Oral Biopharmaceutics 2 Flashcards
What is the structure of cyclodextrins (CD’s)?
Tube/cage like structure with a hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic exterior
How does the structure of cyclodextrins related to their function?
Insoluble hydrophobic drugs can insert themselves into the centre of the ‘tube’
The exterior of the tube is hydrophilic which helps improve their solubility
How are cyclodextrins formed?
Supersaturating a CD solution with drug with agitation - for a solution
Kneading a drug/CD/solvent slurry to a paste which is then dried and sieved - for a solid drug
How can the solubility of cyclodextrins be further improved?
Add a hydrophilic polymer e.g. HPMC
Improves the solubilising effect of CD’s, so less CD is needed to solubilise the same amount of drug
Why are there few oral-based CD products on the market?
Toxicity and stability issues
What are amorphous compounds?
Compounds with no crystalline structure
What are the consequences of the structure of amorphous compounds?
More unstable and prone to recrystallisation
More soluble as less energy required for dissolution
How are amorphous compounds created?
Formulation (of an insoluble) drug with polymers
This can be done by,
1) Spray drying using solvents or replacing with supercritical fluids
2) Hot melt extrusion
Why are polar excipients added to a formulation?
To enhance the solubility of a poorly soluble drug
Give some examples of polar excipients.
Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Gelatin
Sugar glasses e.g. inulin
Lipids
How is PEG used to improve solubility?
Can be used as a co-solvent in liquid based dosage forms to prevent precipitation of compounds that are poorly soluble
Acts as a wetting agent to enhance dissolution or dispersion
Can be used in combo with other excipients e.g. stearic acid, SLS
What formulations is PEG suitable for use in?
Suitable for parenteral and topical application/admin
How is PEG incorporated?
Solvent evaporation or freeze drying
How is gelatin used to improve solubility?
Gelatin is a naturally derived collagen extract with both +/- charges in its structure
Improves wettability of hydrophobic compounds when used as a granulating agent
How do sugar glasses (e.g. inulin) improve solubility?
Inulin is a naturally occurring fructose polymer
Protects the drug from physical and chemical degradation improving solubility
How are sugar glasses formed?
Mixing an inulin solution with a drug solution followed by freeze drying creates a sugar glass
What formulations are sugar glasses suitable for use in?
Parenteral and pulmonary
GRAS status for oral formulations
Sugar glasses are used in the formulation of which agents?
Ciclosporin
Diazepam
How are lipids used to improve solubility?
Used in self emulsifying systems e.g. lymphatic delivery
Reduced particle size…
Increases surface area: volume ratio and usually improves dissolution properties
Improving dissolution allows the use of what?
A wider range of formulation and delivery approaches
How can particle size be reduced?
1) Recrystallisation of poorly soluble drugs using liquid solvents and anti-solvents
2) Conventional comminution and spray-drying relying upon mechanical stress to disaggregate the active