PREFORMULATION STUDIES:

PHYSICOCHEMICAL
CHARACTERIZATION OF
NEW DRUG MOLECULES

Ms. Pratiksha Jayaswal

Assistant Professor
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Scienves
Rama University, KANPUR (U.P.)
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 CONTENTS
1 Introduction
2 Major area of preformulation research
a) Organoleptic characters
b) Bulk characterization
c) Solubility characters
d) Stability characters
3 Conclusion
4 Reference

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PREFORMULATION
It is defined as the phase of research and development in
which preformulation studies characterize physical and
chemical properties of a drug molecule in order to
develop safe, effective and stable dosage form.

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OBJECTIVES
To establish the physico-chemical parameters of a new drug entity

To determine its kinetics and stability

To establish its compatibility with common excipients

It provides insights into how drug products should be processed and
stored to ensure their quality

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Major Area of Preformulation
Research
➢ ORGANOLEPTIC CHARACTERS
➢ BULK CHARACTERS
❑ Crystallinty and polymorphism
❑ Hygroscopicity
❑ Fine particle characterization
❑ Powder flow properties
➢ SOLUBILITYANALYSIS
❑ ionization constant-PKa
❑ pH solubility profile
❑ Common ion effect-Ksp
❑ Thermal effects

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❑ Solubilization
❑ Partition co-efficient
❑ Dissolution
➢ STABILITYANALYSIS
❑ Stability in toxicology formulations
❑ Solution stability
❑ pH rate profile
❑ Solid state stability
❑ Bulk stability
❑ Compatibility

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ORGANOLEPTIC CHARACTERS
❖ Colour,odour, taste of the new drug must be
recorded
COLOUR ODOUR TASTE
❑ Off-white ❑ pungent ❑ Acidic

❑ Cream yellow ❑ sulphurous ❑ Bitter

❑ tan ❑ Fruity ❑ Bland
❑ shiny ❑ Aromatic ❑ Intense
❑ Odourless ❑ Sweet
❑ Tasteless

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BULK CHARACTERIZATION
Crystallinity
Crystal habit & internal structure of drug can affect bulk &
physicochemical property of molecule.

Crystal habit is description of outer appearance of crystal.

Internal structure is molecular arrangement within the solid.

Change with internal structure usually alters crystal habit.

Eg. Conversion of sodium salt to its free acid form produce both change in
internal structure & crystal habit.

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Different shapes of crystals

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 Different shapes of crystals
Depending on internal structure compounds is classified as
1. Crystalline
2. Amorphous
Crystalline compounds are characterized by repetitious spacing of
constituent atom or molecule in three dimensional array.
In amorphous form atom or molecule are randomly placed.
Solubility & dissolution rate are greater for amorphous form than
crystalline, as amorphous form has higher thermodynamic energy.

Eg. Amorphous form of Novobiocin is well absorbed whereas

crystalline form results in poor absorption.

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 Polymorphism
It is the ability of the compound to crystallize as more than one
distinct crystalline species with different internal lattice.

Different crystalline forms are called polymorphs.

Polymorphs are of 2 types

1. Enatiotropic
2. Monotropic
The polymorph which can be changed from one form into another
by varying temp or pressure is called as Enantiotropic polymorph.
Eg. Sulphur.

One polymorph which is unstable at all temp. & pressure is called

as Monotropic polymorph.
Eg. Glyceryl stearate.

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 Polymorphism
Polymorphs differ from each other with respect to their physical
property such as
• Solubility
• Melting point
• Density
• Hardness
• Compression characteristic
Eg. 1)Chloromphenicol exist in A,B & C forms, of these B form is

more stable & most preferable.

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ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR THE
CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLID FORMS
Microscopy
Hot stage microscopy
Thermal analysis
X-ray diffraction
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy
Proton magnetic resonance (PMR)
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

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 Microscopy
Material with more than one refractive index are anisotropic & appear
bright with brilliant colors against black polarized background.

The color intensity depends upon crystal thickness.

Isotropic material have single refractive index and this substance do not
transmit light with crossed polarizing filter and appears black.
Advantage :
By this method, we can study crystal morphology & difference between
polymorphic form.

Disadvantage :
This require a well trained optical crystallographer, as there are many
possible crystal habit & their appearance at different orientation.

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 Hot stage microscopy
The polarizing microscope fitted with hot stage is useful for
investigating polymorphism, melting point & transition temp.

Disadvantage :
In this technique, the molecules can degrade during the melting
process.

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 Thermal analysis
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) & Differential thermal analysis
are (DTA) are particularly useful in the investigation of polymorphism.

It measures the heat loss or gain resulting from physical or chemical

changes within a sample as a function of temp.

For characterizing crystal forms , the heat of fusion can be obtained

from the area under DSC- curve for melting endotherms.

Similarly, heat of transition from one polymorph to another may be

calculated.

A sharp symmetric melting endotherm can indicate relative purity of

molecule.
A broad asymmetric curve indicates presence of impurities.

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 X-ray diffraction
Working :
When beam of nonhomogenous X-ray is allow to pass through the
crystal, X-ray beam is diffracted & it is recorded by means of
photographic plate.

Diffraction is due to crystal which acts as 3 dimensional diffraction

grating toward X-ray.

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Random orientation of crystal lattice in the powder causes the
X-ray to scatter in a reproducible pattern of peak intensities.

The diffraction pattern is characteristic of a specific

crystalline lattice for a given compound.

An amorphous form does not produce a pattern mixture of

different crystalline forms.

Single – Crystal x-ray provide the most complete information

about the solid state.

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HYGROSCOPICITY
Many drug substances, particularly water –soluble salt forms, have a
tendency to adsorb atmospheric moisture.
Adsorption and moisture content depend upon the atmospheric
humidity, temperature, surface area, exposure and the mechanism of
moisture uptake.

The degree of Hygroscopicity is classified into four classes:

✓ Slightly hygroscopic: increase in weight is ≥ 0.2% w/w and < 2% w/w
✓ Hygroscopic : increase in weight is ≥ 0.2 % w/w and < 15 % w/w
✓ Very hygroscopic : increase in weight is ≥ 15% w/w
✓ Deliquescent : sufficient water is adsorbed to form a solution

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Hygroscopicity is tested by:
Samples are exposed to the moisture

exposed to controlled relative humidity environments

moisture uptake is monitored at different time points

Analytical methods which is used are :

✓ Gravimetry

✓ Karl Fischer Titration

✓ Gas chromatography

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 PARTICLE SIZE
Particle size is characterized using these terms :
Very coarse, Coarse, Moderately coarse, Fine ,Very
fine .
Particle size can influence variety of important factors :
- Dissolution rate
- Suspendability
- Uniform distribution
- Penetrability
- Lack of grittiness

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Methods to Determine Particle Size

Sieving (5µ-150µ)
Microscopy(0.2µ-100µ)
Sedimentation rate method(1µ-200µ)
Light energy diffraction(0.5µ-500µ)
Laser holography(1.4µ-100µ)

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POWDER FLOW PROPERTIES
➢ Powder flow properties can be affected by change in
particle size, shape & density.

➢ The flow properties depends upon following-

1. Force of friction.
2. Cohesion between one particle to another.

➢ Fine particle posses poor flow by filling void spaces

between larger particles causing packing & densification
of particles.

➢ By using glident we can alter the flow properties.

e.g. Talc
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 Determination of Powder Flow Properties

➢ By determining Angle of Repose. Angle of Type of Flow

➢ A greater angle of repose indicate Repose
poor flow. ( In degree)
➢ It should be less than 30°. & can
be determined by following <25 Excellent
equation.

tan θ = h/r. 25-30 Good

where, θ = angle of repose.

h=height of pile. 30-40 Passable

r= radius.
>40 Very poor

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 Methods to determine angle of
repose
➢ Static angle of
repose
Fixed-funnel
method
Fixed-cone method
➢ Kinetic or dynamic
method
Rotating cylinder
method
Tilting box method
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 Determination of Powder Flow Properties

➢ Measurement of free flowing powder by

compressibility.
➢ Also known as Carr's index.

CARR’S INDEX(%) =(TAPPED DENSITY – POURED DENSITY) X 100

TAPPED DENSITY

➢ Itis simple, fast & popular method of predicting

powder flow characteristics.

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Determination of Powder Flow Properties

Carr’s Index Type of flow

5-15 Excellent

12-16 Good

18-21 Fair To Passable

23-35 Poor
33-38 Very Poor
>40 Extremely Poor

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 SOLUBILITY STUDIES
1. Solution phase equilibrium with solid phase at a stated temperature and
pressure .
2. Determines amount of drug dissolved , amount of drug available for
absorption.
3. Solubility reduction is carried out in certain conditions:
❖ Enhancement of chemical stability.
❖ taste masking products.
❖ Production of sustained release products.
Descriptive term Parts of solvent required for 1 part of
❖ Table: Solubility based classificati onsolute
of drug
Very soluble Less than 1
Freely soluble From 1 to 10
Soluble From 10 to 30
Sparingly soluble From 30 to 100
Slightly soluble From 100 to 1000
Very slightly soluble From 1000 to 10,000
Practically insoluble 10,000 and over
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The equilibrium solubility is based on the phase-solubility technique
proposed by Higuchi-Connors .
Method
Drug dispersed in solvent in a closed container

agitated at a constant temperature using shakers

samples of the slurry are withdrawn as a function of time

clarified by centrifugation and assayed by HPLC, UV, GC etc

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 pKa determination
pKa is the dissociation constant of a drug
The un-ionized drug is lipid soluble thus permeates through lipid
membrane.
The ionized substance is lipid insoluble therefore permeation is slow
Degree of ionization depends on pH
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
For basic compounds: [ionized]
pH = pKa +
[un − ionized]

[un − ionized]
For acidic compounds: pH = pKa +
[ionized]

( pH − pKa )
%ionized = 10
( pH − pKa )
1 +10
Determined by uv spectroscopy, potentiometric titration, titrimetric
method

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 SOLUBILIZATION

“Solubilization is defined as the spontaneous

passage of poorly water soluble solute
molecules into an aqueous solution of a
soap or detergent in which a
thermodynamically stable solution is
formed ”.

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➢It is the process by which apparent solubility of an otherwise
sparingly soluble substance is increased by the presence of surfactant
micelles .

❑ MICELLES: -

➢ The mechanism involves the property of surface active agents

to form colloidal aggregates known as micelles .

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➢ When surfactants are added to the liquid at low concentration they
tend to orient at the air-liquid interface .

➢ On further addition of surfactant the interface becomes completely

occupied and excess molecules are forced into the bulk of liquid.

➢At very high concentration surfactant molecules in the bulk of liquid

begin to form micelles and this concentration is know as CRITICAL
MICELLE CONCENTRATION (CMC)

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 General Method of Increasing
the Solubility
➢ Addition of co-solvent
➢ pH change method
➢ Reduction of particle size
➢ Temperature change method
➢ Hydotrophy
➢ Addition of Surfactant
➢ Dielectrical Constant
➢ Complexation

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 Partition Coefficient
A measurement of drug lipophilicity i,e the ability to cross the cell
membrane p = c o rg a n ic
o/a
c a q ue o u s

Distribution coefficient
( pH − pKa)
log10D = log 10P − log 10 (1 +10 )
For acids:
pKa − pH
log D = log P − log (1 + 1 0 )
For bases : 10 10 10

The octanol-water system is widely accepted to explain these phenomenon.

Buccal membrane : butanol-pentanol system

Blood-Brain barrier: chloroform-cyclohexane

Determined by SHAKE FLASK METHOD

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 SHAKE FLASK METHOD

Drug is shaken between octanol and water.

Aliquot is taken and analyzed for drug content

RULE OF FIVE : for drug permeates through passive diffusion

1. Log P is greater than 5

2. Molecular weight >500

3. There are more than 5 hydrogen bond donors (number of NH + OH)

4. There are more than 10 hydrogen bond acceptors (number of hydrogen +

oxygen )

5. Molar refractivity should be between 40-130

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 DISSOLUTION
Rate Rate
constant of constant of
dissolution absorption
K d K a
Solid drug in Drug in solution Drug systemic
the G.I Fluid in the G.I fluid circulation

When Kd << Ka ,dissolution is significantly slower and the absorption is

described as dissolution-rate limited.

The dissolution rate of drug substance in which surface area is constant

during dissolution is described by Noyes-Whitney equation.
dC/dt=dissolution rate
dC DA
= (C S − C ) h=diffusion layer thickness
dt hV C=solute concentration in bulk solution
V=volume of the dissolution medium
D=diffusion coefficient
A=surface area of the dissolving solid
Cs=solute concentration in the diffusion
layer

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Constant surface area is obtained by compressing powder into a disc of
known area with a die and punch apparatus.

Hydrodynamic conditions are maintained with Static-disc dissolution

apparatus and Rotating disc apparatus

fig : static dissolution apparatus and rotating disc apparatus

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 STABILITY ANALYSIS
1. Solution stability
2. Solid state stability
SOLUTION STABILITY
▪ The decomposition of drug occurs through hydrolysis, oxidation,
photolysis.
➢ Hydrolysis (anaesthetics, vitamins etc )
a) Ester hydrolysis
R’-COOR + H+ + OH- RCOOH + ROH
ester acid alcohol
b) Amide hydrolysis
RCONHR’ + H+ + OH- RCOOH + H2N-R’
amide acid amine

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➢ Oxidation
used to evaluate the stability of pharmaceutical preparations

Eg : steroids, vitamins, antibiotics, epinephrine

Autoxidation
Materials + molecular oxygen

homolytic fission

Free radicals are produced.

Oxygen sensitivity is measured by bubbling air through the compound or

adding hydrogen peroxide.

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➢ Photolysis

pharmaceutical compounds

exposure to uv light

absorbs the radiant energy

undergoes degradative reactions

SOLID-STATE STABILITY

1o objective: identification of stable storage conditions.

identification of compatible excipients.

Solid-state stability depends on the temperature , light, humidity,

polymorphic changes, oxidation.

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 Solid-State Stability profile of a new compound
Samples are placed in open vials and are exposed directly to a variety of
temperatures, humidities, and light intensities for up to 12 weeks.

Vials exposed to oxygen and nitrogen to study the surface oxidation and
chemical stability , polymorphic changes and discolouration.

Stability data obtained at various humidities may be linearized with respect

to moisture using the following apparent decay rate constant (KH )

k H
= [gpl].k 0
gpl= concentration of water in atmosphere in units of grams of water per liter
of dry air .

ko = decay rate constant at zero relative humidity

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Mole fraction of the solid that has liquefied (Fm ) is
directly proportional to its decay rate.
− H 1 1
k app  ln Fm= −
fus
ln [ ]
R T T m

 H fus -molar heat of fusion

Tm - absolute melting point
T - absolute temperature
R - gas constant

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 Drug- excipient compatibility

Compatibility test play a very important role in the preformulation

studies of oral dosage forms
An incompatibility in the dosage form can result in any of the following
changes:

➢ Changes in organoleptic properties

➢ Changes in dissolution performance

➢ Physical form conversion

➢ An decrease in potency

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 METHOD
Drug + Excipients
(1:1)

Powder samples dispersed into glass ampoules

1 ampoule 1 ampoule (sample + water)

stored at a particular temperature (500 C) andanalysed

In emulsions the studies include measuring the critical micelle
concentration of the formulations
For oral use preparations compatibility of the ingredients (ethanol,
glycerine, syrup, sucrose, buffers and preservatives)

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 CONCLUSION
Preformulation studies on a new drug molecule provide
useful information for subsequent formulation of a
physicochemically stable and biopharmaceutically
suitable dosage form.

Preformulation work is the foundation of developing

efficacious and economical formulations.

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 REFERENCE
Leon Lachman, Liberman. The theory and practice of
Industrial pharmacy, Edn 4. CBS publishing house, New
Delhi.2013 p:217-307.
Banker GS, Rhodes CT. Modern pharmaceutics, Edn 4.
Marcel Dekker, New York. 2002 p:167-184.
Loyd V. Allen, Nicholas G.popovich, Howard C. Ansel.
Ansel’s pharmaceutical Dosage forms & Drug delivery
systems, Edn 8. B.I.Publication pvt. Ltd, p:187-193,42
& 43,126-133.
Brahmankar D.M, Jaiswal BS. Biopharmaceutics
and pharmacokinetics a Treatise, Edn 2. Vallabh
Prakashan, Nagpur. 2009; p: 37-45.

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