Enhancing the solubility and masking the bitter taste of propiverine using crystalline complex formation

Patient compliance can be reduced when bitter-tasting compounds, such as propiverine hydrochloride, are administered orally. Propiverine hydrochloride is an example of a drug with a bitter taste, used for the treatment of overactive bladders.

This study tested whether propiverine free base palatability and aqueous solubility could be improved by crystalline complex formation.

We used 42 compounds, and found 9 new propiverine crystalline complexes. The properties and solubility of these complexes were studied using a range of techniques. A taste perception study was carried out using a taste sensor to evaluate the taste masking ability of the crystalline complex formation.

The melting points of the crystalline complexes were higher than that of propiverine. The dissolution rates of the crystalline complexes in aqueous buffer solution (pH 6.8) and in purified water were much faster than that of propiverine. Propiverine salicylic acid crystalline complex had substantially less bitterness than propiverine hydrochloride, which was extremely bitter.

The present findings indicated that crystalline complex formation provided an effective approach to enhancing propiverine solubility, and to masking its bitter taste.

Crystalline complex formation represents a useful and valuable technique for the preparation of orally disintegrating tablets and improving patient compliance, even for substances with bitter tastes.