title: Enhanced dissolution and stability of adefovir dipivoxil by cocrystal formation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to prepare and characterize the novel adefovir dipivoxil-saccharin cocrystal and to demonstrate the enhanced dissolution and stability of adefovir dipivoxil by cocrystal formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adefovir dipivoxil-saccharin cocrystal was prepared using a novel solution crystallization approach and scaled up to 30 g for subsequent studies. DSC, IR and XRPD were used to characterize the novel solid form. The stoichiometry of the cocrystal was analysed by HPLC. Dissolution and chemical stability were assessed and compared with marketed adefovir dipivoxil (form 1) used in marketed Hepsera Tablets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A new solid adefovir dipivoxil-saccharin cocrystal with unique melting point, DSC, FTIR and XRPD data was obtained. The molar ratio of adefovir dipivoxil and saccharin in the cocrystal was determined to be 1 : 1. The cocrystal had a pH-independent dissolution profile and showed a two-fold increase in the dissolution efficiency in water and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) compared with adefovir dipivoxil. The cocrystal was kinetically much more stable than form 1. Form 1 degraded almost completely at 60°C in 18 days, while adefovir dipivoxil-saccharin cocrystal remained unchanged for 47 days at 60°C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that the dissolution and stability of adefovir dipivoxil could be significantly enhanced by its cocrystal formation with saccharin. The use of cocrystals could be a feasible and valuable approach for improving the physicochemical properties of adefovir dipivoxil.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004355:Drug Stability; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012439:Saccharin / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D063065:Organophosphonates; D012439:Saccharin; D000225:Adenine; C106812:adefovir dipivoxil