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Preformulation
Preformulation is branch of Pharmaceutical science that utilizes biopharmaceutical principles in the determination of physicochemical properties of the drug substance. Prior to the development of any dosage form new drug , it is essential that certain fundamental physical & chemical properties of drug powder are determined . This information may dictate many of subsequent event & approaches in formulation development.*
DEFINITION:-Investigation of physico-chemical properties of the new drug compound that could affect drug performance and development of an effective dosage form”.Preformulation commences when a newly synthesized drug shows a sufficient pharmacologic promise in animal model to warrant evaluation in man. *
The preformulation is the first step in the rational development of a dosage form of a drug substance alone and when combined with excipients. Objective : To generate useful information to the formulator to design an optimum drug delivery system.
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GOALS OF PREFORMULATION
To establish the necessary physicochemical parameters of new drug substances. To determine kinetic rate profile. To establish physical characteristics. To establish compatibility with common excipients.*
Physical Description
It is important to understand the physical description of a drug substance (whether it is solid, semisolid or liquid) prior to dosage form development. Most drugs in use today are solid materials and less number are liquid in nature.*
Physical Description
Liquid drugs have two problems in the design of a dosage form which are: 1. The volatility: they must be physically sealed from the atmosphere to prevent evaporation. 2. They cannot generally be formulated into tablet (the most popular form of oral medication).
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To solve these problems, two easy methods are used to formulate liquid drugs into solid dosage forms. First, by soft gelatin capsule, e.g.,vitamin A.
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The second method involves the conversion of the liquid drug into solid derivatives such as salt or ester. For instance, scopolamine is liquid but its hydrobromide salt is solid.
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Melting Point
Each a pure substance has a definite melting point. If not pure, the substance will exhibit a change in melting point. The pure substances have always higher melting points than their impure mixtures. This phenomenon is called melting point depression and commonly used to determine the purity of a drug substance.*
Organoleptic properties
Unfortunately, many drug substances in use today are unpalatable and dosage forms containing such drugs (oral preparations( may require the addition of flavors and/or colors.*
Color is generally a function of a drug’s inherent chemical structure relating to a certain level of unsaturation.Color intensity relates to the extent of conjugated unsaturation as well as the presence of chromophores.Some compound may appear to have color although structurally saturated. * COLOR
The substance may exhibit an inherent odor characteristic of major functional groups present. Odor greatly affects the flavor of a preparation or food stuff. Taste:- If taste is considered as unpalatable, consideration is to be given to the use of a less soluble chemical form of the drug. The odour and taste may be suppressed by using appropriate flavors and excipients or by coating the final product.
* Odour
Particle size can influence variety of important factors : - Dissolution rate - Suspendability - Uniform distribution - Penetrability - Lack of grittiness
* PARTICLE SIZE
Methods to Determine Particle Size
Sieving Microscopy Sedimentation rate method Light energy diffraction Laser holography Cascade impaction*
Sieving method :Range : 50 – 150 µmSimple, inexpensiveIf powder is not dry, the apertures get clogged.Microscopy :Range : 0.2 – 100 µmParticle size can be determined by the use of calibrated grid background.Most direct method.Slow & tedious method. * Methods to Determine Particle Size
* Methods to Determine Particle Size
5. Light energy diffraction :Range : 0.5 – 500 µmParticle size is determined by the reduction in light reaching the sensor as the particle, dispersed in a liquid or gas, passes through the sensing zone.Quick & fast.6. Laser holography :Range : 1.4 – 100 µmA pulsed laser is fired through an aerosolized particle spray & photographed in three dimensional with holographic camera, allowing the particles to be individually imaged & sized. * Methods to Determine Particle SizePARTICLE SIZE
Particle size is characterized using these terms : Very coarse (#8) Coarse (#20) Moderately coarse (#40) Fine (#60) Very fine (#80)*
POWDER FLOW PROPERTIES
Powder flow properties can be affected by change in particle size, shape & density. The flow properties depends upon following- Force of friction. Cohesion between one particle to another. Fine particle posses poor flow by filling void spaces between larger particles causing packing & densification of particles.. By using glident we can alter the flow properties. e.g. Starch, Talc.
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Determination Of Powder Flow Properties
By determining Angle Of Repose.A greater angle of repose indicate poor flow.It should be less than 30°. & can be determined by following equation. tan θ = h/r. where, θ = angle of repose. h=height of pile. r= radius. Angle Of Repose ( In degree)Type Of Flow
<25
Excellent
25-30
Good
30-40
Passable
>40
Very poor
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Measurement of free flowing powder by compressibility.Also known as Carr's index.CARR’S INDEX(%) =(TAPPED DENSITY – POURED DENSITY) X 100 TAPPED DENSITY It is simple, fast & popular method of predicting powder flow characteristics. * Determination Of Powder Flow Properties
Carr’s Index Type of flow
5-15Excellent
12-16
Good
18-21
Fair To Passable
23-35
Poor
33-38
Very Poor
>40
Extremely Poor
* Determination Of Powder Flow Properties
Particle shape will influence the surface area, flow of particles, packing & compaction properties of the particles. A sphere has minimum surface area per unit volume. Therefore, these properties can be compared for spheres & asymmetric particles, in order to decide the shape.
Cont… PARTICLE SHAPE
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SURFACE AREA
Particle size & surface area are inversely related to each other. Smaller the drug particle, greater the surface area. Specific surface is defined as the surface area per unit weight (Sw) or unit volume (Sv) of the material.*
HOWEVER SIZE REDUCTION IS NOT REQUIRED IN FOLLOWING CASES
WHEN DRUG IS UNSTABLE. DEGRADE IN SOLUTION FORM. PRODUCE UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS. WHEN SUSTAINED EFFECT IS DESIRED.*
Preformulation solubility studies focus on drug solvent system that could occur during the delivery of drug candidate. For e.g. A drug for oral administration should be examined for solubility in media having isotonic chloride ion concentration and acidic pH.
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Analytic method that are particularly useful for solubility measurement include HPLC, UV spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy and Gas chromatography. Reverse phase HPLC offer accurate and efficient mean of collecting solubility data of drug.
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Description
Parts of solvent required for one part of soluteVery soluble
< 1
Freely soluble
1 - 10
Soluble
10 - 30
Sparingly soluble
30 - 100
Slightly soluble
100 - 1000
Very slightly soluble
1000 - 10,000
Insoluble
> 10,000
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Ionization constant (pKa) Can be calculated by Henderson Hasselbach equation- For acidic drugs….pH= pKa+ log [ionized drug] [unionized drug] For basic drugs….pH= pKa+ log[unionized drug] [ionized drug] *
Partition Coefficient It is the ratio of unionized drug distributed between organic and aqueous phase at equilibrium. P o/w = ( C oil / C water )equilibrium
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Determination of solubility
The following points should be considered The solvent & solute must be pure. A saturated solution must be obtained before any solution is removed for analysis. The method of separating a sample of saturated solution from undissolved solute must be satisfactory. The method of analyzing solution must be reliable Temperature must be adequately controlled .*
Addition of co-solvent pH change method Reduction of particle size Temperature change method Addition of Surfactant Complexation
* General Method of Increasing the Solubility
Applications of solubilization
Drugs with limited aqueous solubility can be solubilized. These include oil-soluble vitamins, steroid hormones and antimicrobial agents etc. Both oil-soluble and water-soluble compounds can be combined in a single phase system as in case of multivitamin preparations.*
Solubilization may lead to enhanced absorption and increased biological activity. Drug absorption from ointment bases and suppositories also increased.
* Applications of solubilization
Aqueous concentrates of volatile oils can be prepared by solubilization. Example: soaps used for solubilising phenolic compounds for use as disinfectants- Lysol, Roxenol etc. Barbiturates, anticoagulant, alkloidal drugs are dissolved with polysorbate by solubilization.
* Applications of solubilization
* Formulation Challenges with Poorly Soluble Compounds Poor dissolution rate Low and variable bioavailability More potential for food effect Inability to deliver high doses for toxicity studies Difficulty in developing parenteral formulations
Stability is the extent to which a product retains (throughout its period of storage and use, i.e., its shelf life) the same properties that it possessed at the time of its manufacture. One of the principles of dosage form design is to ensure that the chemical integrity of drug substances is maintained during the usable life of the product.
* Stability
Three types of stability concern the pharmacists: l. Chemical: Each active ingredient retains its chemical integrity within the specified limits. 2. Physical: The original physical properties (including appearance, taste, color and odor) are retained. 3. Biological: Sterility is retained (No microbial growth).
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