Critical dissolution tests of oral systems based on statistically designed experiments. III. In vitro/in vivo correlation for multiple-unit capsules of paracetamol based on PLS modeling

The main aims of the present study were to establish an in vitro/in vivo correlation for multiple-unit capsules of paracetamol by means of statistical prediction models and to investigate the effect of a number of in vitro variables on the discussion rate of paracetamol from the formulation. A fractional factorial screening design was used to investigate the effects of the variables agitation, pH, osmolality, viscosity, and the presence of bile salt on the dissolution rate of paracetamol. The effects were evaluated in two separate partial least-squares models, in which the responses were expressed as the cumulative percentage of paracetamol dissolved at specified time-points (model I) and as the shape (beta) and scale (eta) parameters according to the Weibull function (model II). It was concluded that agitation and viscosity had significant effects on the dissolution rate of paracetamol. Statistical models based on the responses from models I and II were then used to predict the in vitro conditions most closely correlated with the in vitro dissolution of paracetamol after administration of the formulation to 10 healthy volunteers. The predicted optimal in vitro conditions were similar for the two models and not too far from what is expected from the gastrointestinal tract. The experimental verification of the in vitro conditions showed that both models were equally good, and contributed to high degrees of correlation with the in vivo dissolution behavior of the formulation during 9 hr. The relationships obtained when plotting the percentage dissolved in vitro versus in vivo were y = 1.1x (r2 = 0.98) and y = 1.1x (r2 = 0.94) for models I and II, respectively. Based on these results, it is difficult to state a preference for one of the models. Finally, the use of statistical prediction models to develop critical in vitro tests is a successful approach in the establishment of associations between dissolution behavior in vitro and in vivo for oral extended-release systems.