Microcrystals for dissolution rate enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs

Abstract Slight dissolution rates related to poor water-solubility are one of the well-known difficulties to be covered during the development of new drug substances. The poorly water-soluble drug ECU-01, a low molecular enzyme-inhibitor with anti-inflammatory properties for oral administration, shows a poor dissolution rate. This study is intended to enhance the drug dissolution rate by using microcrystals. The common way for micronization is the milling of previously formed larger crystals. However, milling shows several disadvantages as the newly created surfaces are thermodynamically activated due to the high energy input and not naturally grown. In this study microcrystals were not produced using any cutting up techniques, but only by association. Naturally grown microcrystals were prepared by a precipitation method in the presence of stabilizing agents (e.g. gelatin, chitosan, different types of cellulose ethers) followed by spray-drying of the formed dispersion. First the drug was dissolved in acetone and then precipitated by rapid pouring an aqueous solution of the stabilizer into the drug solution. Particularly, cellulose ethers were able to form stable and homogeneous dispersions of microcrystals (mean particle size=1 μm) showing a tight particle size distribution. By spray-drying, the drug powder was obtained. The dissolution rate is significantly enhanced (common drug: 4% after 20 min/microcrystals 93% after 20 min) due to the large surface, which is hydrophilized by adsorbed stabilizers as shown by the decreased contact angle (65 and 30°, respectively).