On the Hofmeister Effect: Fluctuations at the Protein–Water Interface and the Surface Tension

We performed molecular dynamics simulations on the tryptophane-cage miniprotein using a nonpolarizable force field, in order to model the effect of concentrated water solutions of neutral salts on protein conformation, which is a manifestation of Hofmeister effects. From the equilibrium values and the fluctuations of the solvent accessible surface area of the miniprotein, the salt-induced changes of the mean value of protein–water interfacial tension were determined. At 300 K, the chaotropic ClO₄^– and NO₃^– decreased the interfacial tension according to their position in the Hofmeister series (by approximately 5 and 2.7 mN/m, respectively), while the kosmotropic F^– increased it (by 1 mN/m). These values were compared to those obtained from the Gibbs equation using the excess surface adsorption calculated from the probability distribution of the water molecules and ions around the miniprotein, and the two sets were found to be very close to each other. Our results present a direct evidence for the central role of interfacial tension and fluctuations at the protein–water interface in Hofmeister phenomena, and provide a computational method for the determination of the protein–water interfacial tension, establishing a link between the phenomenological and microscopic description of protein–water interfaces

Electrospun Polymer Blend Nanofibers for Tunable Drug Delivery: The Role of Transformative Phase Separation on Controlling the Release Rate

Electrospun fibrous materials have a wide range of biomedical applications, many of them involving the use of polymers as matrices for incorporation of therapeutic agents. The use of polymer blends improves the tuneability of the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the drug loaded fibers. This also benefits the development of controlled drug release formulations, for which the release rate can be modified by altering the ratio of the polymers in the blend. However, to realize these benefits, a clear understanding of the phase behavior of the processed polymer blend is essential. This study reports an in depth investigation of the impact of the electrospinning process on the phase separation of a model partially miscible polymer blend, PVP K90 and HPMCAS, in comparison to other conventional solvent evaporation based processes including film casting and spin coating. The nanoscale stretching and ultrafast solvent removal of electrospinning lead to an enhanced apparent miscibility between the polymers, with the same blends showing micronscale phase separation when processed using film casting and spin coating. Nanoscale phase separation in electrospun blend fibers was confirmed in the dry state. Rapid, layered, macroscale phase separation of the two polymers occurred during the wetting of the fibers. This led to a biphasic drug release profile from the fibers, with a burst release from PVP-rich phases and a slower, more continuous release from HPMCAS-rich phases. It was noted that the model drug, paracetamol, had more favorable partitioning into the PVP-rich phase, which is likely to be a result of greater hydrogen bonding between PVP and paracetamol. This led to higher drug contents in the PVP-rich phases than the HPMCAS-rich phases. By alternating the proportions of the PVP and HPMCAS, the drug release rate can be modulated

Mechanistic and Kinetic Insight into Spontaneous Cocrystallization of Isoniazid and Benzoic Acid

Solid-state cocrystallization is of contemporary interest because it offers an easy and efficient way to produce cocrystals, which are recognized as prospective pharmaceutical materials. Research explaining solid-state cocrystallization mechanisms is important but still too scarce to give a broad understanding of factors governing and limiting these reactions. Here we report an investigation of the mechanism and kinetics of isoniazid cocrystallization with benzoic acid. This reaction is spontaneous; however, its rate is greatly influenced by environmental conditions (humidity and temperature) and pretreatment (milling) of the sample. The acceleration of cocrystallization in the presence of moisture is demonstrated by kinetic studies at elevated humidity. The rate dependence on humidity stems from moisture facilitated rearrangements on the surface of isoniazid crystallites, which lead to cocrystallization in the presence of benzoic acid vapor. Furthermore, premilling the mixture of the cocrystal ingredients eliminated the induction time of the reaction and considerably increased its rate

Identification and Characterization of Stoichiometric and Nonstoichiometric Hydrate Forms of Paroxetine HCl: Reversible Changes in Crystal Dimensions as a Function of Water Absorption

Paroxetine hydrochloride (HCl) is an antidepressant drug, reported to exist in the anhydrous form (form II) and as a stable hemihydrate (form I). In this study, we investigate the hydration behavior of paroxetine HCl form II with a view to understanding both the nature of the interaction with water and the interchange between forms II and I as a function of both temperature and water content. In particular, we present new evidence for both the structure and the interconversion process to be more complex than previously recognized. A combination of characterization techniques was used, including thermal (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)), spectroscopic (attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR)), dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) with variable humidity, along with computational molecular modeling of the crystal structures. The total amount of water present in form II was surprisingly high (3.8% w/w, 0.8 mol of water/mol of drug), with conversion to the hemihydrate noted on heating in hermetically sealed DSC pans. XRPD, supported by ATR-FTIR and DVS, indicated changes in the unit cell dimensions as a function of water content, with clear evidence for reversible expansion and contraction as a function of relative humidity (RH). Based on these data, we suggest that paroxetine HCl form II is not an anhydrate but rather a nonstoichiometric hydrate. However, no continuous channels are present and, according to molecular modeling simulation, the water is moderately strongly bonded to the crystal, which is in itself an uncommon feature when referring to nonstoichiometric hydrates. Overall, therefore, we suggest that the anhydrous form of paroxetine HCl is not only a nonstoichiometric hydrate but also one that shows highly unusual characteristics in terms of gradual unit cell expansion and contraction despite the absence of continuous channels. These structural features in turn influence the tendency of this drug to convert to the more stable hemihydrate. The study has implications for the recognition and understanding of the behavior of pharmaceutical nonstoichiometric hydrates

Utilizing Sulfoxide···Iodine Halogen Bonding for Cocrystallization

The propensity of a range of different sulfoxides and sulfones to cocrystallize with either 1,2- or 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene, via I···O=S halogen bonding, was investigated. Cocrystallization occurred exclusively with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene in either a 1:1 or 1:2 stoichiometry of the organohalide and the sulfoxide, respectively, depending on the sulfoxide used. It was found that the stoichiometry observed was not necessarily related to whether the oxygen acts as a single halogen bond acceptor or if it is bifurcated; with I···π interactions observed in two of the cocrystals synthesized. Only those cocrystals with a 1:2 stoichiometry exhibit C–H···O hydrogen bonding in addition to I···O=S halogen bonding. Examination of the Cambridge Structural Database shows that (i) the I···O=S interaction is similar to other I···O interactions, and (ii) the I···π interaction is significant, with the distances in the two cocrystals among the shortest known

Utilizing Sulfoxide···Iodine Halogen Bonding for Cocrystallization

The propensity of a range of different sulfoxides and sulfones to cocrystallize with either 1,2- or 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene, via I···O=S halogen bonding, was investigated. Cocrystallization occurred exclusively with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene in either a 1:1 or 1:2 stoichiometry of the organohalide and the sulfoxide, respectively, depending on the sulfoxide used. It was found that the stoichiometry observed was not necessarily related to whether the oxygen acts as a single halogen bond acceptor or if it is bifurcated; with I···π interactions observed in two of the cocrystals synthesized. Only those cocrystals with a 1:2 stoichiometry exhibit C–H···O hydrogen bonding in addition to I···O=S halogen bonding. Examination of the Cambridge Structural Database shows that (i) the I···O=S interaction is similar to other I···O interactions, and (ii) the I···π interaction is significant, with the distances in the two cocrystals among the shortest known