Physicochemical and mechanical evaluation of a novel high density grade of silicified microcrystalline cellulose.

High density microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a relatively free flowing grade of MCC that finds use in direct compression tableting and hard gelatin capsule filling applications. Silicified high density microcrystalline cellulose has recently been introduced. This material has been compared to other grades of MCC and previously silicified microcrystalline cellulose (SMCC). The results suggest that, as observed for other grades of SMCC, the material exhibits no detectable chemical or polymorphic differences to standard material, some improvement in flow characteristics, but shows considerably enhanced mechanical properties.