Characterization of a Water–Solid Interaction in a Partially Ordered System

GNE068-PC, a developmental compound, was previously characterized to be mesomorphous, i.e. having long-range order associated with significant local molecular disorder (Chakravarty et. al., <i>Mol. Pharmaceutics</i>, accepted). The compound was exposed to moisture under different relative humidity conditions ranging from 11% to 60% RH at room temperature (RT) for 7 days, and the resultant product phases were characterized. The partially ordered sample progressively lost crystallinity (long-range order) and birefringence (orientational order) upon exposure to increasing RH conditions, leading to the formation of a completely disordered amorphous phase at 60% RH (RT). Long-range positional order was irrecoverable even after moisture removal from the sample exposed to 60% RH. This was attributed to replacement of residual ethyl acetate by water, the former being critical for maintenance of long-range order in the material. In addition, water sorption appeared to irreversibly alter the molecular orientation, thereby affecting sample birefringence. Solid-state NMR revealed increases in ¹H and ¹³C spin–lattice relaxation times (<i>T</i>₁) going from the mesomorphous phase to the fully amorphous phase. This was indicative of reduction in lattice mobility, likely due to the decreased motion of the aromatic portions of the molecule, in particular C17, which showed the most dramatic increase in ¹³C <i>T</i>₁. This is likely due to decrease in available free volume upon water sorption. Drying of the hydrated disordered phase showed somewhat greater mobility than the hydrated phase, likely due to increased relative free volume through removal of water. A water–solid interaction therefore irreversibly changed the solid-state makeup of GNE068-PC

Using Supercritical Fluid Technology as a Green Alternative During the Preparation of Drug Delivery Systems

Micro- and nano-carrier formulations have been developed as drug delivery systems for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that suffer from poor physico-chemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties. Encapsulating the APIs in such systems can help improve their stability by protecting them from harsh conditions such as light, oxygen, temperature, pH, enzymes, and others. Consequently, the API&rsquo;s dissolution rate and bioavailability are tremendously improved. Conventional techniques used in the production of these drug carrier formulations have several drawbacks, including thermal and chemical stability of the APIs, excessive use of organic solvents, high residual solvent levels, difficult particle size control and distributions, drug loading-related challenges, and time and energy consumption. This review illustrates how supercritical fluid (SCF) technologies can be superior in controlling the morphology of API particles and in the production of drug carriers due to SCF&rsquo;s non-toxic, inert, economical, and environmentally friendly properties. The SCF&rsquo;s advantages, benefits, and various preparation methods are discussed. Drug carrier formulations discussed in this review include microparticles, nanoparticles, polymeric membranes, aerogels, microporous foams, solid lipid nanoparticles, and liposomes

Determination of Fragility in Organic Small Molecular Glass Forming Liquids: Comparison of Calorimetric and Spectroscopic Data and Commentary on Pharmaceutical Importance

The fragility index (<i>m</i>) and conversely the strength parameter (<i>D</i>) are widely used to categorize glass forming liquids and are used to characterize temperature dependency of viscosity and relaxation time as the supercooled liquid approaches glass transition. The currently used calorimetric methods in pharmaceutical literature lead to wide variability in measured values of <i>m</i>. In this work, a modulated differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method is introduced that can directly determine <i>m</i> with minimal variability. Although calorimetric fragility is easy to measure due to availability and ease of use of DSC, there is no correlation between calorimetric and dielectric fragility (calculated spectroscopically from relaxation times). In addition, there is also no correlation between calorimetric fragility and the so-called “thermodynamic fragility” that can be calculated using only thermodynamic parameters. No relationship can be found between the crystallization propensity in the supercooled liquid state and <i>D</i>. However, the crystallization propensity shows a reasonable correlation with the Kohlrausch distribution parameter β_k, which defines the breadth of the relaxation time distribution

Characterization of Pharmaceutical Cocrystals and Salts by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization-Enhanced Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

Multicomponent solids such as cocrystals have emerged as a way to control and engineer the stability, solubility, and manufacturability of solid active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Cocrystals are typically formed by solution- or solid-phase reactions of APIs with suitable cocrystal coformers, which are often weak acids. One key structural question about a given multicomponent solid is whether it should be classified as a salt, where the basic API is protonated by the acid, or as a cocrystal, where the API and coformer remain neutral and engage in hydrogen bonding interactions. It has previously been demonstrated that solid-state NMR spectroscopy is a powerful probe of structure in cocrystals and salts of APIs; however, the poor sensitivity of solid-state NMR spectroscopy usually restricts the types of experiments that can be performed. Here, relayed dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) was applied to reduce solid-state NMR experiment times by 1–2 orders of magnitude for salts and cocrystals of a complex API. The large sensitivity gains from DNP facilitates rapid acquisition of natural isotopic abundance ¹³C and ¹⁵N solid-state NMR spectra. Critically, DNP enables double resonance ¹H–¹⁵N solid-state NMR experiments such as 2D ¹H–¹⁵N HETCOR, ¹H–¹⁵N CP-build up, ¹⁵N­{¹H} <i>J</i>-resolved/attached proton tests, ¹H–¹⁵N DIPSHIFT, and ¹H–¹⁵N PRESTO. The latter two experiments allow ¹H–¹⁵N dipolar coupling constants and H–N bond lengths to be accurately measured, providing an unambiguous assignment of nitrogen protonation state and definitive classification of the multicomponent solids as cocrystals or salts. These types of measurements should also be extremely useful in the context of polymorph discrimination, NMR crystallography structure determination, and for probing hydrogen bonding in a variety of organic materials

Monitoring Phase Transformations in Intact Tablets of Trehalose by FT-Raman Spectroscopy

The purpose of this study is to monitor phase transformations in intact trehalose tablets using FT-Raman spectroscopy. Tablets of trehalose dihydrate, amorphous trehalose (obtained by freeze-drying aqueous trehalose solutions), and anhydrous trehalose (β-trehalose) were prepared. The tablets were exposed to different conditions [11% and 0% RH (60°C); 75% RH (25°C)] and monitored periodically over 96 h using Raman spectroscopy. Within 96 h of storage, the following phase transformations were observed: (1) trehalose dihydrate → β-trehalose (11% RH, 60°C), (2) trehalose dihydrate → α-trehalose (0% RH, 60°C), (3) β-trehalose → trehalose dihydrate (75% RH, 25°C), and (4) amorphous trehalose → trehalose dihydrate (75% RH, 25°C). FT-Raman spectroscopy was a useful technique to identify the solid form and monitor multiple-phase transformations in intact trehalose tablets stored at different conditions

Chemically Diverse Group I p21-Activated Kinase (PAK) Inhibitors Impart Acute Cardiovascular Toxicity with a Narrow Therapeutic Window

p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) has an important role in transducing signals in several oncogenic pathways. The concept of inhibiting this kinase has garnered significant interest over the past decade, particularly for targeting cancers associated with PAK1 amplification. Animal studies with the selective group I PAK (pan-PAK1, 2, 3) inhibitor G-5555 from the pyrido­[2,3-<i>d</i>]­pyrimidin-7-one class uncovered acute toxicity with a narrow therapeutic window. To attempt mitigating the toxicity, we introduced significant structural changes, culminating in the discovery of the potent pyridone side chain analogue G-9791. Mouse tolerability studies with this compound, other members of this series, and compounds from two structurally distinct classes revealed persistent toxicity and a correlation of minimum toxic concentrations and PAK1/2 mediated cellular potencies. Broad screening of selected PAK inhibitors revealed PAK1, 2, and 3 as the only overlapping targets. Our data suggest acute cardiovascular toxicity resulting from the inhibition of PAK2, which may be enhanced by PAK1 inhibition, and cautions against continued pursuit of pan-group I PAK inhibitors in drug discovery