Acetaminophen Injection Composition Solubility and Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Acetaminophen injections face challenges due to low solubility in aqueous solutions, leading to recrystallization and potential hepatotoxicity, requiring careful handling and storage, and current treatments for overdose involve complex detoxification processes with side effects.

Innovation Solution

An injection composition containing acetaminophen with a solubilizing agent like arginine or povidone, a toxic inhibitor such as N-acetylcysteine, an isotonic agent like mannitol, and an antioxidant like cysteine, maintaining a pH of 4 to 8, which increases solubility and stability, preventing recrystallization and hepatotoxicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If acetaminophen is prepared in the form of an injection, then it can achieve faster drug effect and avoid side effects of NSAID, but recrystallization may be precipitated in distribution process due to low solubility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug effect speedVSAvoidsolution stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a solubilizing agent as an intermediary substance that facilitates the dissolution of acetaminophen in aqueous solution. This mediator prevents recrystallization during distribution while maintaining the injectable form, thus preserving the fast-acting advantage without compromising solution stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the solution by adjusting pH levels and incorporating specific excipients that enhance acetaminophen solubility. These parameter changes maintain the drug in dissolved state during distribution, preventing recrystallization while preserving the rapid therapeutic effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If acetaminophen injection is stored at low temperature, then distribution stability is improved, but recrystallization occurs causing vascular embolism risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistribution stabilityVSAvoidvascular embolism risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The solubilizing agent acts as a protective intermediary that prevents acetaminophen molecules from aggregating and forming crystals at low temperatures. This mediator maintains molecular dispersion during cold distribution, ensuring stability without triggering the harmful recrystallization effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates stabilizing excipients and pH adjusters that pre-condition the solution to resist temperature-induced recrystallization. This beforehand cushioning protects against the harmful effect of crystal formation during cold chain distribution, eliminating vascular embolism risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If acetaminophen is administered to treat overdose, then hepatotoxicity can be prevented, but complicated detoxification process and side effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehepatotoxicityVSAvoiddetoxification process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines acetaminophen with hepatoprotective agents and solubilizing excipients in a single injection formulation. This merging integrates the detoxification function directly into the therapeutic agent, simplifying the treatment process from multiple separate interventions to a single combined administration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The injection formulation serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the therapeutic acetaminophen effect, prevents hepatotoxicity through incorporated protective agents, and maintains solution stability. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detoxification procedures and reduces overall treatment complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition ensures low-temperature stability, prevents hepatotoxicity, and simplifies the detoxification process, enhancing safety and efficacy by maintaining acetaminophen solubility and reducing side effects.

Implementation Method 1

acetaminophen with a solubilizing agent like arginine or povidone, a toxic inhibitor such as N-acetylcysteine, an isotonic agent like mannitol, and an antioxidant like cysteine, maintaining a pH of 4 to 8, which increases solubility and stability, preventing recrystallization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolubilization: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

acetaminophen is decomposed in the presence of oxygen and light, and can exhibit hepatotoxicity due to benzoquinone imine which is acetaminophen degradation product. Therefore, an injection containing acetaminophen should be carefully handled in the manufacturing and distribution processes.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntioxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

acetaminophen may be hydrolyzed in an acidic or basic environment, and hydrolysis occurs at a minimum as the pH approaches 6

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP3574894B1Injection composition containing acetaminophen
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 WOOSUNG PHARMA CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to the injection composition containing acetaminophen, the injection composition comprising acetaminophen mixed in 0.01∼5 wt%, a solubilizer mixed in 0.01∼10 wt%, a toxicity inhibitor mixed in 0.05∼5 wt%, an isotonic agent mixed in 0.1∼10 wt%, an antioxidant mixed in 0.001∼5 wt%, and the balance sterile purified water for injection.