Effect of surface characteristics of theophylline anhydrate powder on hygroscopic stability.

The hygroscopicity of theophylline anhydrate has been investigated by gas adsorption and hydration kinetic methods. Type 1 theophylline anhydrate was obtained by recystallization from distilled water at 95 degrees C, and type II was obtained by dehydration of theophylline monohydrate. The X-ray diffraction pattern of types I and II agreed with the data of theophylline anhydrate. However, the diffraction peaks of the (200) and (400) planes of type I were much stronger than those of type II. The particles of type I were clear crystalline-like single crystals. However, the particles of type II had many cracks. The gas affinity balance (H/N) of type II, measured by gas adsorption, was about 7 times that of type I. After the hygroscopicity of types I and II had been tested at various levels of relative humidity (RH) at 35 degrees C, type I was stable at less than 82% RH, but transformed into the monohydrate at more than 88% RH. Type II was stable at less than 66% RH and transformed into the monohydrate at less than 75% RH. The hydration data of type I at 88% RH and type II at 75% RH were calculated for hydration kinetics using various solid-state kinetic models, but no particular model could be preferred from these data.