Injectable Ursodeoxycholic Acid Composition for pH-Stable IV Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current injectable formulations of ursodeoxycholic acid face challenges due to its insolubility in water, pH instability, and foaming issues, making them unsuitable for intravenous administration, especially requiring large volumes and high amounts of strong bases.
Innovation Solution
The development of injectable pharmaceutical compositions comprising ursodeoxycholic acid with sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin, optionally with a buffer, to achieve stable, pH-controlled solutions with reduced volume for intravenous administration, avoiding high base usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ursodeoxycholic acid is dissolved in aqueous solution with strong base to improve solubility, then solubility increases, but pH becomes unstable and incompatible with intravenous administration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cyclodextrin as an intermediary substance that forms inclusion complexes with ursodeoxycholic acid. This mediator enables the hydrophobic drug to dissolve in aqueous solution without requiring strong bases, thereby maintaining pH stability while achieving adequate solubility for intravenous administration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the system by using cyclodextrin to alter the solubility characteristics of ursodeoxycholic acid. This allows the drug to be formulated at lower pH values (pH 3-7) that are compatible with intravenous administration, rather than requiring the high pH conditions that would otherwise be needed to achieve solubility.
2Quantity of substance
If high concentration of strong base is used to dissolve ursodeoxycholic acid, then solubility improves, but pH variation occurs which is incompatible with intravenous administration
Solution Approach 1:
Cyclodextrin serves as a mediator that enables high concentration formulation of ursodeoxycholic acid without requiring high concentrations of strong base. The inclusion complex formation allows the drug to remain soluble at therapeutic concentrations while maintaining pH within the safe range for intravenous injection.
3Ease of operation
If ursodeoxycholic acid is formulated as injectable solution, then it can be administered to patients with liver conditions, but large volume of liquid is required for administration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves higher drug concentration in the injectable solution by using cyclodextrin as a solubilizing agent. This parameter change in solubility allows formulation of the solution at concentrations that reduce the total volume required for administration, making it more suitable for patients with fluid restrictions or those requiring pediatric dosing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If ursodeoxycholic acid is used in injectable form, then it can treat liver conditions in patients who cannot take oral medication, but foaming occurs when added to aqueous solution
Solution Approach 1:
Cyclodextrin acts as a mediator that incorporates the hydrophobic ursodeoxycholic acid molecules into inclusion complexes, reducing their surface activity. This eliminates the detergent-like foaming behavior that would otherwise occur when the drug is added to aqueous intravenous solution, while still enabling parenteral administration.
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 compositions provide stable, pH-controlled, and reduced-volume injectable solutions for ursodeoxycholic acid, ensuring safe intravenous administration without significant pH variation, suitable for treating liver conditions like hepatic cholestasis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Implementation Method 1
injectable pharmaceutical compositions comprising ursodeoxycholic acid and sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to an injectable pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) ursodeoxycholic acid and (b) sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin. Such compositions exhibit unexpected solubility and stability of ursodeoxycholic acid permitting therapeutic dosages of the ursodeoxycholic acid to be administered without the use of high amounts of strong bases that are present in an amount stoichiometrically equivalent to the ursodeoxycholic acid.