The Inhibition Effect of High Storage Temperature on the Recrystallization Rate During Dissolution of Nimodipine-Kollidon VA64 Solid Dispersions (NM-SD) Prepared by Hot-Melt Extrusion

Nimodipine (NM) solid dispersions (SD) were prepared by hot-melt extrusion with polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymer (PVP-VA; Kollidon VA64) as the carrier, then the extrudate was stored at different temperatures (20°C, 40°C, 60°C) after milling. Conventional differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction revealed that the drug was present as an amorphous state in the carrier. The dissolution curves of NM from SD at 37°C in water showed that the rate of recrystallization for NM from SD stored at high temperatures was slower than that from room temperature. The single glass transition temperature (Tg) measured by modulated temperature DSC remained constant around 89°C and indicated that the amorphous state of the compound was not altered by heating. However, the C=O vibration of the amide function of Kollidon VA64 increased from 1658 to 1675 cm−1 was observed in infrared spectra and implied the weakness of H-bonding between the compound and the polymer. The above-mentioned experiments clued to us that suitable postcooking for a short time is good for SD; however, the mechanisms of the changes were still not clear and need further investigation.