Experimental observations and dissipative particle dynamic simulations on microstructures of pH-sensitive polymer containing amorphous solid dispersions

In this study, lacidipine-Eudragit_E_100 solid dispersions with 20% drug loading were prepared using the solvent evaporation. Dissolution tested showed that ASD had a significantly high rate, which was dependent on the pH of the medium. Based on time-dependent measurement of supersaturation and particle size, inhibition of crystal growth by Eudragit_E_100 differed at pH 1.2 and 6.8 to a great extent. Dissipative particle dynamic (DPD) simulation revealed that at pH 1.2, the swollen microstructures of the particles were associated with rapid drug release. At pH 6.8, a compacted microstructure of small amorphous particle-aggregated large particles was associated with slow dissolution. The DPD simulation provides insight into the structural basis for experimental observations, and thus is a useful tool to investigate the microstructures of ASD. Graphical abstract
Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research