Precipitation of a poorly soluble model drug during in vitro lipolysis: characterization and dissolution of the precipitate.
Precipitation of cinnarizine during in vitro lipolysis of a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) was characterized to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the precipitation. During in vitro lipolysis of the SMEDDS with or without cinnarizine, samples were taken at several timepoints and ultracentrifuged. Cinnarizine content in the pellet increased from 4% to 59% during lipolysis. The precipitation of cinnarizine during in vitro lipolysis correlated well with the degree of lipid digestion, determined by sodium hydroxide addition. The pellet from the endpoint of lipolysis was isolated and subjected to dissolution in biorelevant media. Dissolution rate of cinnarizine from pellets containing precipitated cinnarizine was initially 10-fold higher than dissolution from blank pellet spiked with crystalline cinnarizine, reaching more than 50% drug dissolved in the first minute. Pellets were further characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). Both methods indicated the presence of liquid crystalline phases of calcium fatty acid soaps, but no presence of crystalline cinnarizine in the pellet. Overall, dissolution studies along with XRPD and PLM analysis indicate that cinnarizine precipitating during in vitro lipolysis of this SMEDDS is not crystalline, suggesting an either amorphous form or a molecular dispersion.
Sassene
Philip J
PJ
Department of Pharmaceutics and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Knopp
Matthias M
MM
Hesselkilde
Janne Z
JZ
Koradia
Vishal
V
Larsen
Anne
A
Rades
Thomas
T
Müllertz
Anette
A
D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002936:Cinnarizine / Q000737:chemistry; D004063:Digestion; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008066:Lipolysis; D050866:Liquid Crystals; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D008055:Lipids; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D002936:Cinnarizine