Solid-State Stability Profiling of Ramipril to Optimize Its Quality Efficiency and Safety

High global expenditure on out-of-label-date drugs, along with safety concerns associated with the accumulation of degradation impurities, justify the need for stability profiling. In this article, a comprehensive study on the solid-state stability of ramipril (RAM) was performed via isothermal methods under stress conditions. A validated stability-indicating HPLC protocol was used. The effects of various factors on the rate of RAM degradation were investigated, including: temperature, relative air humidity (RH), excipients (talc, starch, methylcellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), mode of tablet storage, and immediate packaging. The degradation impurities were also identified by HPLC–MS. It was found that RAM was unstable, and temperature accelerated its degradation. RAM was also vulnerable to RH changes, suggesting that it must be protected from moisture. The reaction followed first-order kinetics. The studied excipients stabilized RAM as a pure substance. The tableting process deteriorated its stability, explaining the need for appropriate immediate packaging. RAM in the form of tablets must be stored in blisters, and it cannot be crushed into two halves. The degradation impurities were ramiprilat and the diketopiperazine derivative

Lignin-Based Spherical Structures and Their Use for Improvement of Cilazapril Stability in Solid State

Biopolymer-based spherical particles exhibit unique properties including narrow sizes and many functional groups on their surfaces. Therefore, they show great potential for application in many scientific and industrial processes. The main aim of this study was to prepare lignin-based spherical particles with the use of a cationic surfactant, hexadecyl(trimethyl)ammonium bromide (CTAB). In the first step, different preparation procedures were tested with varying parameters, including biopolymer and surfactant ratios, lignin filtration, and experimental time. The morphological and dispersion characteristics of the materials were determined to select the best samples with the most promising properties, which could then be tested for their acute toxicity. It was observed that almost all materials were characterized by spherical shapes in micro- and nanosizes. The sample with the best physicochemical properties was used for further analysis and then tested for medical applications: the improvement of the stability of a drug molecule, cilazapril (CIL). The formulated material (CIL@LC-2a 1:1 wt./wt.) exhibited outstanding properties and significantly improved the stability of cilazapril as tested in conditions of increased temperature and humidity. Lignin spherical particles may be employed as a promising material for shielding other active compounds from decomposition

The Degradation Product of Ramipril Is Potentially Carcinogenic, Genotoxic and Mutagenic

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to identify the degradation product of ramipril (RAM) formed under dry air and to verify its potential modes of carcinogenicity. We intended to check whether its formation and presence in final dosage forms could pose a cancer risk to humans who are treated with RAM due to cardiological indications. The carcinogenicity of this compound was evaluated with respect to two mechanisms: a potential direct DNA-damage and indirect toxicity, secondary to forming mutagenic N-nitroso metabolites. (2) Methods: Firstly, a forced ageing test under dry air was conducted for pure RAM in order to induce its degradation. The validated HPLC system was used to describe the kinetic order of this reaction. The emerging degradation impurity was identified by HPLC-MS. In the second stage, the cancer risk of the identified RAM degradant was predicted using a structure-based assessment by in silico QSAR model, employing three endpoints: carcinogenicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity. In the third stage, the obtained QSAR results were experimentally verified. To verify genotoxicity prediction, in vitro micronucleus assay was employed. It enabled us to assess the potential direct DNA-damaging properties of RAM degradant at high concentrations (as screening series) and at concentrations usually observed in human blood (to mimic the clinical scenario). To verify the QSAR mutagenicity prediction, an in vitro Ames test was carried out. It was designed so as to detect two mechanisms of mutagenicity: a direct one (for pure degradant) and an indirect one (via N-nitroso-metabolites formation). N-nitroso-metabolites for mutagenicity assessment were obtained using NAP test. (3) Results: The kinetic mechanism of RAM degradation was first-order, the degradation rate constant was k = 1.396 ± 0.133 × 10−5 s−1 (T = 373 K), thus the formation of impurity was rapid. Energy of activation was 174.12 ± 46.2 kJ/mol, entropy was positive, thus reaction was bimolecular and favored; enthalpy was 171.65 ± 48.7 kJ/mol, thus reaction was endothermic. Only one degradation impurity was formed, and it was identified as RAM diketopiperazine derivative (DKP). QSAR simulation predicted that DKP could be carcinogenic and genotoxic, but this result had only moderate reliability. DKP was also predicted to be non-mutagenic and this prediction was strong (endpoint score 0.2). The confirmatory micronucleus experiment for genotoxicity prediction suggested that DKP was cytotoxic and it could be also aneugenic at a high concentration (0.22 mg/mL), evidenced by a three-fold increase in micronuclei relative to the control (11.86:33.33%, p = 0.0184). At physiologic concentrations, its cytotoxicity and genotoxicity did not occur. This means that the genotoxicity of DKP was limited by a threshold mechanism. In the mutagenicity in vitro assessment, pure DKP was not mutagenic, but its nitrosation product induced base substitutions mutations in test bacteria TA100 following metabolic activation at a concentration of 4.5 mg/mL, confirming its mutagenicity. (4) Conclusions: RAM rapidly cyclizes to diketopiperazine derivative under dry air. This impurity resides in drugs administered to patients. DKP is potentially aneugenic and cytotoxic at high concentrations, yet at concentrations typically occurring in human blood, this effect is unlikely. The exposure of patients to high concentrations of DKP, exceeding the typical blood level and standard RAM dosing, could lead to cancer development, thus the safe threshold for human exposure to DKP must be verified in follow-up in vivo experiments. Based on our results, it is impossible to establish the maximum safe dose of pure DKP to humans. Furthermore, DKP itself is not mutagenic, but it is liable to the formation of mutagenic nitroso-metabolites in vivo. Nitroso-derivatives of DKP are in vitro mutagens and their real-life impact on humans must be further evaluated in in vivo studies. Until this is carried out, RAM should not be formulated by manufacturers using dry procedures to minimize DKP formation and reduce risk of human carcinogenesis, since DKP could cause cancer via two independent mechanisms: direct genotoxicity when the exposure over standard RAM dosing occurs, and indirect mutagenicity via in vivo N-nitrosamine formation

Can angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors interfere with the free radicals? Measurement of antioxidant capacity using DPPH radical reduction examined by UV-VIS method

A negative impact of radicals on human’s health is responsible for growing research interest in antioxidant properties of substances, which protect organisms from the damaging influence of these reactive species. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) are the most popular drugs used in cardiovascular diseases. There are a lot of clinical reports that ACE-I have antioxidant properties, due to the fact, that prolonged use improves conditions of patients with neurodegenerative disorders and slow inflammatory processes. The paper shows the antioxidant properties of a selected ACE-I: cilazapril, ramipril, imidapril, lisinopril, perindopril, and quinapril. Among numerous methods for antioxidant activity estimation, DPPH reduction is the most popular and commonly used one due to its ease, speed, sensitivity and the usage of stable radicals. UV-Vis spectrophotometry was used to examine interactions of chosen ACE-I with model-free radicals. Absorption of UV-Vis spectra of DPPH (reference), and DPPH interacting with the tested ACE-I were compared. For all tested ACE-I kinetics of their interaction with DPPH, up to 30 minutes, were obtained. The strongest interaction with DPPH was observed for imidapril and cilazapril and the lowest interaction for lisinopril. Studies have shown usefulness UV-Vis spectrophotometry for obtaining information on interactions of ACE-I with model-free radicals

How to stabilize cilazapril-containing solid dosage forms? The optimization of a final drug formulation

Cilazapril, a moisture-sensitive compound, is known to undergo rapid degradation which could be additionally facilitated by the presence of excipients that contain or absorb moisture. Hence we investigated the stability of cilazapril in two commercially-available dosage forms and in binary mixtures with the selected excipients used in the studied commercial formulations i.e.: hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, maize starch and talc in order to detect any possible, stability-affecting incompatibilities. Also the impact of the blister made of oriented polyamide/aluminum/polyvinyl chloride//aluminum on cilazapril-containing tablets was researched. A validated HPLC and HPLC-MS methods were used for analysis and the isothermal stress testing conditions were applied (temperature range 318–343 K, relative humidity 76.4% for tablets and temperature 333 K, relative humidity range 50.9–76.4% for binary mixtures). It was shown that the degradation of cilazapril in both, model mixtures and tablets follows the autocatalytic model kinetics and it is more rapid than that observed for pure substance, evidenced by higher degradation rate constants. The immediate packaging protects cilazapril in tablets from degradation only in case of the original drug while in its blistered generic counterpart a slight but statistically insignificant increase of cilazapril decay occurs when compared to bare tablets (p < 0.05). The degradation product of cilazapril in tablets and binary mixtures was identified as cilazaprilat. It was also observed that the increase of relative humidity or the presence of hypromellose, lactose and talc significantly impairs the stability of cilazapril in the aforementioned order. Only maize starch exhibited a positive effect on cilazapril stability (10.8% loss of cilazapril in binary mixture after 360 days of stressing compared to 35% loss of pure cilazapril in analogous test conditions) probably thanks to its moisture-scavenging properties. It was suggested that in the manufacture of cilazapril-containing solid dosage forms the procedure of wet granulation should be avoided while hygroscopic excipients should be substituted by their non-hygroscopic counterparts

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Food and Personal Care Products—What Do We Know about Their Safety?

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a material of diverse applications commonly used as a food additive or cosmetic ingredient. Its prevalence in products of everyday use, especially in nanosize, raises concerns about safety. Current findings on the safety of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) used as a food additive or a sunscreen compound are reviewed and systematized in this publication. Although some studies state that TiO2 NPs are not harmful to humans through ingestion or via dermal exposure, there is a considerable number of data that demonstrated their toxic effects in animal models. The final agreement on the safety of this nanomaterial has not yet been reached among researchers. There is also a lack of official, standardized guidelines for thorough characterization of TiO2 NPs in food and cosmetic products, provided by international authorities. Recent advances in the application of &lsquo;green-synthesized&rsquo; TiO2 NPs, as well as comparative studies of the properties of &lsquo;biogenic&rsquo; and &lsquo;traditional&rsquo; nanoparticles, are presented. To conclude, perspectives and directions for further studies on the toxicity of TiO2 NPs are proposed

Impact of hydrochlorothiazide on the stability of two perindopril salts. Evaluation of the interaction with HPLC and ESI LC/MS methods

Perindopril (PER) belongs to the group of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and is widely prescribed antihypertensive drug. It can be used in monotherapy or in combination therapy for example with hydrochlorothiazide (HTH). As on the market there is no pharmaceutical formulation containing both drugs and in literature has not been reported any work about effect of HTH on PER degradation process, the primary objective of this study was the assessment of stability of two salts of perindopril - tert-butylamine (PERt) and arginine (PERa) in a mixtures model with HTH in different relative humidities and constant temperature. Objective of the study was establishing the mechanisms of drug decomposition in the presence of HTH. Results were achieved using the high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The degradation rate constants for mixtures and pure substances were calculated. Decomposition products have been analyzed by ESI LC/MS and the decomposition mechanism for each salt has been proposed. The degradation of PERt in the presence of HTH took place according to autocatalytic reaction kinetic mechanism, described mathematically by Prout-Tompkins equation, and the decomposition process leads to hydrolysis. HTH in the model mixture with PERa generates a first-order kinetic model of the decomposition reaction, and there are two main products of decomposition: product of hydrolysis and diketopiperazine. Our study showed that HTH has statistically significant positive impact on both salts. It can be suggested that PERt or PERa and HTH can be formulated together, hence there is no negative interaction between the drugs

Functional Hybrid Materials Based on Manganese Dioxide and Lignin Activated by Ionic Liquids and Their Application in the Production of Lithium Ion Batteries

Kraft lignin (KL) was activated using selected ionic liquids (ILs). The activated form of the biopolymer, due to the presence of carbonyl groups, can be used in electrochemical tests. To increase the application potential of the system in electrochemistry, activated lignin forms were combined with manganese dioxide, and the most important physicochemical and morphological-microstructural properties of the novel, functional hybrid systems were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis (EA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential analysis, thermal stability (TGA/DTG) and porous structure analysis. An investigation was also made of the practical application of the hybrid materials in the production of lithium ion batteries. The capacity of the anode (MnO2/activated lignin), working at a low current regime of 50 mA·g−1, was ca. 610 mAh·g−1, while a current of 1000 mA·g−1 resulted in a capacity of 570 mAh·g−1. Superior cyclic stability and rate capability indicate that this may be a promising electrode material for use in high-performance lithium ion batteries

Nanocomposites of Titanium Dioxide and Peripherally Substituted Phthalocyanines for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole.

peer reviewedPhthalocyanines (Pcs) are often used in photosensitization of titanium(IV) oxide, a commonly employed photocatalyst, as such an approach holds the promise of obtaining highly stable and efficient visible light-harvesting materials. Herein, we report on the preparation, characterization and photoactivity of a series of composites based on TiO2 and peripherally modified metallophthalocyanines: either tetrasulfonated or 4,4′,4′′,4′′′-tetraazaphthalocyanines, with either copper(II), nickel(II) or zinc(II) as the central metal ion. Physicochemical characterization was performed using UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, hydrodynamic particle-size analysis, surface-area analysis using N2 adsorption-desorption measurements and thermogravimetry combined with differential scanning calorimetry. The band-gap energy values were lower for the composites with peripherally modified phthalocyanines than for the commercial TiO2 P25 or the unsubstituted zinc(II) phthalocyanine-grafted TiO2. TG–DSC results confirmed that the chemical deposition, used for the preparation of Pc/TiO2 composites, is a simple and efficient method for TiO2 surface modification, as all the Pc load was successfully grafted on TiO2. The photocatalytic potential of the Pc/TiO2 materials was assessed in the photocatalytic removal of sulfamethoxazole—a commonly used antibacterial drug of emerging ecological concern. To compare the activity of the materials in different conditions, photodegradation tests were conducted both in water and in an organic medium