Statistical analysis of industrial-scale roller compactor 'Freund TF-MINI model'.

The aim of this study is to perform a statistical analysis on a pharmaceutical roller compaction process using an industrial-scale roller compactor "Freund TF-MINI model". The process was modelled using response surface methodology (RSM) to better understand and control the process in order to produce ribbons and granules with optimised quality. The significant process parameters were determined to be (i) the screw speed to roll speed ratio and (ii) the roll pressure. The roll speed was kept constant and the roll gap was uncontrolled. The quality attributes of interest are: ribbon density, granule size (D10, D50, D90), amount of fines (granule size <157µm), and tablet hardness. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) PH 102 was used as a model material. Design-Expert V9 was utilised to establish the design matrix and to analyse the experimental data. The relationships between the process parameters and the resultant ribbon/granule/tablet characteristics were established. This was followed by an optimisation of the process parameters to obtain the target responses. The results confirmed the attainment of significant models with satisfactory accurate measures. The optimisation allowed for the determination of the process parameters required to produce the best quality tablets.

Effect of poly ethylene glycol on the mechanical and thermal properties of bioactive poly(ε-caprolactone) melt extrudates for pharmaceutical applications.

This paper investigates the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG), on the mechanical and thermal properties of nalidixic acid/poly ε-caprolactone (NA)/PCL blends prepared by hot melt extrusion. The blends were characterized by tensile and flexural analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. Results show that loading PEG in the PCL had a detrimental effect on the tensile strength and toughness of the blends, reducing them by 20-40%. The partial miscibility of the PCL-PEG system, causes an increase in Tg. While increases in the crystallinity is attributed to the plasticisation effect of PEG and the nucleation effect of NA. The average crystal size increased by 8% upon PEG addition. Experimental data indicated that the addition of NA caused loss of the tensile strength and toughness of PCL. Thermal analysis of the PCL showed that on addition of the thermally unstable NA, thermal degradation occurred early and was autocatalytic. However, the NA did benefit from the heat shielding provided by the PCL matrix resulting in more thermally stable NA particles.