biological synthesis of TNF-a (Sampaio et al., 1991) and is believed to rely on this action for its suppression of the wasting of tissue which accompanies RA. Oral administration of thalidomide has proven to be effective in RA, but unacceptable side effects are easily provoked (Gutierrez-Rodriguez, 1984). Administration of thalidomide via the dermal route can down-regulate TNF-a production in and around the affected joint, and this without raising the systemic blood level to a problematical level. Based on thalidomide's physicochemical properties, it is unlikely that it can be delivered percutaneously at a dose required for RA. Therefore, we have embraced the idea of using N-alkyl analogues of thalidomide. The most important feature that an analogue of this compound might contribute is decreased crystallinity and increased lipophilicity. Ordinarily both these parameters should favour percutaneous delivery. The current study was primarily aimed at exploring the feasibility of percutaneous delivery of thalidomide and subsequently, three of its odd chain IV-alkyl analogues (methyl, propyl and pentyl) via physicochemical characterization and assessment of their innate abilities to diffuse through skin as an initial step towards developing a topical dosage form for the best compound. The biological activities, more specifically their potential to inhibit the production of TNF-a was determined for thalidomide and its N-alkyl analogues. In order to achieve the objectives, the study was undertaken by synthesizing and determining the physicochemical parameters of thalidomide and its N-alkyl analogues. A high level of crystallinity is expressed in the form of a high melting point and heat of fusion. This limits solubility itself, and thus also sets a limit on mass transfer across the skin. Generally, the greater a drug's innate tendency to dissolve, the more likely it is that the drug can be delivered at an appropriate rate across the skin (Ostrenga et al., 1971). Therefore, the melting points and heats of fusion were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Aqueous solubility and the partition coefficient (relative solubility) are major determinants of a drug's dissolution, distribution and availability. N-octanollwater partition coefficients were determined at pH 6.4. Solubilities in water, a series of n-alcohols and mixed solvents were obtained, as well as the solubility parameters of the compounds in study. Secondly, in vitro permeation studies were performed from these solvents and vehicles using vertical Franz diffusion cells with human epidermal membranes. Thirdly, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) inhibition activities were assessed for thalidomide and its N-alkyl analogues. By adding a methyl group to the thalidomide structure, the melting point drops by over 100°C and, in this particular instance upon increasing the alkyl chain length to five -CH2- units the melting points decrease linearly. Heats of fusion decreased dramatically upon thalidomide's alkylation as well. Methylation of the thalidomide molecule enhanced the aqueous solubility 6-fold, but as the alkyl chain length is further extended from methyl to pentyl, the aqueous solubility decreased exponentially. The destabilization of the crystalline structure with increasing alkyl chain length led to an increase in lipophilicity and consequently an increase in solubility in nonpolar media. Log partition coefficients increased linearly with increasing alkyl chain length. Solubilities in a series of n-alcohols, methanol through dodecanol, were found to be in the order of pentyl > propyl > methyl > thalidomide. The N-alkyl analogues have more favourable physicochemical properties than thalidomide to be delivered percutaneously. The in vitro skin permeation data proved that the analogues can be delivered far easier than thalidomide itself. N-methyl thalidomide showed the highest steady-state flux through human skin from water, n-alcohols and combination vehicles. Thalidomide and its N-alkyl analogues were all active as TNF-a inhibitors. Finally, active as a TNF-a inhibitor, N-methyl thalidomide is the most promising candidate to be delivered percutaneously for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, of those studied. / Thesis (PhD (Pharmaceutics))--PU for CHE, 1999.