Pharmaceutics Flashcards

1
Q

Weak acids have a poor dissolution rate in acidic conditions. How can the dissolution rate be increased?

A

By increasing the pH of the diffusion layer by forming the alkaline salt of the weak acidic drug
By adding Na+/K+ salts as they dissolve more rapidly than weak acids, regardless of pH of medium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Which is the most common route of permeation for drugs?

A

Transcellularly as most drugs are lipophilic

Hydrophilic drugs permeate paracellularly through water channels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Is logP dependent on pH or independent of pH?

A

Independent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does a logP of 1 indicate?

A

More soluble in organic phase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does logP of -1 indicate?

A

More soluble in aqueous phase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Is logD pH dependent or independent?

A

Dependent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

logP = logD at any pH for unionsed drugs. True or false?

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How do amino acids stabilise proteins?

A

By preferential interaction or exclusion
They prevent protein-protein interactions as they bind to the unfolding protein instead
They increase the solubility and reduce viscosity therefore reducing aggregation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How do polymers stabilise proteins?

A

Cause competitive binding as they adsorb to surfaces instead of the proteins so there is less chance of unfolding and aggregation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How does the acylation of a protein increase its stability?

A

By adding a fatty acid, it increases its affinity to albumin, resulting in longer acting insulin etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why are monomeric and dimeric forms of insulin better for diabetes treatment that hexameric?

A

Because they diffuse faster and hence improve transport due to being smaller
they are faster acting on SC administration, are absorbed faster at epithelial barriers and have faster response from infusion pumps

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why are short and rapid acting insulins less variable than other types?

A

Because of prandial administration, shorter duration of action with reduced extended insulin causing hypos

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What factors in NPH insulin cause variability?

A

Formulated with protamine to create suspensions forming crystals. This means speed of dissociation and so absorption varies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Out of detemir and glargine, which is subject to more variability and why?

A

Glargine because isoelectric precipitates formed after injection require dissociation. This means greater care is needed with administration i.e. same time, same site, same needle technique.
Detemir is formulated with a fatty acid which stabilises the hexamer meaning slower dissociation and longer-acting. Fatty acid also allows binding to albumin, prolonging circulation levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

A

Antigens stimulate an immune response, including B cell cloning and hence Ab production
Select the B cell clones that produce the desired Ab.
Fuse B cells with myeloma cells so they become hybridomas
Use robotics to optimise hybridoma growth and hence mAb production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How are fully human recombinant antibodies produced?

A

4 mouse IgG gene loci coding for 4 protein subunits on the antibody are replaced by human transgenes
the mouse is immunised to raise immune response
B cells selected, hybridomas produced, grown in bioreactor cell to produce human antibodies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

After administration of mAbs, where do they distribute to?

A

Extracellular fluid as they have difficulty penetrating cells due to their large MW and hydrophilicity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the primary routes of elimination of mAbs?

A

Renal clearance and proteolytic catabolism following receptor-mediated endocytosis in the cells of the reticulo-endothelial system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Which receptor is responsible for antibody recycling?

A

FcRn (Brambell receptor)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Where is the FcRn receptor primarily expressed?

A

Vascular endothelial cells or RES

Lower levels found on monocyte cell surfaces and dendritic cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What happens to FcRn receptor at high levels of IgG?

A

Becomes saturated so IgG starts to degrade i.e. high concentrations of IgG/antibody dose lead to lower half-life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the typical half-life of human IgG?

A

14-21 days

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What are the 2 types of ADA?

A

Binding ADA which cause PK modifications and neutralising ADA which cause PD modifications

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Name some ADA risk factors

A

Product related - homology to endogenous proteins, non-glycosylation
Underlying disease - chronic inflammation
Other meds - immunomodulators
Genetics - HLA
Dosage - higher freq dosing -> ADA formation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What limits the rate of absorption of a drug?

A

Dissolution - i.e. how quickly a drug is absorbed is dependent on how quickly it is dissolved

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How does activity differ between the stomach and SI?

A

Contents of stomach static until gastric emptying however contents of SI are very active in both fed and fasted states.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

How does rate of blood flow in the stomach and SI vary?

A

Food increase gastric secretions which leads to increased blood flow around stomach
Blood flow in intestines is always fast

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Drugs that belong to which BCS classes are eligible for biowaiver?

A

Class 1
Class 2 - if WA demonstrates high solubility at pH 6.8
Class 3 - if rapidly dissolving
Not Class 4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

In BCS, what is meant by highly soluble and highly permeable?

A

Highly soluble - largest dose soluble in <250ml of water in pH range 1-7.5
Highly permeable - >90% absorption of administered dose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Why is solubility a growing issue in drug development?

A

Because 40% of NCE are poorly soluble
More drugs made using tech such as throughput screening so aren’t as good in vivo
More reliance on formulation patents addressing solubility issues to extend product life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What are the in vivo consequences of low solubility?

A
Reduced bioavailability
Increase chances of food effects
Increased issues during disease states
Increased interpatient variability
More frequent incomplete release from dose form
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What are the in vitro consequences of low solubility?

A

Limited choice of delivery tech e.g. MR
Poor correlation with in vivo absorption
Increased complexity of dissolution testing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

How would you improve the solubility of a BCS class II drug to make it a class I drug?

A

Addition of surfactants, soluble salts, reduce the particle size, nanoparticles, cyclodextrins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

How would you improve the permeability of a BCS class III drug to make it a class I drug?

A

Permeation enhancers, absorption enhancing excipients, efflux inhibitors, lipid-filled capsules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

How would you improve both the solubility and permeability of a class IV drug to make it class I?

A

Prodrug, salt forms, co-solvents, lyophilisation, nanoparticles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What are the two ways particle size can be reduced in particle engineering?

A

Recrystallisation using liquid solvents and anti-solvents - this increases manufacturing complexity
Comminution and spray drying
- rely on mechanical stresses to disaggregate which could lead to drug degradation

37
Q

What are the benefits of nano-particles?

A

Increased bioavailability
Reduced food variability i.e. fed:fasted smaller
Better dose proportionality i.e. dose proportional to AUC so plasma conc predictable

38
Q

Name two drugs that nanoparticulation methods are used for

A

Ibuprofen and naproxen

39
Q

What are the two methods of creating nanoparticles?

A

Comminution i.e. milling, piston gap method - both damaging to drug as physical stress
Supercritical fluids - control solubility using temp and pressure e.g. CO2

40
Q

At what temp do supercritical fluids have properties of both liquids and gases?

A

Temperature above their thermodynamic critical points

41
Q

What are the properties of SCFs at near-critical temperatures?

A

They are highly compressible allowing moderate changes in pressure and temperature to greatly alter their density, mass transport and solvating power

42
Q

Manipulation of pressure of SCF allows favourable characteristics of gases to be imparted on liquids. What are these characteristics?

A

High diffusibility
Low surface tension
Low viscosity

43
Q

How do SEDDS increase absorption and bioavailability of drugs?

A

Presence of lipids in duodenum leads to lipid secretions and formation of micelles
Triglycerides and surfactants react with walls of GIT to aid solubilisation and absorption of drug
Use of lipid based formulations leads to drug being absorbed into lymphatic system and into systemic circulation, avoid 1st pass metabolism

44
Q

What is the most common route of permeation?

A

Transcellularly - lipophilic drugs

Hydrophilic drugs however permeate paracellularly

45
Q

What is PEG used for and how does it influence particle size?

A

Incorporated as a co-solvent in liquid based formulations. It reduces particle size by preventing precipitation of poorly soluble particles

46
Q

How is PEG used in solid dosage forms to reduce particle size?

A

Used as a wetting agent incorporated by solvent evaporation or freeze drying

47
Q

Why is reducing particle size important in the solubilisation of poorly soluble drugs?

A

Because it increases SA, reduces the diffusion thickness and increases saturation solubility

48
Q

What are the 5 ways in which particles can be deposited?

A
Inertial impaction 
Gravitational sedimentation
Brownian diffusion
Electrostatic interaction 
Interception
49
Q

What is meant by inertial impaction?

A

Momentum leads to particle not being able to change direction with flow so hits side of airways

50
Q

What is meant by gravitational sedimentation?

A

When air velocity is low e.g. when holding breath. Greater when long residence time in the region

51
Q

Which particles are affected by Brownian diffusion?

A

Particles <0.1um in size

52
Q

What is meant by electrostatic interaction?

A

Charged particle inflicts opposite charge on the wall and so accelerates particle to proximity

53
Q

What is meant by interception?

A

When width of wall meets the diameter of the particle so particle is forced to deposit

54
Q

Which regions does the upper respiratory tract entail?

A

Buccal, sublingual and nasal cavity

55
Q

What is the difference in the solvents used in DPIs, pMDIs and nebulisers>

A

Non-polar solvent in pMDIs
Polar solvent in nebuliser
No solvent in DPIs

56
Q

Why may ethanol be used in pMDIs>

A

It is used as a co-solvent to enhance the solubility of propellant

57
Q

Why may oleic acid be used in pMDIs?

A

Oleic acid is a surfactant used to stabilise the suspension. It adsorbs to particles and acts as a steric barrier to agglomeration

58
Q

Which exipient may be used for lubricative purposes in pMDIs?

A

Surfactants

59
Q

Impaction and sedimentation and directly proportional to particle size. True or false?

A

True

60
Q

Diffusion is inversely proportional to particle size. True or false?

A

True

61
Q

How can aerodynamic diameter be decreased?

A

Decreased particle size
decreased density
Increased shape factor - elongation

62
Q

Why does hygroscopicity adversely affect lung deposition?

A

Because water attaches to particles in lungs because lung is humid and so leads to aggregation and an increase in particle size leading to an increase in aerodynamic diameter - but you want small diameter so particles deposit further down in lungs

63
Q

What methods are used to create particles for DPI?

A

Spray drying, SCFs, solvents and anti-solvents

64
Q

Excipients are not usually used in DPIs, but when they are used which excipients are used and why?

A

Lactose and lipids to avoid agglomeration

65
Q

How do needle-free injections inject the drug into the skin?

A

Spring-power or high pressure gas

66
Q

How can the penetration of a transdermal drug be enhanced?

A

Modifying the formulation by either modifying the drug/delivery vehicle or modifying the stratum corneum
Use of powered devices

67
Q

Do lipophilic transdermal drugs pass intercellularly or transcellularly?

A

Intercellularly

68
Q

Why is a logP between 1-3 preferred in transdermal drugs?

A

So drug can pass through both lipid and aqueous region as there is aqueous region between the lipids

69
Q

What are the most ideal drug characteristics for a patch?

A
Melting point <200 degrees C
Molecular weight <1000Da, preferably <500Da
Daily dose 5-20mg
LogP 1-3
Max patch size 50cm2
t1/2 6-8hrs
70
Q

How is a supersaturated solution formed for transdermal patches and what is the benefit?

A

Skin permeation is enhanced by having supersaturated solution. Produced by evaporating solvent from warm skin surface or mixing co-solvents

71
Q

What is the role of an anti-nucleating agent in transdermal patches?

A

Stabilises supersaturated solutions as they are unstable

72
Q

What is meant by the enhancement ratio?

A

Penetration enhancer activity

ER = drug permeability after enhancement treatment divided by before enhancement treatment

73
Q

How does hydration of the skin by modifying SC enhance drug permeability?

A

Hydration opens the SC structure allowing more penetration of drug
Occlusion via patches keeps water in skin
Oil-in-water emulsion donates water to skin

74
Q

What are the 4 types of liposomes?

A

Deformable
Ethosomes
Niosomes
Solid lipid particles

75
Q

What are the ways in which the stratum corneum can be modified to increase penetration of a drug?

A
Hydration
Liposomes
Bypass/remove lipid layers
Powered electrical device
Increase partitioning and solubility 
Penetration enhancers
76
Q

How can the partitioning of and solubility of SC be modified?

A

Shift the solubility parameter of the skin to make it similar to that of the drug
Solubility parameter of the skin lipids is usually 10
When partitioning parameter of the drug is greater than skin - irritation occurs

77
Q

How does keratin and lipid disruption in SC increase permeation?

A

Fluidising lipids with alcohol will enhance solubility

Extracting lipids to form aq channels so drug gets in easily

78
Q

How do you modify the the drug/vehicle to enhance penetration through the skin?

A
Selection of a drug with suitable characteristics
Use of a prodrug
Ion complex
Eutectic mixture
Chemical potential
79
Q

How does a eutectic mixture improve the penetration of a drug through the skin

A

The mixture of two solvents will reduce the melting point as when they are combined at the same ratio, they will inhibit the crystalline process of each other

80
Q

How does altering the chemical potential of a drug enhance penetration through the skin?

A

Skin penetration is enhanced by supersaturated solution - achieved by evaporation of solvent from the skin.
Supersaturation makes system unstable so need to add anti-nucleating agent

81
Q

What are the two types of microneedle patches?

A

Dissolving polymer

Drug coated spears

82
Q

How do microneedle patches work?

A

They create micron size pathways in the skin to enhance permeability of skin
They drive drug into skin when patch placed
Target SC

83
Q

Outline the protein aggregation process

A

Starts as a tertiary (native) structure which unfolds -> intermediate -> denatures to a primary aggregate -> releases energy to become more stable -> fibril which is insoluble

84
Q

What factors induce protein instability

A
pH
high temps and pressures
adsorption onto solid surfaces
freezing and thawing
shear forces
air/water interfaces
85
Q

How can proteins be stabilised?

A
Amino acids
Polymers
Surfactants
Anti-oxidants
Salts
Polyols
86
Q

What are the 3 methods that can be used to stabilise proteins?

A

PEGylation
Acylation
Surface engineering

87
Q

How can surface engineering stabilise a protein?

A

Removal of sites on the protein surface that are likely to cause aggregation

88
Q

How does preferential exclusion increase protein stability?

A

Sucrose has no hydrophobic groups so doesn’t interact with the protein and is preferentially excluded. The protein unfolds and is forced back to refold by sucrose. The degree of exclusion is directly proportional to the protein SA exposed to the solvent. The system minimises the thermodynamically unfavourable effect of preferential exclusion by favouring state with lowest SA
Sucrose increases chemical potential for protein to degrade so protein remains in the favoured (native) state as a result