Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), where an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is dissolved in a polymer, are a favored formulation technique to achieve sufficient bioavailability of poorly water-soluble APIs. The shelf life of such ASDs is often limited by API crystallization. Crystallization depends strongly on the storage conditions (relative humidity and temperature) and the polymer selected for generating the ASD. Determining the crystallization kinetics of ASDs under various conditions requires suitable analytical methods. In this work, two different analytical methods were compared and cross-validated: The first builds on water-sorption measurements combined with thermodynamic predictions ( Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. 2018, 127, 183-193, DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2018.11.002), whereas the second applies Raman spectroscopy. Using the two independent methods, factors influencing the crystallization kinetics of ASDs containing the API griseofulvin were investigated quantitatively. It was found that crystallization kinetics increases with increasing temperature and relative humidity. Additionally, the influence of different polymers (poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) and Soluplus) on crystallization kinetics were investigated. The experimentally obtained crystallization kinetics were described using the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov model and are the basis for future shelf life predictions at desired storage conditions.
Keywords: PC-SAFT; Raman spectroscopy; amorphous solid dispersion; crystallization kinetics; spray drying; stability; water sorption.