Improvement of dissolution rates of poorly water soluble APIs using novel spray freezing into liquid technology

Purpose. To develop and demonstrate a novel particle engineering technology, spray freezing into liquid (SFL), to enhance the dissolution rates of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Methods. Model APIs, danazol or carbamazepine with or without excipients, were dissolved in a tetrahydrofuran/water cosolvent system and atomized through a nozzle beneath the surface of liquid nitrogen to produce small frozen droplets, which were subsequently lyophilized. The physicochemical properties of the SFL powders and controls were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size distribution, surface area analysis, contact angle measurement, and dissolution. Results. The X-ray diffraction pattern indicated that SFL powders containing either danazol or carbamazepine were amorphous. SEM micrographs indicated that SFL particles were highly porous. The mean particle diameter of SFL carbamazepine/SLS powder was about 7 mum. The surface area of SFL danazol/poloxamer 407 powder was 11.04 m(2)/g. The dissolution of SFL danazol/poloxamer 407 powder at 10 min was about 99%. The SFL powders were free flowing and had good physical and chemical stability after being stored at 25degreesC/60% RH for 2 months. Conclusions. The novel SFL technology was demonstrated to produce nanostructured amorphous highly porous particles of poorly water soluble APIs with significantly enhanced wetting and dissolution rates.