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Published on: July 4, 2014
Phase Behavior of Ritonavir Amorphous Solid Dispersions during Hydration and Dissolution.
Hitesh S Purohit1, Lynne S Taylor2
1Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA.
Phase transformations during ritonavir (RTV) amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) dissolution depend on formulation and storage. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and nanodroplet formation occur, influenced by drug release rates and polymer interactions.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) enhance the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.
- Understanding solid and solution state phase transformations is crucial for ASD performance.
- Ritonavir (RTV) is a model drug often formulated as ASDs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interplay between solid and solution state phase transformations during ritonavir (RTV) amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) dissolution.
- To examine the influence of different polymers (PVP, PVPVA, HPMCAS) and drug loading on RTV ASD phase behavior.
- To elucidate the mechanisms of amorphous nanodroplet formation during dissolution.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of RTV ASDs with PVP, PVPVA, and HPMCAS via solvent evaporation at varying drug loadings.
- Assessment of ASD miscibility before and after high relative humidity (97% RH) exposure.
- Non-sink dissolution studies of fresh and moisture-exposed ASDs, monitoring RTV and polymer release.
- Utilized techniques: fluorescence spectroscopy, confocal imaging, SEM, AFM, DSC, and NTA for phase transformation monitoring.
Main Results:
- RTV-PVP and RTV-PVPVA ASDs showed moisture-induced amorphous-amorphous phase separation (AAPS), while RTV-HPMCAS ASDs remained miscible.
- Low drug loading PVP/PVPVA ASDs exhibited rapid release, leading to concentrations exceeding amorphous solubility, resulting in liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and nanodroplet formation.
- High drug loading PVP/PVPVA ASDs and all RTV-HPMCAS ASDs showed LLPS upon dissolution, with the former attributed to extensive AAPS.
Conclusions:
- Ritonavir ASD dissolution is a balance between dissolution rate and matrix phase separation rate.
- LLPS occurred in polymer-controlled release ASDs, and only initially miscible ASDs led to LLPS.
- Fluorescence spectroscopy, confocal imaging, and SEM were key in understanding ASD phase behavior and nanodroplet generation mechanisms.
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