Crystallization of Pharmaceuticals, Design, Control, and Delivery

目前的研究项目涉及两个创新的连续结晶器的设计和控制，多形筛选平台的开发，活性药物成分(API)的溶解度预测软件包，以及药物的输送系统。拟议研究计划的长期目标是从一个解决方案中优化原料药的生产，以提供安全、稳定和经济的处方药，对人体的副作用最小，对环境的影响最小。未来五年的具体研究目标包括设计、开发、模拟和控制新型连续管式结晶器和反应性多相鼓泡塔结晶器；对选定的具有重要商业价值的原料药进行多晶型筛选和共晶形成；对主要原料药进行溶解度预测和溶剂筛选，从而开发出界面友好的软件包，其数据库包含市场上主要原料药和第二类溶剂的广泛数据库；以及利用体外癌细胞测试控制/靶向输送用于癌症治疗的选定原料药。 这项提议将在以下方面带来重大的未来成果：使制药业能够切换到连续加工模式，以将成本和产品的变异性降至最低；通过减少有机溶剂的使用来帮助环境；通过分离原料药中更易溶的多晶型或共晶体来确保更高的药物生物利用度；以及通过仅针对癌细胞来减少抗癌药物的副作用。 拟议的研究计划为开展创新研究和培养高素质人才提供了良好的环境。第一个目标是开发和优化用于药物连续生产的新型管式冷却/抗溶剂结晶器和反应性多相鼓泡塔结晶器。第二个目标提供了一种用于原料药的多晶型筛选的系统程序，第三个目标导致开发了用于优化选择用于昂贵药物结晶的溶剂或溶剂混合物的软件包，以及第四个目标导致开发了用于输送抗癌药物的创新的双靶向Fe3O4核/功能化聚合物壳纳米粒子。该研究计划为生产和提供更好、更稳定的固体药物以及培训合格的研究人员提供了新的方法。

The present research program deals with the design and control of two innovative continuous crystallizers, the development of a polymorphic screening platform, a software package for the solubility prediction of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and a delivery system for the pharmaceuticals. The long-term objective of the proposed research program is to optimize the production of APIs from a solution to provide safe, stable, and economical prescription drugs with minimum side effects in the human body and minimum environmental impact. The specific research objectives in the next five years include the design, development, modeling and control of a novel continuous tubular crystallizer and a reactive multi-phase bubble column crystallizer; the polymorphic screening and cocrystal formation of a selected commercially important APIs; the solubility prediction and solvent screening of major APIs leading to the development of a user-friendly software package with an extensive data base of the major APIs in the market and the class 2 solvents; and the controlled/targeted delivery of selected APIs for cancer therapy using in vitro cancer cells tests. This proposal will lead to significant future deliverables to: enable the pharmaceutical industry to switch to the continuous processing mode to minimize the cost and product variability, help the environment by reducing the use of organic solvents, secure higher drug bioavailability by isolating the more soluble polymorph or cocrystal of an API, and reduce the side effects of a cancer drug by targeting only the cancer cells. The proposed research program provides an excellent environment to conduct innovative research and train highly qualified personnel. The first objective leads to the development and optimization of a novel tubular cooling/anti-solvent crystallizer and a reactive multi-phase bubble column crystallizer for the continuous production of pharmaceuticals. The second objective provides a systematic procedure for the polymorphic screening of the APIs, the third objective leads to the development of a software package for the optimal selection of a solvent or a solvent mixture for the crystallization of prohibitively expensive pharmaceuticals, and the fourth objective leads to the development of an innovative double targeting Fe3O4 core/functionalized polymer shell nanoparticle for the delivery of cancer drugs. The research program offers novel approaches for the production and delivery of better and more stable solid state pharmaceuticals, and training of competent researchers.