Thermoanalytical and spectroscopic studies on different crystal forms of nevirapine

Abstract

This study is aimed at exploring the utility of thermoanalytical methods in the characterization of various polymorphs and solvates of nevirapine. The different forms obtained by recrystallization of nevirapine from various solvents showed morphological differences in SEM. The presence of polymorphic forms is suggested by single sharp melting endotherm different from original sample in DSC and no mass loss in TG, while appearance of desolvation peak in TG indicated the formation of solvates. The higher desolvation temperatures of all the solvates than their respective boiling point indicate tighter binding of solvent. The changes in the crystal lattice were demonstrated by X-ray powder diffraction studies. The enthalpy of fusion rule indicated the existence of monotropy in polymorphic pairs I/O and II/O, while I/II is enantiotropically related. The enthalpy of solution, an indirect measure of the lattice energy of a solid, was well correlated with the crystallinity of all the solid forms obtained. The magnitude of ΔH sol was found to be -14.26 kJ mol-1 for Form V and -8.29 kJ mol-1 for Form O, exhibiting maximum ease of molecular release from the lattice in Form V. The transition temperature was found to be higher than the melting of both the forms except for polymorphic pair I/II providing complementary evidence for the existence of monotropy as well as enantiotropy in these polymorphic pairs. © 2012 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.