An evaluation of microcrystalline cellulose attributes affecting compaction-induced pellet coat damage through a multi-faceted analysis.

Pellet coat damage in multi-unit pellet system (MUPS) tablets has previously been studied and addressed with limited success. The effects of lactose filler material attributes on pellet coat damage have been relatively well-studied but a similar understanding of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is lacking notwithstanding its high cushioning potential. Hence, the relationships between MCC attributes and pellet coat damage were investigated. Single pellet in minitablets (SPIMs) were used to isolate pellet-filler effects and reveal the under-unexplored impact of risk factors found in MUPS tablets. MUPS tablets and SPIMs were prepared with various grades of MCC and pellets with an ethylcellulose or acrylic coat at various compaction pressures. Subsequently, the extent of pellet coat damage was determined by dissolution test and quantified using two indicators to differentiate the nature of the damage. A multi-faceted analytical approach incorporated linear regression, correlations and a classification and regression tree algorithm and evaluated how MCC attributes, such as flowability, particle size and plastic deformability, exert various influences on the extent of ethylcellulose and acrylic pellet coat damage. This analysis improved the understanding of the different mechanisms by which pellet coat damage to these two polymer types occurs which can help enhance future pellet coat damage mitigation strategies.

Investigation on the effect of roller compaction on paracetamol.

Roller compaction is a popular dry granulation method that has been associated with loss of tabletability. In this study, the effect of roller compaction on a model brittle elastic material, paracetamol, was examined. Roller compaction of paracetamol was carried out at three roll force to examine the effects of roll force on the tablet compaction properties. Paracetamol granules consisting of small fragmented crystals were created through the process of roller compaction. A compaction simulator was used to produce tablets from a sieved fraction of roller compacted paracetamol and non-roller compacted paracetamol. Despite the higher elastic energy to plastic energy ratio observed with tablets produced from roller compacted granules of higher forces, the table tensile strength obtained was higher with a lower capping coefficient. At the same time, tablet elastic recovery was found to be lower for tablets produced using roller compacted paracetamol granules. Prefragmentation during roller compaction process helped to reduce the energy required for fragmentation during tablet compaction, increasing the energy available for bond formation. Roller compaction of brittle elastic materials may be a viable option for improving tablet tensile strength and reducing tablet capping.

The Effects of Feed Frame Parameters and Turret Speed on Mini-Tablet Compression.

Die filling is a critical process step during tablet production as it defines the tablet weight. Achieving die fill consistency during production of mini-tablets, tablets with diameters ≤6 mm, is considerably more challenging. Although die filling in rotary presses had been studied in relation to the feed paddle design, paddle speed, and turret speed, it is unclear how these process variables could impact mini-tablet production and product properties. In this study, 1.8 and 3 mm mini-tablets were prepared using a rotary press with multiple-tip tooling using different process configurations. Mini-tablet weight variation within and across compaction cycles were determined using data from compression roller displacement and mini-tablet weight. Higher die fill densities were achieved with a flat feed wheel paddle and high paddle speed. This was attributed to better granule fluidization in the feed frame, which also increased the intercycle weight variation and reduced tensile strength. The turret speed did not impact mini-tablet properties significantly. Granule overlubrication in the feed frame potentially reduced mini-tablet tensile strength during compaction. The number of paddle passes in the die fill region was correlated to mini-tablet die fill performance. Findings from this study could provide better insights into the relationship between process variables and mini-tablet product quality.

Impact Of Excipient Variability On Drug Product Processing And Performance.

It is rare to have a pharmaceutical dosage form presented with just the pure active pharmaceutical ingredient because the drug substance does not possess adequately desirable physical attributes to be processed into the final dosage form. Consequently, additives or excipients which are inert ingredients serving a functional purpose are added to enhance the overall properties of the final formulation for ease of processability or drug product performance. Variability in excipients arises from source of raw materials and in synthesis/manufacturing process resulting in different mechanisms of action, optimum concentration for use and final product performance including drug-excipient interactions. Unsurprisingly, variability of excipients has been well researched within specific focus areas. This review article aims to look at how different pharmaceutical processes are influenced by the differences in excipient properties as well as advanced analytical and statistical modeling techniques used in their development and characterization.

Effects of N-methyl pyrrolidone on the uptake of hypericin in human bladder carcinoma and co-staining with DAPI investigated by confocal microscopy.

Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) using hypericin (HY), a natural photosensitizer, detects bladder cancer significantly better than white light endoscopy. However, the lipophilicity of HY complicates its administration for clinical applications. Currently, pharmaceutical preparations for HY without plasma protein are being developed. Formulations containing a biocompatible solvent, N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) have been shown to enhance the photodynamic therapeutic effects of HY. It was recently reported that, NMP formulations of HY were able to produce significantly higher contrast for fluorescence detection of tumors than albumin-containing HY formulations. This present work hypothesizes that NMP acts both as a solvent and penetration enhancer to improve the delivery of HY into cells by increasing the permeability of cell membranes. This paper reports the use of 3-D confocal microscopy to monitor real-time uptake of HY in human carcinoma. 3-D confocal microscopy was used to investigate the possibility of nuclear localization of HY in MGH cells. The fluorescence of HY was confirmed to be emitted from HY containing cells using spectrometry. The localization of a DNA fluorescent probe 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) was used to confirm the possibility of colocalization of DAPI and HY. The colocalization analysis in the present study suggests that it was very unlikely that HY colocalized in the nucleus that was stained by DAPI. Fluorescein leakage tests showed that 1% NMP changes the permeability of cell membranes, and enhanced the delivery of HY into cells resulting in lower cell survival ratios. Thus, NMP was able to enhance the photodynamic therapeutic effects of HY on cancer cells.

Design of controlled-release solid dosage forms of alginate and chitosan using microwave.

The influence of microwave irradiation on the drug release properties of alginate, alginate-chitosan and chitosan beads was investigated. The beads were prepared with the highest possible concentration of polymer by an extrusion method. Sulphathiazole was selected as a model drug. The beads were subjected to microwave irradiation at various combinations of irradiation power and time. The profiles of drug dissolution, drug content, drug stability, drug polymorphism, drug-polymer interaction, polymer crosslinkage and complexation were determined by dissolution testing, drug content assay, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). The chemical stability of the drug entrapped in the beads was unaffected by the microwave irradiation. However, the drug in the chitosan beads underwent polymorphic changes. Polymorphic changes were prevented by means of drug-alginate interaction in alginate and alginate-chitosan beads. Changes in the polymorphic state of drug were found to have insignificant effect on the drug release profiles of chitosan beads. The release-retarding property of alginate and alginate-chitosan beads was significantly enhanced by subjecting the beads to microwave irradiation. Positively charged calcium ions and chitosan are known to interact with negatively charged alginate. DSC and FTIR analyses indicated that the reduction in rate and extent of drug released from the treated beads was primarily due to additional formation of non-ionic bonds, involving alginate crosslinkage and alginate-chitosan complexation. The results showed that microwave technology can be employed in the design of solid dosage forms for controlled-release application without the use of noxious chemical agents.