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Dry powder inhalation aerosols of antibiotic drugs (a first-line aminoglycoside, tobramycin, and a first-line macrolide, azithromycin) and a sugar alcohol mucolytic agent (mannitol) as co-spray dried (co-SD) particles at various molar ratios of drug:mannitol were successfully produced by organic solution advanced co-spray drying from dilute solute concentration. These microparticulate/nanoparticulate aerosols consisting of various antibiotic drug:mannitol molar ratios were rationally designed with a narrow and unimodal primary particle size distribution, spherical particle shape, relatively smooth particle surface, and very low residual water content to minimize the interparticulate interactions and enhance in vitro aerosolization. These microparticulate/nanoparticulate inhalation powders were high-performing aerosols as reflected in the aerosol dispersion performance parameters of emitted dose, fine particle fraction (FPF), respirable fraction (RF), and mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD). The glass transition temperature (Tg) values were significantly above room temperature, which indicated that the co-SD powders were all in the amorphous glassy state. The Tg values for co-SD tobramycin:mannitol powders were significantly lower than those for co-SD azithromycin:mannitol powders. The interplay between aerosol dispersion performance parameters and Tg was modeled where higher Tg values (i.e., more ordered glass) were correlated with higher values in FPF and RF and lower values in MMAD. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 103:2937–2949, 2014

Fiducial markers are necessary for the accurate overlay of images obtained by different methods from small areas of a sample. Thus far, fiducial markers have been used for biological sample analysis by mass spectrometry imaging. In this work, spatial distributions of excipient and active drug substance at the surfaces of drug tablets produced under different pressures are observed by multimodal desorption electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) imaging with two novel fiducial marker systems being used to achieve accurate overlay of ion and optical images. DESI-MS ion images in the negative and positive ion modes as well as ion and optical images obtained from circa 3 mm2 areas have been precisely superimposed, allowing observing the particulate composition of the tablet's ingredients, a feature that is remarkably conserved in spite of the pressure used to produce the tablet. This approach can be applied broadly for product development, quality control, and counterfeit detection. [Supplementary...

Two polymorphic forms of ethyl 3-{3-[((2R)-3-{[2-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-1,1-dimethylethyl]amino}-2-hydroxypropyl)oxy]-4,5-difluorophenyl} propanoate hydrochloride, an investigational pharmaceutical compound, are characterized using spectroscopic and diffractometric techniques. These polymorphic forms exhibit very similar spectra and diffraction patterns and present challenges for analytical and physical characterization techniques. Capillary powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns for the two forms show minor but distinct differences. A single crystal X-ray diffraction structure for one of the forms was obtained. The unit cell of the other form was obtained by PXRD indexing. Detailed solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) studies observing the 1H, 13C, 15N, 19F, and 35Cl nuclei are performed to characterize the subtle structural differences between the two forms. Molecular spectroscopic methods including infrared, Raman, UV–visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy are also applied. The combine...

Chemical imaging using confocal Raman microscopy is a useful analytical tool in drug development because of its ability to spatially image active ingredients and excipients in dosage forms and relate their distribution to product performance. While Raman spectra are highly specific for individual components of a formulation, most Raman microscopic mapping experiments require extensive experimental time. Laser wavelengths in the near-infrared range are used to suppress fluorescence but reduce sensitivity because of the inverse quadratic dependence of Raman scattering on laser wavelength. Compact, simple ultraviolet (UV) laser designs now allow for confocal UV Raman microscopy to be performed using a versatile instrument also capable of conventional Raman microscopy and epifluorescence imaging analyses. This study presents the results of UV Raman microscopy analyses using 266 nm laser irradiation of four pharmaceutical compositions of interest, including two types of tablets containing low doses of active ingredients (in the 0.2% w/w range), an amorphous dispersion containing 1% w/w of a small molecule drug, and an enteric coated layered peptide formulation. Resonance Raman enhancements are observed for four of the active ingredients studied in these formulations. The spectroscopic properties of the materials used in this study are also assessed by diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and conventional bulk Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy using 1064 nm laser irradiation. Confocal UV Raman microscopy was found to offer good sensitivity and allowed for rapid microscopic mapping of drugs and excipients at low concentrations in pharmaceutical formulations.

Respirable microparticles/nanoparticles of the antibiotics vancomycin (VCM) and clarithromycin (CLM) were successfully designed and developed by novel organic solution advanced spray drying from methanol solution. Formulation optimization was achieved through statistical experimental design of pump feeding rates of 25% (Low P), 50% (Medium P) and 75% (High P). Systematic and comprehensive physicochemical characterization and imaging were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hot-stage microscopy (HSM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Karl Fischer titration (KFT), laser size diffraction (LSD), gravimetric vapor sorption (GVS), confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) and spectroscopy for chemical imaging mapping. These novel spray-dried (SD) microparticulate/nanoparticulate dry powders displayed excellent aerosol dispersion performance as dry powder inhalers (DPIs) with high values in emitted dose (ED), respirable fraction (RF), and fine particle fraction (FPF). VCM DPIs displayed better aerosol dispersion performance compared to CLM DPIs which was related to differences in the physicochemical and particle properties of VCM and CLM. In addition, organic solution advanced co-spray drying particle engineering design was employed to successfully produce co-spray-dried (co-SD) multifunctional microparticulate/nanoparticulate aerosol powder formulations of VCM and CLM with the essential lung surfactant phospholipid, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), for controlled release pulmonary nanomedicine delivery as inhalable dry powder aerosols. Formulation optimization was achieved through statistical experimental design of molar ratios of co-SD VCM:DPPC and co-SD CLM:DPPC. XRPD and DSC confirmed that the phospholipid bilayer structure in the solid-state was preserved following spray drying. Co-SD VCM:DPPC and co-SD CLM:DPPC dry powder aerosols demonstrated controlled release of antibiotic drug that was fitted to various controlled release mathematical fitting models. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model described the best data fit for all powders suggesting super case-II transport mechanism of controlled release. Excellent aerosol dispersion performance for all co-SD microparticulate/nanoparticulate DPIs was higher than the SD antibiotic drugs suggesting that DPPC acts as an aerosol performance enhancer for these antibiotic aerosol dry powders. Co-SD VCM:DPPC DPIs had higher aerosol dispersion parameters compared to co-SD CLM:DPPC which was related to differences in the physicochemical properties of VCM and CLM.

A novel crystalline form of the boron-containing antibacterial drug (S)-3-(aminomethyl)-7-(3-hydroxypropoxy)benzo[c] [1,2]oxaborol-1(3H)-ol hydrochloride is studied by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. After determination of the crystal structure by X-ray diffraction, SSNMR spectroscopy of this form is performed to obtain structural information using experimental approaches based on dipolar correlation, chemical shift analysis, and quadrupolar interaction analysis. 1H SSNMR experiments at 16.4 T using magic-angle spinning (MAS) and homonuclear dipolar decoupling, 2D SSNMR experiments based on (1)H–(13)C and (1)H–(11)B dipolar heteronuclear correlation, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are combined in a novel approach to obtain a nearly complete assignment of the (1)H spectrum of this crystalline phase. (11)B and (35)Cl chemical shift and quadrupolar parameters are obtained using the analysis of MAS spectra and are found to be accurately reproduced using DFT calculations. NMR chemical shielding and electric field gradient parameters obtained using these methods are related to hydrogen-bonding trends in the crystal structure. The results illustrate the increasing capability of SSNMR techniques involving (1)H, (11)B, and (35)Cl SSNMR in the analysis of the crystal structure of a pharmaceutical compound containing covalently bonded boron.

(17)O solid-state NMR (SSNMR) can provide insight into hydrogen bonding interactions in pharmaceutical polymorphs, cocrystals, and amorphous dispersions. When combined with straightforward (17)O synthetic labeling, the use of (17)O SSNMR allows for direct study of key interactions such as hydrogen bonding in these systems. In this work, novel applications of (17)O SSNMR are demonstrated in the analysis of a polymorph of diflunisal, a cocrystal of diflunisal with pyrazinamide, and amorphous dispersions of diflunisal in two polymers. The observation of the (17)O nucleus is shown to be a highly specific and useful alternative to more conventional studies of the (1)H, (13)C, and (19)F nuclei in these systems and offers unique insight into hydrogen bonding interactions. Quantum chemical calculations are used to assess the (17)O SSNMR measurements for the polymorph of diflunisal for which a crystal structure has been previously determined. Empirical hydrogen bonding trends are then examined in the cocrystal and amorphous solid forms using (17)O NMR parameters. A novel application of (1)H-(17)O cross-polarization heteronuclear correlation (CP-HETCOR) experiments is also demonstrated for the cocrystal and two dispersions. This experiment offers specific information about proton environments in proximity to the labeled oxygen sites. The use of (17)O SSNMR techniques extends the utility of SSNMR in applications to cocrystals and amorphous dispersions.

Cocrystals and amorphous solid dispersions have generated interest in the pharmaceutical industry as an alternative to more established solid delivery forms. The identification of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions in a nicotinamide palmitic acid cocrystal and a 50% w/w acetaminophen-polyvinylpyrrolidone solid dispersion are reported using advanced solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR methods. The application of a novel (14)N-(1)H HMQC experiment, where coherence transfer is achieved via through-space couplings, is shown to identify specific hydrogen bonding motifs. Additionally, (1)H isotropic chemical shifts and (14)N electric field gradient (EFG) parameters, both accessible from (14)N-(1)H HMQC experiments, are shown to be sensitive to changes in hydrogen bonding geometry. Numerous indicators of molecular association are accessible from this experiment, including NH cross-peaks occurring from intermolecular hydrogen bonds and changes in proton chemical shifts or electric field gradient parameters. First-principles calculations using the GIPAW approach that yield accurate estimates of isotropic chemical shifts, and EFG parameters were used to assist in assignment. It is envisaged that (14)N-(1)H HMQC solid state NMR experiments could become a valuable screening technique of solid delivery forms in the pharmaceutical industry.

The solubility of drug molecules can often be improved through preparation and delivery of cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion complexes. These drug-oligosaccharide complexes can be prepared in solution and converted to the solid state via methods such as lyophilization and spray-drying, or they can be prepared directly from solids by a variety of methods. The development of drug-CD complexes as solids allows for potential advantages in dosage form design, such as the preparation of layered formulations, and it also can yield improvements in chemical and physical stability. 2D solid-state NMR (SSNMR) methods provide a direct way to probe drug-CD interactions in solid complexes through dipolar interactions between nuclei within the drug and CD molecules. In this study, 2D heteronuclear and homonuclear correlation SSNMR experiments involving (1)H, (13)C, (19)F, and (31)P nuclei are used to demonstrate the inclusion of drug within the CD cavity in a variety of powder samples. To illustrate the general applicability of the SSNMR approach presented, examples are shown for the drugs diflunisal, adefovir dipivoxil, voriconazole, dexamethasone, and prednisolone in complexes with α-CD, β-CD, and sulfobutylether-substituted β-CD. The quantitative analysis of included and free drug fractions in a solid drug-CD complex using SSNMR is also demonstrated. On the basis of these results, general approaches to the characterization of these materials using SSNMR are proposed.

Cocrystals of tenoxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, are screened, prepared, and characterized in this study. Nine tenoxicam cocrystals were identified using solvent-drop grinding (SDG) techniques. Structural characterization was performed using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry, and multinuclear solid-state NMR (SSNMR). Thermal analysis, PXRD, and 1D SSNMR are used to detect solvates and phase mixtures encountered in SDG cocrystal screening. 2D SSNMR methods are then used to confirm cocrystal formation and determine structural aspects for selected cocrystals formed with saccharin, salicylic acid, succinic acid, and glycolic acid in comparison to Forms I and III of tenoxicam. Molecular association is demonstrated using cross-polarization heteronuclear dipolar correlation (CP-HETCOR) methods involving 1 H and 13 C nuclei. Short-range 1 H– 13 C CP-HETCOR and 1 H– 1 H double-quantum interactions between atoms of interest, including those engaged in hydrogen bonding, are used to reveal local aspects of the cocrystal structure. 15 N SSNMR is used to assess ionization state and the potential for zwitterionization in the selected cocrystals. The tenoxicam saccharin cocrystal was found to be similar in structure to a previously-reported cocrystal of piroxicam and saccharin. The four selected cocrystals yielded intrinsic dissolution rates that were similar or reduced relative to tenoxicam Form III.

While the occurrence of desulfurization of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in solution is well established, this study represents the first attempt to investigate the basis of the unexpected desulfurization via the net sulfur-by-oxygen (S-O) replacement during negative electrospray ionization (ESI). The current work, facilitated by quantitative mass deconvolution, demonstrates that considerable desulfurization can take place even under common negative ESI operating conditions. The extent of desulfurization is dependent on the molar phosphorothioate oligonucleotide-to-hydroxyl radical ratio, which is consistent with the corona discharge-induced origin of the hydroxyl radical leading to the S-O replacement. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that an increase of the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) flow rate and the on-column concentration of a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide, as well as a decrease of the electrospray voltage reduce the degree of desulfurization. Comparative LC-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) sequencing of a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide and its corresponding desulfurization product revealed evidence that the S-O replacement occurs at multiple phosphorothioate internucleotide linkage sites. In practice, the most convenient and effective strategy for minimizing this P = O artifact is to increase the LC flow rate and the on-column concentration of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. Another approach to mitigate possible detrimental effects of the undesired desulfurization is to operate the ESI source at a very low electrospray voltage to diminish the corona discharge; however this will significantly compromise sensitivity when analyzing the low-level P = O impurities in phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The technical advances in microscopy imaging techniques have been applied to assess the fate of drugs for researching respiratory drug delivery in ex vivo and in vivo experiments. Recent developments in optical imaging (confocal microscopy, multi-photon microscopy, fluorescence imaging (FLI) and bioluminescence imaging (BLI)), and in non-optical imaging (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computing tomography (CT), positron-emission tomography (PET) and single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT)) are presented with their derivative medical devices. Novel microscopy have been utilized to address many biological questions in basic research and are becoming powerful clinical tools for non-invasive objective diagnosis, guided treatment, and monitoring therapies. The goal of this paper is to present recent advances in microscopy imaging techniques and to discuss their novel applications in respiratory drug delivery imaging.

Nanocrystalline drug-polymer dispersions are of significant interest in pharmaceutical delivery. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the applicability of methods based on two-dimensional (2D) and multinuclear solid-state NMR (SSNMR) to a novel nanocrystalline pharmaceutical dispersion of ebselen with polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate (PVP-VA), after initial characterization with other techniques. A nanocrystalline dispersion of ebselen with PVP-VA was prepared and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), confocal Raman microscopy and mapping, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and then subjected to detailed 1D and 2D SSNMR analysis involving 1H, 13C, and 77Se isotopes and 1H spin diffusion. PXRD was used to show that dispersion contains nanocrystalline ebselen in the 35–60 nm size range. Confocal Raman microscopy and spectral mapping were able to detect regions where short-range interactions may occur between ebselen and PVP-VA. Spin diffusion effects were analyzed using 2D SSNMR experiments and are able to directly detect interactions between ebselen and the surrounding PVP-VA. The methods used here, particularly the 2D SSNMR methods based on spin diffusion, provided detailed structural information about a nanocrystalline polymer dispersion of ebselen, and should be useful in other studies of these types of materials.

A hydrated form of 7-methoxy-1-methyl-5-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinolin-4-amine (designated Form B) exhibits moisture sorption behavior that is very strongly affected by particle size and morphology. When studied pre- and post-micronization, the simple rate of dehydration at ambient temperature is faster by >2 orders of magnitude after micronization. Complementary techniques were employed to understand this behavior including environmental X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD), gravimetric vapor sorption (GVS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), hot-stage microscopy (HSM), single-crystal X-ray diffractometry (SCXRD), and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR). Solid-state kinetics analysis of thermal data revealed that dehydration of the nonmicronized material follows a two-step consecutive reaction with the first step being a diffusion limited reaction and the second step being a first order reaction, whereas the micronized material ...

The color of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can be a critical quality attribute for pharmaceutical products. Color variation can be indicative of contaminants, chemical impurities, solid-state form impurities, or degradation products. The color of the pharmaceutical materials is typically specified and determined using visual appearance testing. To avoid the inherent subjectivity of visual appearance testing, to understand the link between the color and the process parameters, and to facilitate quality agreements between customers and vendors of chemical starting materials, quantitative color measurements utilizing visible spectroscopic methods are increasingly needed. In this work, a systematic method development strategy (MDS) is described to assist with the development of robust and rugged quantitative color measurement methods based on a science- and risk-based approach aligned with quality-by-design principles. The MDS is illustrated using typical scenarios encountered in method development through several examples including a method developed for 2,3-dimethyl-2H-indazol-6-amine, a starting material in the commercial synthesis of pazopanib hydrochloride API. Flowcharts and examples are presented to illuminate key decision points in the MDS process including selection of (1) solution-state versus solid-state spectroscopic method, (2) optimal color space for reporting color measurement results, and (3) appropriate method risk assessment and control to ensure successful method implementation. General guidance is also provided to facilitate the discussion for setting quantitative color specifications.

An unusual electrocyclized photo-degradation product of an EP 1 antagonist drug candidate, 6-(2-(5-chloro-2-(2,4-difluorobenyzloxy) phenyl) cyclopent-1-enyl) picolinic acid, is characterized by liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS) and NMR. LC–MS n experiments using electrospray ionization are used to obtain a tentative structure of the photo-degradation product from fragmentation studies, exchangeable proton analysis, and accurate mass data. 1 H LC–NMR, including nuclear Overhauser effect experiments, are performed in stopped-flow mode to confirm the structure. A small amount of material was isolated via preparative chromatography for 2D 13 C NMR analysis. The 1 H and 13 C NMR shifts of the photo-degradation product are calculated and compared to experimental values using density functional theory (DFT) to confirm the structural assignment. Several interesting features of the MS fragmentation of the photo-degradation product are examined and explained using DFT methods, including the transition state of an intramolecular Smiles rearrangement. The UV–Visible (UV–Vis) spectrum of the photo-degradation product is also predicted using time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) and matched to experimental data. A mechanism for the formation of this unusual photo-degradation product via electrocyclization is proposed and discussed. The combination of LC–MS, LC–NMR, and computational methods are used to provide a thorough structural identification of the photo-degradation product and also fully interpret the observed NMR, UV–Vis, and MS spectra.

Understanding the crystalline structure of racemic carvedilol phosphate hemihydrate presents several challenges that were overcome using a combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR (SSNMR), and other analytical techniques. Initial attempts to obtain a crystal structure were hampered by difficulties with twinning and problematic disorder in the final refinements. Multinuclear SSNMR analysis localized the disorder to portions of the molecule near the chiral center. As a result, single-enantiomer carvedilol phosphate was prepared and was found to crystallize in a phase that was isomorphous with the racemate, while SSNMR spectra of the single enantiomers did not contain the disorder observed in the racemate. The single-crystal X-ray structure of the (R)-enantiomer was solved and used as a starting point to successfully progress the solution of the disordered racemic crystal structure. Thermal analysis and construction of a phase diagram, along with crystallographic and spectroscopic ana...

Several mass spectrometry (MS) techniques including accurate MS and MS/MS, as well as hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange, were utilized to characterize a pseudo-oxidative reaction by-product (impurity I) in the pharmaceutical synthesis of S-(thiobenzoyl)thioglycolic acid. The negative ion MS/MS data provided complementary structural information to the positive ion MS/MS data. An understanding of the gas-phase Smiles rearrangement upon collision-induced dissociation (CID) in the negative ion MS/MS mode played an important role in structural elucidation of impurity I. The theoretical calculations by density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level provided insights into the thermochemistry of the Smiles rearrangement reaction. This pseudo-oxidative impurity is proposed to be generated via the base-catalyzed hydrolysis in solution.

Solid-state analysis with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), solid-state NMR (SSNMR), and other spectroscopic and physical methods can provide detailed structural information about organic and pharmaceutical cocrystals. In this study, a range of solid-state analysis methods are used to characterize co-crystallized solid solutions of 5-fluorouracil and thymine. 1H, 13C and 19F SSNMR and PXRD methods are used to study the structure and disorder present in a solid solution previously prepared by solution evaporation methods; here the solid solution is prepared over a wider stoichiometric range by solvent-drop grinding techniques. Long-range perturbations of key chemical shifts are detectable by SSNMR, indicating that the solid solution is not random. Cross-polarization and heteronuclear correlation SSNMR experiments between 1H, 13C, and 19F nuclei offer insight into the structure of this solid solution, and density functional theory (DFT) methods are applied to calculate lattice energies and NMR properties in order to understand the population of the two primary disordered sites in the crystal structure. In addition, a second solid solution of 5-fluorouracil and thymine is reported and analyzed. This solid solution, which was produced by solvent-drop grinding experiments and characterized by SSNMR and powder X-ray diffraction methods, is determined to be an isostructural phase to that of anhydrous thymine with the inclusion of 5-fluorouracil defects. A similar effect does not occur under excess 5-fluorouracil conditions; instead, phase-separated Form 1 of 5-fluorouracil and anhydrous thymine are obtained. DFT calculations are applied to offer a possible explanation for this disparity.

A scalable synthesis of a novel pleuromutilin-based antibiotic is reported. The synthesis features the scale-up of an interesting skeletal rearrangement of the pleuromutilin core and isolation of a highly purified product despite starting with relatively impure pleuromutilin. The use of Design of Experiment (DoE) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) tools to achieve these goals is also discussed. Furthermore, the novel coupling of a carbamate and N-acyl-imidazole to produce the imidodicarbonate portion of the target molecule is described.

Solid-state characterization methods are used to study a dimorphic pharmaceutical compound and select a form for development. Polymorph screening found that [4-(4-chloro-3-fluorophenyl)-2-[4-(methyloxy)phenyl]-1,3-thiazol-5-yl] acetic acid can crystallize into two non-solvated polymorphs designated Forms 1 and 2. Physical methods including vibrational spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, solid-state NMR (SSNMR), thermal analysis, and gravimetric water vapor sorption are used to fully characterize the two polymorphs. Temperature-dependent competitive ripening experiments and solubility measurements indicated that the polymorphs in this system exhibit enantiotropy with a thermodynamic transition temperature of 35+/-3 degrees C. This complicates the selection of a polymorph to progress in drug development. Both forms had undesirable qualities; however, a particular drawback of Form 1 was found in its tendency to convert to Form 2 upon milling. Combining this effect and the desired formulation approach with physical property results led to a rationale for the choice of Form 2 for further development. Because this form is thermodynamically metastable at room temperature, analytical approaches were developed to ensure its exclusive presence, including a quantitative infrared spectroscopic method for drug substance and (13)C and (19)F solid-state NMR limit tests for the undesired form in drug product at drug loads of 8.3% (w/w).

Solid-state NMR (SSNMR) is capable of providing detailed structural information about organic and pharmaceutical cocrystals and complexes. SSNMR nondestructively analyzes small amounts of powdered material and generally yields data with higher information content than vibrational spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction methods. These advantages can be utilized in the analysis of pharmaceutical cocrystals, which are often initially produced using solvent drop grinding techniques that do not lend themselves to single crystal growth for X-ray diffraction studies. In this work, several molecular complexes and cocrystals are examined to understand the capabilities of the SSNMR techniques, particularly their ability to prove or disprove molecular association and observe structural features such as hydrogen bonding. Dipolar correlation experiments between spin pairs such as 1H−1H, 1H−13C, and 19F−13C are applied to study hydrogen bonding, intermolecular contacts, and spin diffusion to link individual molecules...

Single crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and solid‐state NMR (SSNMR) techniques are used to analyze the structures of two nonsolvated polymorphs of {4‐(4‐chloro‐3‐fluorophenyl)‐2‐[4‐(methyloxy)phenyl]‐1,3‐thiazol‐5‐yl} acetic acid. These polymorphs are enantiotropically‐related with a thermodynamic transition temperature of 35 ± 3°C. The crystal structure of Form 1, which is thermodynamically more stable at lower temperatures, was determined by SCXRD. The crystal structure of Form 2 was determined using PXRD structure solution methods that were assisted using two types of SSNMR experiments, dipolar connectivity experiments and chemical shift measurements. These experiments determined certain aspects of local conformation and intermolecular packing in Form 2 in comparison to Form 1, and provided qualitative knowledge that assisted in obtaining the best possible powder structure solution from the X‐ray data. NMR chemical shifts for 1 H, 13 C, 15 N, and 19 F nuclei in Forms 1 and 2 are sensitive to hydrogen‐bonding behavior, molecular conformation, and aromatic π‐stacking interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) geometry optimizations were used in tandem with Rietveld refinement and NMR chemical shielding calculations to improve and verify the Form 2 structure. The energy balance of the system and other properties relevant to drug development are predicted and discussed. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:4756–4782, 2008

An unusual pharmaceutical solid containing a pleuromutilin derivative, succinic acid and water is studied with a combination of physiochemical methods. The parent pleuromutilin derivative creates a host structure that contains large channels, which are occupied by variable amounts of both succinic acid and water. The inherent disorder of the system does not lend itself to detailed single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies; hence a combination of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and solid-state NMR (SSNMR) techniques were used to characterize this system and understand its behavior. A variety of one and two-dimensional SSNMR experiments were used to understand the proton transfer and the hydrogen bonding network, including 1H−13C heteronuclear correlation experiments and measurements of the principal components of 13C chemical shift tensors. This crystal system can exist as two distinct phases; a hemisuccinate phase containing a doubly ionized succinate molecule with two cations of the pleuromutilin derivati...

Oxidation of 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ferrocene (DPPF) was found to occur when it served as the ligand for Pd(II)(CH 3 COO) 2 in a Heck reaction. This oxidative impurity of DPPF, referred to as DPPF(O), was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) and exact mass measurements. Protonated DPPF(O) exhibited unique fragmentation pathways in the gas phase. Hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange experiments provided important insights into the dissociation mechanisms of protonated DPPF(O), suggesting the existence of isomeric structures of the product ions by retaining or losing a proton (or deuteron) upon collision-induced dissociation (CID). The specific fate of the proton (or deuteron) upon CID is postulated to be dependent on the distance between the exchangeable proton (or deuteron) and the sites of bond cleavage. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory showed that oxygen in DPPF(O) plays a pivotal role in invoking π-cation interactions between the p-type lone pair electrons (n π ) in oxygen and the anti-bonding orbital of Fe(II), accounting for the major fragmentation pathways of protonated DPPF(O). Facile formation of organometallic distonic ions in dissociation of protonated DPPF(O), and especially of protonated DPPF, could be useful for further exploration of their chemical properties by gas-phase ion/molecule reactions.

Solid-state NMR is widely used in pharmaceutical analysis for the characterization of active pharmaceutical ingredients, drug products, and excipients. The sensitivity of solid-state NMR spectra to molecular structure and the experimental flexibility of the technique provide many incentives for applications to increasingly complex systems. This article reviews the applications of solid-state NMR, including multinuclear 1-D and 2-D methods, to challenges faced in pharmaceutical development, including analysis of crystalline phases such as polymorphs, salts, solvates, and cocrystals, as well as analysis of amorphous phases, phase mixtures, and formulations. Keywords: solid-state; MAS; pharmaceuticals; polymorphism; solvation; cocrystal; amorphous phase; dispersion; formulation

NMR techniques play an important role in the characterization of many materials that are the subject of intellectual property protection. This article presents a brief overview of intellectual property protection with a focus on the international patent system and the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. The use of NMR and MRI data to support patent applications is discussed, and key considerations for the use of both solution-state and solid-state NMR data are presented. Keywords: solution-state NMR; solid-state NMR; quantitative NMR; chemical structure; patent; intellectual property; trade secret

The effects of specific drug-polymer interactions (ionic or hydrogen-bonding) on the molecular mobility of model amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) were investigated. ASDs of ketoconazole (KTZ), a weakly basic drug, with each of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were prepared. Drug-polymer interactions in the ASDs were evaluated by infrared and solid-state NMR, the molecular mobility quantified by dielectric spectroscopy, and crystallization onset monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and variable temperature X-ray diffractometry (VTXRD). KTZ likely exhibited ionic interactions with PAA, hydrogen-bonding with PHEMA, and weaker dipole-dipole interactions with PVP. On the basis of dielectric spectroscopy, the α-relaxation times of the ASDs followed the order: PAA > PHEMA > PVP. In addition, the presence of ionic interactions also translated to a dramatic and disproportionate decrease in mobility as a function of polymer concentration. On the basis of both DSC and VTXRD, an increase in strength of interaction translated to higher crystallization onset temperature and a decrease in extent of crystallization. Stronger drug-polymer interactions, by reducing the molecular mobility, can potentially delay the crystallization onset temperature as well as crystallization extent.

The single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure of the sodium salt of N-(3-(aminosulfonyl)-4-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-N‘-(2,3-dichlorophenyl) urea at 173 K is reported. The structure contains 3 mol of water situated in distinct channels in the vicinity of the sodium cation. Powders of this phase undergo isomorphic dehydration, losing 0.5% w/w water between 90 and 15% relative humidity (RH) at 25 °C without changing the powder X-ray pattern. Below 15% RH and above 50 °C, additional dehydration occurs in conjunction with a reversible phase transition. A third semicrystalline dehydrated phase appears after vacuum-drying and at high temperatures and also can be reversibly rehydrated to the original form. Single crystals of the dehydrated phases could not be prepared, so a combination of methods were used to understand the structural changes occurring during the desolvation process, including thermal analysis, vapor sorption measurements, variable-humidity and variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction, vibra...

A computational and spectroscopic study of two epimers of 2-hydroxymutilin was conducted to obtain assignments for the configuration of the carbon at the 2-position. Gas-phase structural models for (R)- and (S)-2-hydroxymutilin were optimized using density functional theory (DFT). These models were validated using internuclear distances measured from 1H nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) build-up rates in CDCl3 solution. The models were subsequently used to predict NMR parameters using the hybrid B3LYP density functional. After linear scaling, the agreement between predicted gas-phase and observed solution-state chemical shifts was sufficient for relative stereochemical assignments, with an average absolute error of 0.16 and 1.47 ppm for 1H and 13C shifts, respectively. 1H–1H and 1H–13C coupling constants were also predicted using the B3LYP functional with the aug-cc-p-VTZ-J basis set and compared to experimental values (measured by J-resolved and gradient J-HMBC experiments). The predicted coupling constants were within 10% of their experimental values in most cases, and like the chemical shielding, allowed for relative stereochemical assignments of the isomers. DFT prediction of coupling constants gave more useful information than empirical parameterizations. Although just one chiral center changes between the two isomers, with no consequent conformational change and only two affected NOE restraints, predictable effects on 20 different chemical shielding and J-coupling values were observed. Including these values in the stereochemical assignment allows for additional confirmation of the stereochemical results, using data already available in 1D 1H spectra and 2D 1H–13C correlation spectra. Electronic and vibrational circular dichroism (ECD and VCD) spectra of the two isomers are also measured and compared with theoretical predictions. VCD was especially useful for determining the absolute stereochemistry of 2-hydroxymutilin and was found to be superior to ECD in this role. The combination of computational and spectroscopic work is shown to be a useful tool in the analysis of unknown mutilin derivatives or other compounds, such as those present as minor impurities or metabolites in pharmaceutical samples.

Topotecan hydrochloride, a pharmaceutical compound developed as a treatment for cancer, exhibits variable hydration states in a crystalline solid form chosen for manufacturing. This variability requires additional controls for successful development, and presents a characterization and detection challenge for analytical methods. In this study, overall water content was determined by Karl Fischer titration and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) on topotecan HCl equilibrated at different relative humidity levels. These results, when combined with information obtained from dynamic water vapor sorption and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), indicate that this form of topotecan HCl contains 3 mol of water integral to the crystalline structure and up to two additional moles of water depending on the relative humidity. Powder X-ray diffraction experiments did not detect significant differences in topotecan HCl samples equilibrated at trihydrate and pentahydrate states, and showed that the crystal lattice dimensions are not affected unless the form is dried below the trihydrate state. This behavior is typical of crystal structures with channels that can accommodate additional loosely bound water. To study the role of the loosely bound water in the crystal structure in more detail, solid-state (13)C and (15)N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to examine the differences between the hydration states. Both the trihydrate and pentahydrate states yielded similar solid-state NMR spectra, consistent with the lack of change in the crystal lattice. However, minor but readily detectable differences in the (13)C spectra are observed with changes in water content. Interpretation of this data suggests that the loosely bound channel water is hydrogen-bonding to specific portions of the topotecan parent molecule. Topotecan HCl trihydrate was hydrated with D(2)O vapor to confirm the nature and location of the channel water using (13)C and (2)H solid-state NMR. Despite the detectable association of the channel water with hydrogen bonding sites on the topotecan molecule, (2)H quadrupolar echo experiments indicate that the channel water is highly mobile at room temperature and at -60 degrees C.

Fragmentation mechanisms of trans-1,4-diphenyl-2-butene-1,4-dione were studied using a variety of mass spectrometric techniques. The major fragmentation pathways occur by various rearrangements by loss of H2O, CO, H2O and CO, and CO2. The other fragmentation pathways via simple alpha cleavages were also observed but accounted for the minor dissociation channels in both a two-dimensional (2-D) linear ion trap and a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer. The elimination of CO2 (rather than CH3CHO or C3H8), which was confirmed by an exact mass measurement using the Q-TOF instrument, represented a major fragmentation pathway in the 2-D linear ion trap mass spectrometer. However, the elimination of H2O and CO becomes more competitive in the beam-type Q-TOF instrument. The loss of CO is observed in both the MS2 experiment of m/z 237 and the MS3 experiment of m/z 219 but via the different transition states. The data suggest that the olefinic double bond in protonated trans-1,4-diphenyl-2-butene-1,4-dione plays a key role in stabilizing the rearrangement transition states and increasing the bond dissociation (cleavage) energy to give favorable rearrangement fragmentation pathways. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The precise measurement of internuclear distances in solids by NMR has been widely explored using experiments that measure the dipolar coupling between labeled spin pairs. The rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) experiment is one of the most successful techniques for quantifying distances between heteronuclei. In the present work, REDOR is applied to the precise determination of the angle between internuclear vectors in triply labeled spin systems. The time domain REDOR signal for two heteronuclear coupled spin pairs sharing a common partner (an I2S spin system) is derived and analyzed with the aid of dipolar transforms. A two-step experimental approach for the structural analysis of I2S spin systems is then developed. Independent θ-REDOR and traditional REDOR measurements are used to obtain the heteronuclear dipolar coupling constants and the angle between them. Demonstrations are carried out on labeled polycrystalline samples of glycine and uracil. The REDOR experiment is also examined using altern...

This chapter reviews established and emerging analytical and physical techniques for the characterization of amorphous solid dispersions. The thermal analysis methods used in most reported studies of amorphous solid dispersions include differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and isothermal microcalorimetry (ITC). Many of the commonly used polymers in amorphous solid dispersions are hydrophilic in nature and contain polar functional groups, and can absorb moisture from the atmosphere. In the pharmaceutical sciences, vibrational spectroscopic methods are generally used to probe molecular vibrations and phonon modes in crystalline substances. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) analysis of mobility in amorphous solid dispersions is complementary to thermal analysis and dielectric spectroscopy techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is widely used in the characterization of amorphous solid dispersions. Effective characterization plays a critical role in the development of pharmaceutical amorphous solid dispersions. Keywords: amorphous solid dispersions; crystalline nanosuspensions; polymers; scanning electron microscopy (SEM); solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR)

A novel synthesis of GSK1265744, a potent HIV integrase inhibitor, is described. The synthesis is highlighted by an efficient construction of the densely functionalized pyridinone core as well as a highly diastereoselective formation of the acyl oxazolidine moiety. The latter exploits the target molecule's ability to chelate to Mg(2+), a key feature in the integrase inhibitor's mechanism of action.

A crystalline phase of the pharmaceutical compound ronacaleret hydrochloride is studied by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure is determined to contain two independent cationic molecules and chloride anions in the asymmetric unit, which combine with the covalent structure of the molecule to yield complex SSNMR spectra. Experimental approaches based on dipolar correlation, chemical shift tensor analysis, and quadrupolar interaction analysis are employed to obtain detailed information about this phase. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to predict chemical shielding and electric field gradient (EFG) parameters for comparison with experiment. (1)H SSNMR experiments performed at 16.4 T using magic-angle spinning (MAS) and homonuclear dipolar decoupling provide information about hydrogen bonding and molecular connectivity that can be related to the crystal structure. (19)F and (13)C assignments for the Z' = 2 structure are obtained using DFT calculations, (19)F homonuclear dipolar correlation, and (13)C-(19)F heteronuclear dipolar correlation experiments. (35)Cl MAS experiments at 16.4 T observe two chlorine sites that are assigned using calculated chemical shielding and EFG parameters. SSNMR dipolar correlation experiments are used to extract (1)H-(13)C, (1)H-(15)N, (1)H-(19)F, (13)C-(19)F, and (1)H-(35)Cl through-space connectivity information for many positions of interest. The results allow for the evaluation of the performance of a suite of SSNMR experiments and computational approaches as applied to a complex but typical pharmaceutical solid phase.

A background-filtered version of the rotational-echo double resonance (REDOR) experiment is demonstrated. The experiment combines a traditional REDOR pulse sequence with a double-cross-polarization (DCP) sequence to select only those signals coming from spin pairs of interest. The relatively inefficient DCP sequence, which transfers polarization from (1)H to (15)N and subsequently to (13)C, is improved by the use of adiabatic passages through the (-1) sideband of the Hartmann-Hahn matching condition. The result is an efficient 2D-REDOR pulse sequence that does not require a reference experiment for removal of background signals. The data produced by the experiment are ideally suited to analysis by newly developed dipolar transform methods, such as the REDOR transform. The relevant features of the experiment are demonstrated on simple labeled amino acids. Relative efficiencies of several other potential filtering methods are also compared. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

The quadrupolar phase-adjusted spinning sidebands (QPASS) pulse sequence has been recently demonstrated as a useful method for obtaining quadrupolar parameters with magic-angle spinning NMR. The sequence separates spinning sidebands by order in a two-dimensional experiment. A sheared projection of the 2D spectrum effectively yields the infinite spinning rate second-order quadrupolar powder pattern, which can be analyzed to determine quadrupolar coupling constants and asymmetry parameters. The RF power and spinning speed requirements of the original QPASS sequence make it an experimentally demanding technique. A new version of the sequence is demonstrated here and is shown to alleviate many problems associated with the original sequence. New solutions to the determining equations, based on the use of multiple rotor cycles in the QPASS sequence, lead to longer delays between the nine pi pulses, provide less chance of pulse overlap, and allow for use of weaker RF field strengths that excite only the central quadrupolar transition. A three-rotor-cycle version of the new experiment is demonstrated on the 139La nucleus. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Many NMR experiments have been designed to measure homonuclear or heteronuclear distances, and often generate time-domain dipolar signals that need to be analysed to extract the relevant dipolar coupling constants. These constants yield internuclear distances directly, and therefore an accurate and easily understandable extraction of these couplings from potentially noisy data is a major concern. Several dipolar signals will be considered in this work, including those obtained from the REDOR, MELODRAMA, and SEDOR experiments, and a new series form for the C7 and DCP signals. A review and discussion of an existing transform-based method for dipolar signal analysis is presented here, along with two new generalized methods for the extraction of coupling constants. One of the new methods is a fast procedure based on asymptotic signal forms, while the other is a regularization method specifically formulated to account for experimental noise, and shows significant performance gains over other methods when appli...

Two 1H-detected one-dimensional gradient enhanced experiments and corresponding reference experiments are proposed for the measurement of heteronuclear long-range nJCH coupling constants in organic molecules. These experiments use inverse detection and selective carbon excitation, provide excellent suppression of protons not coupled to 13C, and are able to measure couplings from regions that are crowded in both the proton and carbon frequency ranges. The experiments are applied to determine the long-range nJCH couplings in the sucrose molecule, including coupling across the glycosidic linkage. These pulse sequences are shown to provide accurate and efficient measurements of coupling constants that would be difficult or time-consuming to measure by other techniques. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

The purpose was to design and characterize inhalable microparticulate/nanoparticulate dry powders of mannitol with essential particle properties for targeted dry powder delivery for cystic fibrosis mucolytic treatment by dilute organic solution spray drying, and, in addition, to tailor and correlate aerosol dispersion performance delivered as dry powder inhalers based on spray-drying conditions and solid-state physicochemical properties.Organic solution advanced spray drying from dilute solution followed by comprehensive solid-state physicochemical characterization and in vitro dry powder aerosolization were used.The particle size distribution of the spray-dried (SD) powders was narrow, unimodal, and in the range of ∼500 nm to 2.0 μm. The particles possessed spherical particle morphology, relatively smooth surface morphology, low water content and vapor sorption (crystallization occurred at exposure above 65% relative humidity), and retention of crystallinity by polymorphic interconversion. The emitted dose, fine particle fraction (FPF), and respirable fraction (RF) were all relatively high. The mass median aerodynamic diameters were below 4 μm for all SD mannitol aerosols.The in vitro aerosol deposition stage patterns could be tailored based on spray-drying pump rate. Positive linear correlation was observed between both FPF and RF values with spray-drying pump rates. The interplay between various spray-drying conditions, particle physicochemical properties, and aerosol dispersion performance was observed and examined, which enabled tailoring and modeling of high aerosol deposition patterns.

Jinghua Duan,1,2 Frederick G Vogt,3 Xiaojian Li,1 Don Hayes Jr,4,5 Heidi M Mansour6 1University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences – Drug Development Division, Lexington, KY, USA; 2University of Washington-Seattle, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, Seattle, WA, USA; 3GlaxoSmithKline, Analytical Sciences, Product Development, King of Prussia, PA, USA; 4The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Programs, Columbus, OH, USA; 5The Ohio State University, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Columbus, OH, USA; 6The University of Arizona–Tucson, College of Pharmacy, Skaggs Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tucson, AZ, USA Abstract: The aim of this study was to design and develop respirable antibiotics moxifloxacin (MOXI) hydrochloride and ofloxacin (OFLX) microparticles and nanoparticles, and multifunctional antibiotics particles with or without lung surfactant 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) for targeted dry powder inhalation delivery as a pulmonary nanomedicine. Particles were rationally designed and produced by advanced spray-drying particle engineering from an organic solution in closed mode (no water) from dilute solution. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that these particles had both optimal particle morphology and surface morphology, and the particle size distributions were suitable for pulmonary delivery. Comprehensive and systematic physicochemical characterization and in vitro aerosol dispersion performance revealed significant differences between these two fluoroquinolone antibiotics following spray drying as drug aerosols and as cospray-dried antibiotic drug: DPPC aerosols. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and confocal Raman microspectroscopy were employed to probe composition and interactions in the solid state. Spray-dried MOXI was rendered noncrystalline (amorphous) following organic solution advanced spray drying. This was in contrast to spray-dried OFLX, which retained partial crystallinity, as did OFLX:DPPC powders at certain compositions. Aerosol dispersion performance was conducted using inertial impaction with a dry powder inhaler device approved for human use. The present study demonstrates that the use of DPPC offers improved aerosol delivery of MOXI as cospray-dried microparticulate/nanoparticulate powders, whereas residual partial crystallinity influenced aerosol dispersion of OFLX and most of the compositions of OFLX:DPPC inhalation powders. Keywords: lung infection, respiratory, lung surfactant, solid-state particle engineering design, aerosol, fluoroquinolone antibiotic drug delivery

The present work demonstrates, for the first time, the application of the mass spectrometric kinetic method for quantitative chiral purity determination by automatic flow-injection MS/MS. The particular compound analyzed is GSK2251052A, a novel boron-containing systemic antibiotic for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Chiral recognition and quantitation of GSK2251052A was achieved based on the competitive dissociation kinetics of the Cu(II)-bound trimeric complex [Cu(II)(A)(ref*)2-H](+) (A = GSK2251052A or its R-enantiomer, ref* = L-tryptophan) that gives rise to Cu(II)-bound dimeric complexes. The sensitive nature of the methodology and the linear relationship between the logarithm of the fragment ion abundance ratio and the optical purity, characteristic of the kinetic method, allow chiral purity determination of pharmaceutical compounds during enantioselective synthesis. By using flow-injection MS/MS, enantiomeric quantitation of GSK2251052A by the kinetic method proved to be fast (2 min for analysis of each sample) and to have accuracy comparable to chiral LC-MS/MS and LC-UV methods as well as the method using chiral derivatization followed by LC-MS/MS analysis. This flow-injection MS/MS method represents an alternative approach to commonly used chromatographic techniques as a means of chiral purity determination and is particularly useful for rapid screening of chiral drugs during pharmaceutical development.

The purpose of this study was to systematically design pure antibiotic drug dry powder inhalers (DPIs) for targeted antibiotic pulmonary delivery in the treatment of pulmonary infections and comprehensively correlate the physicochemical properties in the solid-state and spray-drying conditions effects on aerosol dispersion performance as dry powder inhalers (DPIs). The two rationally chosen model antibiotic drugs, tobramycin (TOB) and azithromycin (AZI), represent two different antibiotic drug classes of aminoglycosides and macrolides, respectively. The particle size distributions were narrow, unimodal, and in the microparticulate/nanoparticulate size range. The SD particles possessed relatively spherical particle morphology, smooth surface morphology, low residual water content, and the absence of long-range molecular order. The emitted dose (ED%), fine particle fraction (FPF%) and respirable fraction (RF%) were all excellent. The MMAD values were in the inhalable range (

The purpose of this work is to examine the ability of methods based on multinuclear and multidimensional solid-state NMR (SSNMR) to perform detailed characterization of amorphous dispersions of ezetimibe adsorbed on mesoporous silica.Ezetimibe was loaded into two types of mesoporous silica with average pore sizes of 2.5 and 21 nm. The mesoporous materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), vibrational spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and (1)H, (13)C, (19)F, and (29)Si SSNMR analysis including relaxation time measurements. Interactions between the drug and silica were investigated using 1D and 2D SSNMR methods based on dipolar correlation using cross-polarization (CP) and spin diffusion.PXRD was used to show the absence of crystalline ezetimibe in the mesoporous materials, and (19)F SSNMR was used to assess drug physical state and study mobility. (19)F-(29)Si CP methods were used to directly detect adsorbed ezetimibe. (1)H-(13)C, (1)H-(19)F, and (1)H-(29)Si, and heteronuclear correlation and (1)H homonuclear correlation experiments were used to investigate interactions between the drug and silica through (1)H environments.SSNMR methods were able to detect interactions between the drug and the silica substrate. Differences between the drug loaded onto silica with two different pore sizes were observed, including differences in hydrogen bonding environment and molecular mobility. These methods should be useful for characterization of similar systems.

Solid‐state NMR (SSNMR) spectroscopy has developed into a powerful analytical method for the study of complex phenomena of interest in drug discovery and development. SSNMR has been widely applied in structural characterization of biomolecules that are potential targets for drugs, many of which are not amenable to X‐ray diffraction methods, and also to the study of pharmaceutical molecules bound to target biomolecules. In these applications, SSNMR is usually combined with spin labeling methods to enable the detection of interactions of interest. Methods that measure specific structural parameters, such as distance restraints, are widely employed in these studies, and entire protein structures can now be solved from SSNMR data. Multinuclear and multidimensional SSNMR techniques are widely applied to maximize resolution and spectral information content in these complex systems. In drug development, SSNMR is extensively employed in the characterization of crystalline and amorphous small‐molecule drugs as pure substances and in various complex dosage forms. Applications of SSNMR in drug development include studies of polymorphism, solvation, disorder, quantitative analysis and analysis of molecular interactions, association and structure in multicomponent systems such as cocrystals and amorphous dispersions. These studies help provide understanding and control over manufacturing processes and also offer insight into product stability. Multinuclear and multidimensional SSNMR techniques are also increasingly applied to probe more complex systems, such as complex phase mixtures and non‐stoichiometric materials, encountered during drug development. New developments in the field continue to advance the capabilities of SSNMR in these applications.

While the occurrence of desulfurization of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in solution is well established, this study represents the first attempt to investigate the basis of the unexpected desulfurization via the net sulfur-by-oxygen (S-O) replacement during negative electrospray ionization (ESI). The current work, facilitated by quantitative mass deconvolution, demonstrates that considerable desulfurization can take place even under common negative ESI operating conditions. The extent of desulfurization is dependent on the molar phosphorothioate oligonucleotide-to-hydroxyl radical ratio, which is consistent with the corona discharge-induced origin of the hydroxyl radical leading to the S-O replacement. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that an increase of the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) flow rate and the on-column concentration of a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide, as well as a decrease of the electrospray voltage reduce the degree of desulfurization. Comparative LC-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) sequencing of a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide and its corresponding desulfurization product revealed evidence that the S-O replacement occurs at multiple phosphorothioate internucleotide linkage sites. In practice, the most convenient and effective strategy for minimizing this P = O artifact is to increase the LC flow rate and the on-column concentration of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. Another approach to mitigate possible detrimental effects of the undesired desulfurization is to operate the ESI source at a very low electrospray voltage to diminish the corona discharge; however this will significantly compromise sensitivity when analyzing the low-level P = O impurities in phosphorothioate oligonucleotides.

The characterization of orally-delivered peptide pharmaceuticals presents several challenges to analytical methods in comparison to characterization of conventional small-molecule drugs. These challenges include the analysis and characterization of difficult-to-separate impurities, secondary structure, the amorphous solid-state form, and the integrity of enteric-coated drug delivery systems. This work presents the multidisciplinary analytical characterization of a parathyroid hormone (PTH) peptide active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and an oral formulation of this API within enteric-coated sucrose spheres. The analysis of impurities and degradation products in API and formulated drug product was facilitated by the development of an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method for analysis by high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS). The use of UHPLC allowed for additional resolution needed to detect impurities and degradation products of interest. The secondary structure was probed using a combination of solution-state NMR, infrared, and circular dichroism spectroscopic methods. Solid-state NMR is used to detect amorphous API in a nondestructive manner directly within the coated sucrose sphere formulation. Fluorescence and Raman microscopy were used in conjunction with Raman mapping to show enteric coating integrity and observe the distribution of API beneath the enteric-coating on the sucrose spheres. The methods are combined in a multidisciplinary approach to characterize the quality of the enteric-coated peptide product.

Chirality has been of great interest in pharmaceutical and biological sciences. The capabilities of mass spectrometry (MS) for rapid analysis of complex mixtures have encouraged its exploration for gas-phase chiral differentiation. Although particular instances of successful discrimination between enantiomers have been reported over the past three decades, a general method of quantitative chiral analysis by MS has only been demonstrated recently. This review describes the current state of the chiral MS methods without chiral chromatographic separation, which fall into five main categories: (1) the kinetic method, (2) host-guest (H-G) diastereomeric adduct formation, (3) ion/molecule (equilibrium) reactions, (4) collision-induced dissociation (CID) of diastereomeric adducts, and (5) the emerging technique for gas-phase separation using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). It emphasizes tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), which provides several unique analytical advantages for quantitative chiral analysis. These include intrinsically high sensitivity, molecular specificity, and tolerance to impurities as well as the simplicity and speed of the mass spectrometric measurements. Practical prospects and current challenges in quantitative chiral MS techniques for QbD (quality-by-design)-based pharmaceutical applications are also discussed.