title: Investigating the effect of moisture protection on solid-state stability and dissolution of fenofibrate and ketoconazole solid dispersions using PXRD, HSDSC and Raman microscopy.
abstract: Enhanced dissolution of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in amorphous solid dispersions often diminishes during storage due to moisture-induced re-crystallization. This study aims to investigate the influence of moisture protection on solid-state stability and dissolution profiles of melt-extruded fenofibrate (FF) and ketoconazole (KC) solid dispersions. Samples were kept in open, closed and Activ-vials(®) to control the moisture uptake under accelerated conditions. During 13-week storage, changes in API crystallinity were quantified using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) (Rietveld analysis) and high sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (HSDSC) and compared with any change in dissolution profiles. Trace crystallinity was observed by Raman microscopy, which otherwise was undetected by PXRD and HSDSC. Results showed that while moisture protection was ineffective in preventing the re-crystallization of amorphous FF, KC remained X-ray amorphous despite 5% moisture uptake. Regardless of the degree of crystallinity increase in FF, the enhanced dissolution properties were similarly diminished. Moisture uptake above 10% in KC samples also led to re-crystallization and significant decrease in dissolution rates. In conclusion, eliminating moisture sorption may not be sufficient in ensuring the stability of solid dispersions. Analytical quantification of API crystallinity is crucial in detecting subtle increase in crystallinity that can diminish the enhanced dissolution properties of solid dispersions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Jurong Island, Singapore. parijat_kanaujia@ices.a-star.edu.sg
authors.forename: Parijat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kanaujia
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Wai Kiong
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Effendi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Widjaja
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schreyer
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanefeld
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischbach
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saal
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maio
authors.forename: Reginald B H
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D058888:14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning / Q000379:methods; D003460:Crystallization; D004355:Drug Stability; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000737:chemistry*; D006813:Humidity; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D058888:14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007654:Ketoconazole; D011345:Fenofibrate