Nitrofurantoin solubility in aqueous urea and creatinine solutions

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Nitrofurantoin is a widely used antibiotic.
• High concentrations of nitrofurantoin in urine can lead to crystalluria, a potential adverse effect.
• Understanding factors affecting nitrofurantoin solubility is crucial for optimizing its therapeutic use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of urea and creatinine on nitrofurantoin solubility.
• To determine the influence of temperature and pH on these interactions.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying solubility changes.

Main Methods:

• Solubility measurements of nitrofurantoin in aqueous solutions containing varying concentrations of urea and creatinine.
• Spectroscopic analyses (e.g., UV-Vis, NMR) to probe molecular interactions.
• Experiments conducted across a range of temperatures and pH values.

Main Results:

• Urea initially increased nitrofurantoin solubility up to a specific concentration (1.75-2.50%), dependent on temperature, then decreased it at higher concentrations.
• Creatinine significantly increased nitrofurantoin solubility across tested concentrations (0.05-1.6%).
• Spectral data indicated molecular interactions between nitrofurantoin and both urea and creatinine.

Conclusions:

• Urea and creatinine significantly influence nitrofurantoin solubility through molecular interactions.
• The combined effect of urea and creatinine in urine likely prevents nitrofurantoin crystalluria.
• These findings have implications for understanding nitrofurantoin pharmacokinetics and safety profiles.