Abstract
Accelerated in vitro release testing methodology has been developed as an indicator of product performance to be used as a discriminatory quality control (QC) technique for the release of clinical and commercial batches of biodegradable microspheres. While product performance of biodegradable microspheres can be verified by in vivo and/or in vitro experiments, such evaluation can be particularly challenging because of slow polymer degradation, resulting in extended study times, labor, and expense. Three batches of Leuprolide poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres having varying morphology (process variants having different particle size and specific surface area) were manufactured by the solvent extraction/evaporation technique. Tests involving in vitro release, polymer degradation and hydration of the microspheres were performed on the three batches at 55°C. In vitro peptide release at 55°C was analyzed using a previously derived modification of the Weibull function termed the modified Weibull equation (MWE). Experimental observations and data analysis confirm excellent reproducibility studies within and between batches of the microsphere formulations demonstrating the predictability of the accelerated experiments at 55°C. The accelerated test method was also successfully able to distinguish the in vitro product performance between the three batches having varying morphology (process variants), indicating that it is a suitable QC tool to discriminate product or process variants in clinical or commercial batches of microspheres. Additionally, data analysis utilized the MWE to further quantify the differences obtained from the accelerated in vitro product performance test between process variants, thereby enhancing the discriminatory power of the accelerated methodology at 55°C.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Han B, Wang H-T, Liu H-Y, Hong H, Lv W, Shang Z-H. Preparation of pingyangmycin PLGA microspheres and related in vitro/in vivo studies. Int J Pharm. 2010;398(1–2):130–6.
Sun F, Sui C, Teng L, Liu X, Teng L, Meng Q, et al. Studies on the preparation, characterization and pharmacological evaluation of tolterodine PLGA microspheres. Int J Pharm. 2010;397(1–2):44–9.
Kim TH, Jiang HH, Park CW, Youn YS, Lee S, Chen X, et al. PEGylated TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-loaded sustained release PLGA microspheres for enhanced stability and antitumor activity. J Control Release. 2011;150(1):63–9.
He J, Feng M, Zhou X, Ma S, Jiang Y, Wang Y, et al. Stabilization and encapsulation of recombinant human erythropoietin into PLGA microspheres using human serum albumin as a stabilizer. Int J Pharm. 2011;416(1):69–76.
Ratajczak-Enselme M, Estebe J-P, Dollo G, Chevanne F, Bec D, Malinovsky J-M, et al. Epidural, intrathecal and plasma pharmacokinetic study of epidural ropivacaine in PLGA-microspheres in sheep model. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2009;72(1):54–61.
Umeki N, Sato T, Harada M, Takeda J, Saito S, Iwao Y, et al. Preparation and evaluation of biodegradable microspheres containing a new potent osteogenic compound and new synthetic polymers for sustained release. Int J Pharm. 2010;392(1–2):42–50.
Sun L, Zhou S, Wang W, Li X, Wang J, Weng J. Preparation and characterization of porous biodegradable microspheres used for controlled protein delivery. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp. 2009;345(1–3):173–81.
Jiang W, Gupta RK, Deshpande MC, Schwendeman SP. Biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles for injectable delivery of vaccine antigens. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2005;57(3):391–410.
D’Souza S, Faraj JA, Giovagnoli S, DeLuca PP. Preparation, characterization and in vivo evaluation of Olanzapine Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres. J Pharm. 2013:article 831381.
Tice TR, Gilley RM. Preparation of injectable controlled-release microcapsules by a solvent-evaporation process. J Control Release. 1985;2:343–52.
Yang Y-Y, Chung T-S, Bai X-L, Chan W-K. Effect of preparation conditions on morphology and release profiles of biodegradable polymeric microspheres containing protein fabricated by double-emulsion method. Chem Eng Sci. 2000;55(12):2223–36.
Jeyanthi R, Thanoo BC, Mehta RC, DeLuca PP. Effect of solvent removal technique on the matrix characteristics of polylactide/glycolide microspheres for peptide delivery. J Control Release. 1996;38(2–3):235–44.
Li W-I, Anderson KW, Mehta RC, Deluca PP. Prediction of solvent removal profile and effect on properties for peptide-loaded PLGA microspheres prepared by solvent extraction/ evaporation method. J Control Release. 1995;37(3):199–214.
Li W-I, Anderson KW, Deluca PP. Kinetic and thermodynamic modeling of the formation of polymeric microspheres using solvent extraction/evaporation method. J Control Release. 1995;37(3):187–98.
Chung T-W, Huang Y-Y, Tsai Y-L, Liu Y-Z. Effects of solvent evaporation rate on the properties of protein-loaded PLLA and PDLLA microspheres fabricated by emulsion-solvent evaporation process. J Microencapsul. 2002;19(4):463–71.
Crotts G, Park TG. Preparation of porous and nonporous biodegradable polymeric hollow microspheres. J Control Release. 1995;35(2–3):91–105.
Mehta RC, Jeyanthi R, Calis S, Thanoo BC, Burton KW, DeLuca PP. Biodegradable microspheres as depot system for parenteral delivery of peptide drugs. J Control Release. 1994;29(3):375–84.
Ehtezazi T, Washington C. Controlled release of macromolecules from PLA microspheres: using porous structure topology. J Control Release. 2000;68(3):361–72.
O’Donnell PB, McGinity JW. Preparation of microspheres by the solvent evaporation technique. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 1997;28(1):25–42.
Bodmeier R, McGinity JW. The preparation and evaluation of drug-containing poly(dl-lactide) microspheres formed by the solvent evaporation method. Pharm Res. 1987;4(6):465–71.
Berkland C, Kipper MJ, Narasimhan B, Kim KK, Pack DW. Microsphere size, precipitation kinetics and drug distribution control drug release from biodegradable polyanhydride microspheres. J Control Release. 2004;94(1):129–41.
Berkland C, Kim KK, Pack DW. PLG microsphere size controls drug release rate through several competing factors. Pharm Res. 2003;20(7):1055–62.
Berkland C, King M, Cox A, Kim KK, Pack DW. Precise control of PLG microsphere size provides enhanced control of drug release rate. J Control Release. 2002;82(1):137–47.
Liggins RT, Burt HM. Paclitaxel loaded poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) microspheres: II. The effect of processing parameters on microsphere morphology and drug release kinetics. Int J Pharm. 2004;281(1–2):103–6.
Uppoor VRS. Regulatory perspectives on in vitro (dissolution)/in vivo (bioavailability) correlations. J Control Release. 2001;72(1–3):127–32.
Ramstack M, Grandolfi G, Mannaert E. Long-acting Risperidone: prolonged release injectable delivery of Risperidone using Medisorb microsphere technology. Biol Psychiatry. 2003;53(8 Suppl 1):Abstract 547.
Woo BH, Na K-H, Dani BA, Jiang G, Thanoo BC, DeLuca PP. In vitro characterization and in vivo testosterone suppression of 6-month release poly(D, L-Lactide) leuprolide microspheres. Pharm Res. 2002;19(4):546–50.
D’Souza SS, Selmin F, Murty SB, Qiu W, Thanoo BC, DeLuca PP. Assessment of fertility in male rats after extended chemical castration with a GnRH antagonist. AAPS PharmSci. 2004;6(1):94–9.
Burgess DJ, Hussain AS, Ingallinera TS, Chen ML. Assuring quality and performance of sustained and controlled release parenterals: workshop report. AAPS PharmSci. 2002;4(2):E7.
Okada H. One- and three-month release injectable microspheres of the LH-RH superagonist leuprorelin acetate. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 1997;28(1):43–70.
D’Souza SS, DeLuca PP. Methods to assess in vitro drug release from injectable polymeric particulate systems. Pharm Res. 2006;23(3):460–74.
Burgess DJ, Crommelin DJA, Hussain AS, Chen M-L. Assuring quality and performance of sustained and controlled release parenterals. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2004;21(5):679–90.
Shameem M, Lee H, DeLuca PP. A short term (accelerated release) approach to evaluate peptide release from PLGA depot-formulations. AAPS PharmSci. 1999;1(3):E7.
D’Souza SS, Faraj JA, DeLuca PP. A model-dependent approach to correlate accelerated with real-time release from biodegradable microspheres. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2005;6(4):E553–64.
Makino K, Arakawa M, Kondo T. Preparation and in vitro degradation properties of polylactide microcapsules. Chem Pharm Bull. 1985;33(3):1195–201.
Park EJ, Na DH, Lee KC. In vitro release study of mono-PEGylated growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 from PLGA microspheres. Int J Pharm. 2007;343(1–2):281–3.
Aso Y, Yoshioka S, Li Wan Po A, Terao T. Effect of temperature on mechanisms of drug release and matrix degradation of poly(D, L-lactide) microspheres. J Control Release. 1994;31(1):33–9.
Bergsma JE, Rozema FR, Bos RRM, Boering G, de Bruijn WC, Pennings AJ. In vivo degradation and biocompatibility study of in vitro pre-degraded as-polymerized polylactide particles. Biomaterials. 1995;16(4):267–74.
Buchholz B. Accelerated degradation test on resorbable polymers. Degradation phenomena of polymeric biomaterials. New York: Springer; 1992. p. 67.
Zackrisson G, Ostling G, Skagerberg B, Anfalt T. Accelerated dissolution rate analysis (ACDRA) for controlled release drugs. Application to Roxiam(R). J Pharm Biomed Anal. 1995;13(4–5):377–83.
Quist P-O, Ostling G. Accelerated dissolution testing for improved quality assurance. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2002;28(6):1081–9.
Ertan G, Karasulu E, Özgüney I, Karasulu Y, Apaydın Ş, Kantarcı G, et al. Acceleration of in vitro dissolution studies of sustained release dosage form of theophylline and in vitro–in vivo evaluations in terms of correlations. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2011;36(4):243–8.
Hall SC, Tan MM, Leonard JJ, Stevenson CL. Characterization and comparison of leuprolide degradation profiles in water and dimethyl sulfoxide. J Pept Res. 1999;53(4):432–41.
D’Aurizio E, van Nostrum CF, van Steenbergen MJ, Sozio P, Siepmann F, Siepmann J, et al. Preparation and characterization of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres loaded with a labile antiparkinson prodrug. Int J Pharm. 2011;409(1–2):289–96.
Aubert-Pouessel A, Bibby DC, Venier-Julienne M-C, Hindre F, Benoit J-P. A novel in vitro delivery system for assessing the biological integrity of protein upon release from PLGA microspheres. Pharm Res. 2002;19(7):1046–51.
Rawat A, Stippler E, Shah VP, Burgess DJ. Validation of USP apparatus 4 method for microsphere in vitro release testing using Risperdal® Consta®. Int J Pharm. 2011;420(2):198–205.
D’Souza SS, DeLuca PP. Development of a dialysis in vitro release method for biodegradable microspheres. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2005;6(2):E323–8.
Gray V. An interview with Professor Patrick DeLuca and Dr. Susan D’Souza on a novel in vitro technique. Dissolution Technol. 2006;13:21–3.
Siewert M, Dressman J, Brown CK, Shah VP. FIP/AAPS guidelines to dissolution/in vitro release testing of novel/special dosage forms. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2003;4(1):E7.
Sathe PM, Tsong Y, Shah VP. In vitro dissolution profile comparison: statistics and analysis, model dependent approach. Pharm Res. 1996;13(12):1799–803.
Braunecker J, Baba M, Milroy GE, Cameron RE. The effects of molecular weight and porosity on the degradation and drug release from polyglycolide. Int J Pharm. 2004;282(1–2):19–34.
Klose D, Siepmann F, Elkharraz K, Krenzlin S, Siepmann J. How porosity and size affect the drug release mechanisms from PLGA-based microparticles. Int J Pharm. 2006;314(2):198–206.
Woo BH, Kostanski JW, Gebrekidan S, Dani BA, Thanoo BC, DeLuca PP. Preparation, characterization and in vivo evaluation of 120-day poly(D, L-lactide) leuprolide microspheres. J Control Release. 2001;75(3):307–15.
Costa P, Sousa Lobo JM. Modeling and comparison of dissolution profiles. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2001;13(2):123–33.
Polli JE, Rekhi GS, Augsburger LL, Shah VP. Methods to compare dissolution profiles and a rational for wide dissolution specifications for metoprolol tartrate tablets. J Pharm Sci. 1997;86(6):690–700.
Blasi P, D’Souza SS, Selmin F, DeLuca PP. Plasticizing effect of water on poly(lactide-co-glycolide). J Control Release. 2005;108(1):1–9.
Fu K, Pack DW, Klibanov AM, Langer R. Visual evidence of acidic environment within degrading poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres. Pharm Res. 2000;17(1):100–6.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The research described in this manuscript was performed while the authors were affiliated with the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. The authors wish to thank Oakwood Labs, Oakwood, OH, USA, and the Graduate School, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA, for their financial support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
D’Souza, S., Faraj, J.A., Dorati, R. et al. A Short Term Quality Control Tool for Biodegradable Microspheres. AAPS PharmSciTech 15, 530–541 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-013-0052-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-013-0052-0