Lyophilized Fast Dissolving Dosage Form Freeze-Drying Surface Defects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fast-dissolving dosage forms (FDDFs) face challenges such as poor patient compliance due to swallowing difficulties, limited bioavailability, and manufacturing issues with combination pharmaceutical products, particularly in maintaining stability and compatibility of active ingredients and excipients during the freeze-drying process, which affects the production of lyophilized FDDFs.

Innovation Solution

A process involving sequential dosing of formulations containing non-gelling and gelling matrix forming agents into preformed molds, followed by freeze-drying, to create a multi-phasic, fast-dissolving dosage form that addresses the compatibility and stability issues by forming distinct layers with different release profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a gelling matrix forming agent is used to provide sufficient strength and prevent breakage during removal from packaging, then the dosage form maintains structural integrity, but the gelling agent causes surface deformations, cracks, agglomerates or nodules when passing through the gaseous cooling medium during freezing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidsurface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A non-gelling matrix forming agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the gelling agent and the gaseous cooling medium. This intermediary layer prevents direct interaction between the gelling agent and the cooling medium, thereby eliminating surface deformations, cracks, agglomerates or nodules while allowing the gelling agent to maintain structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite formulation containing both gelling and non-gelling matrix forming agents. The gelling agent provides structural integrity and strength, while the non-gelling agent acts as a protective matrix that prevents surface defects during the freezing process with gaseous cooling medium

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If a non-gelling matrix forming agent is used to reduce dosing temperature and maintain stability, then the biological, physical and chemical stability is maintained, but the formulation is not robust and leads to surface deformations when passing through the gaseous cooling medium during freezing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiological, physical and chemical stabilityVSAvoidsurface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the advantages of both gelling and non-gelling matrix forming agents into a single composite formulation. The non-gelling agent maintains stability at reduced dosing temperatures, while the gelling agent provides robustness and prevents surface deformations during freezing, creating a synergistic effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Duration of action of moving object

If gelatin is used as the matrix forming agent to enable immediate dissolution in the oral cavity, then the dosage form achieves fast dissolving properties, but the manufacturing process requires freezing through gaseous medium which causes surface deformations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolution timeVSAvoidsurface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A non-gelling matrix forming agent serves as an intermediary between the gelatin and the gaseous cooling medium during manufacturing. This intermediary protects the gelatin structure during freezing, preventing surface deformations while maintaining the gelatin's fast-dissolving properties in the oral cavity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach enables the efficient manufacture of lyophilized FDDFs with improved disintegration times, reduced surface defects, and the ability to incorporate previously incompatible active ingredients and excipients, enhancing patient compliance and storage options.

Implementation Method 1

During processing, dosed solution/suspension is preferably frozen by passing through a gaseous medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Implementation Method 2

FDDFs manufactured by the freeze drying process such as the Zydis® dosage form

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreeze drying: Freeze Drying

Data Source

PatentUS10548839B2Process of manufacturing a lyophilized fast dissolving, multi-phasic dosage form
Publication Date: 2020.02.04 CATALENT U K SWINDON ZYDIS LIMITED

AI summary

A multi-phasic, lyophilized, fast-dissolving dosage form (FDDF) for the delivery of a pharmaceutically active ingredient is prepared by sequential dosing of a formulation containing a non-gelling matrix forming agent and a formulation containing a gelling gelatin.