Use of solid thermolytic salts to facilitate microwave-induced in situ amorphization

Moisture was frequently used as dielectric heating source in classical microwave-able systems to facilitate microwave-induced in situ amorphization, however such systems may face the potential of drug hydrolysis. In this study, solid thermolytic salts were proposed to function as moisture substitutes and their feasibility and impacts on microwave-induced in situ amorphization were investigated. It was found that NH₄HCO₃ was a promising solid alkaline salt to facilitate both microwave-induced in situ amorphization and in situ salt formation of acidic indomethacin (IND). Moreover, it could improve the chemical stability of the drug and the dissolution performance of compacts relative to classical moisture-based compacts upon microwaving. Further mechanistic study suggested that the in situ amorphization occurred prior to the in situ salt formation, especially in formulations with low drug loadings and high solid salt mass ratios. For compacts with low polymer ratios, in situ salt formation took place subsequently, where the previously amorphized IND within compacts could interact with the NH₃ gas produced in situ by the decomposition of NH₄HCO₃ and form the ammonium IND salt. Microwaving time showed great impacts on the decomposition of NH₄HCO₃ and the in situ generation of water and NH₃, which indirectly affected the amorphization and salt formation of IND. In comparison to the moisture-based systems, the NH₄HCO₃-based system showed a number of advantages, including the reduced potential of IND hydrolysis due to the absence of absorbed moisture, a wider category of applicable polymeric carriers other than hygroscopic polymers, and an increase in drug loading up to 50% (w/w).