Solid-state analysis of amorphous solid dispersions: Why DSC and XRPD may not be regarded as stand-alone techniques

Abstract

Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) are single-phase amorphous systems, where drug molecules are molecularly dispersed (dissolved) in a polymer matrix. The molecular dispersion of the drug molecules is responsible for their improved dissolution properties. Unambiguously establishing the phase behavior of the ASDs is of utmost importance. In this paper, we focused on the complementary nature of (modulated) differential scanning calorimetry ((m)DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) to elucidate the phase behavior of ASDs as demonstrated by a critical discussion of practical real-life examples observed in our research group. The ASDs were manufactured by either applying a solvent-based technique (spray drying), a heat-based technique (hot melt extrusion) or mechanochemical activation (cryo-milling). The encountered limiting factors of XRPD were the lack of sensitivity for small traces of crystallinity, the impossibility to differentiate between distinct amorphous phases and its impossibility to detect nanocrystals in a polymer matrix. In addition, the limiting factors of (m)DSC were defined as the well-described heat-induced sample alteration upon heating, the interfering of residual solvent evaporation with other thermal events and the coinciding of enthalpy recovery with melting events. In all of these cases, the application of a single analytical technique would have led to erroneous conclusions, whilst the combination of (m)DSC and XRPD elucidated the true phases of the ASD.