Enhanced dissolution rate and synchronized release of drugs in binary systems through formulation: Amorphous naproxen-cimetidine mixtures prepared by mechanical activation

Naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is a biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) class 11 drug whose bioavailability is rate-limited by its dissolution. Cimetidine is sometimes co-administered with naproxen for the treatment of NSAID-induced gastro-intestinal disorders. Hence, there is interest in the design of new formulations that offer (1) concomitant release of both drugs, and (2) an enhanced dissolution rate of naproxen. This study investigates the formation of amorphous binary systems with naproxen and cimetidine. The binary mixtures of all tested molar ratios were found to become amorphous upon co-milling for 60 min at 4 degrees C. In contrast, pure naproxen could not be transformed to the amorphous state by mechanical activation. The 1: 1 sample was the most physically stable when stored for 33 days at 40 degrees C, even though it did not have the highest T-g when compared to the 1:2 sample. The 1:1 sample was further stored for 186 days and remained amorphous under all conditions. Raman spectroscopy suggested a 1:1 solid-state interaction between the imidazole ring of cimetidine and the carboxylic acid moiety of naproxen in the co-milled amorphous sample. Thus, the stabilization of the amorphous binary system is dictated by molecular-level interactions rather than bulk-level phenomena. No recrystallization of either drug in the 1:1 co-milled sample was observed during dissolution testing, with naproxen and cimetidine having a four and two times higher intrinsic dissolution rate, respectively, compared to their crystalline counterparts. Further, the release of the two drugs could be synchronized using this formulation approach. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.