Physical stability of solid dispersions of the antiviral agent UC-781 with PEG 6000, Gelucire® 44/14 and PVPK30

This paper describes the physical stability of solid dispersions of UC-781 with PEG 6000, Gelucire(R) 44/14 and PVP K30 prepared by the solvent and melting methods. The concentration of the drug in the solid dispersions ranged from 5 to 80% w/w. The solid dispersions were stored at 4-8 and 25 degreesC (25% RH), then their physicochemical properties were analysed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction and dissolution studies as a function of storage time. The DSC curves of solid dispersions of UC-781 with PVP K30 did not show any melting peaks corresponding to UC-781 after storage, indicating no recrystallization of the drug. The DSC data obtained from PEG 6000 and Gelucire(R) 44/14 showed some variations in melting peak temperatures and enthalpy of fusion of the carriers. It was shown that the enthalpy of fusion of PEG 6000 in the dispersions increased after storage; it was more pronounced for samples stored at 25 degreesC compared to those at 4-8 degreesC indicating the reorganization of the crystalline domains of the polymer. Similarly, the enthalpy of fusion of Gelucire(R) 44/14 in the solid dispersions increased as a function of time. Dissolution of UC-781 from all solid dispersions decreased as a function of storage time. While these observations concurred with the DSC data for all solid dispersions, they were not reflected by X-ray powder diffraction data. It was concluded that it is the change of the physical state of the carriers and not that of the drug, which is responsible for the decreased dissolution properties of the solid dispersions investigated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.