Aprepitant Solid Solution Solubility via Co-Polymer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aprepitant's poor solubility and bioavailability due to its low water solubility and complex nanoparticulate composition make existing manufacturing processes costly, unstable, and inefficient, requiring specialized equipment and extensive processing, which complicates large-scale production and stability.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical formulation of aprepitant in a solid solution with a co-polymer of polyvinyl caprolactam with polyvinyl acetate and polyethylene glycol, combined with hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, prepared using a continuous drum drying process, offering improved solubility, stability, and cost-effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If nanoparticulate composition is used to improve solubility, then solubility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesolubilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of aprepitant by converting it from a crystalline state to an amorphous state through coprecipitation with polyvinylpyrrolidone. This parameter change (crystalline to amorphous) dramatically improves solubility without requiring complex nanoparticulate manufacturing processes, thus resolving the contradiction between solubility improvement and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system by coprecipitating aprepitant with polyvinylpyrrolidone carrier. This composite amorphous coprecipitate formulation improves solubility through the synergistic effect of the amorphous state and the solubilizing properties of PVP, avoiding the need for complex nanoparticulate devices and processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If nanoparticulate composition is used to improve solubility, then solubility is improved, but stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesolubilityVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The amorphous coprecipitate of aprepitant with polyvinylpyrrolidone creates a stable composite material where the PVP carrier provides structural support and prevents aggregation. This composite structure maintains both improved solubility (through amorphous state) and enhanced stability (through PVP's stabilizing effect), resolving the contradiction between solubility and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Quantity of substance

If nanoparticulate composition is used to improve solubility, then solubility is improved, but bioavailability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesolubilityVSAvoidbioavailability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By changing aprepitant from crystalline to amorphous state through coprecipitation with PVP, the invention improves both solubility and bioavailability. The amorphous state eliminates crystal lattice energy barriers to dissolution, while PVP prevents recrystallization and maintains supersaturation, leading to enhanced bioavailability compared to both crystalline form and nanoparticulate formulations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If complex processing steps are used to maintain particle size, then particle size control is improved, but manufacturing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle size controlVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the complex particle size control steps (pre-milling, media milling, Wurster column coating, sieving) from the manufacturing process by using coprecipitation to directly form amorphous coprecipitates with desired properties. This eliminates multiple time-consuming processing steps while maintaining product quality, resolving the contradiction between precision and time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Length of moving object

If intensive milling process is used to achieve nanometer particle size, then particle size is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle sizeVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the fundamental approach from mechanical size reduction (milling) to chemical/physical coprecipitation. This parameter change in the formation mechanism eliminates the need for intensive milling, achieving the desired particle characteristics with significantly lower energy consumption while maintaining small particle size and improved solubility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 formulation achieves a satisfactory dissolution profile and stability, potentially bioequivalent to commercial products, with reduced production costs and simplified processing, enabling efficient large-scale manufacturing while maintaining high bioavailability.

Implementation Method 1

a solid solution of aprepitant in the co-polymer of polyvinyl caprolactam with polyvinyl acetate and polyethylene glycol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolid solution formation: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

combined with hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 3

prepared using a continuous drum drying process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2893919B1Formulation of aprepitant with enhanced solubility
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 SANOFI SA(FR)
  • EP2893919B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2893919B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2893919B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The solid solution of aprepitant in a polymer, wherein the polymer is the co-polymer of polyvinyl caprolactam with polyvinyl acetate and polyethylene glycol and the weight ratio of aprepitant to the polymer is between 1:4 and 3:7, a process fro the preparation, and the corresponding pharmaceutical compositions and formulations.