Assessment of tableting properties using infinitesimal quantities of powder medicine II

Studies on the influence of high-shear granulation process on the compressibility of microcrystalline cellulose

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a diluent for oral solid dosage forms. The wet granulation process was selected to prepare losartan potassium tablets using MCC as a model for a predictive study. It was found that the hardness of the tablets could not satisfy the quality standards. In this study, the effect of the high-shear granulation process on the compressibility of MCC was characterized by plotting the compression characteristics curve, as well as the mechanism of the effect from the perspectives of mechanical properties, powder properties. The solid-state properties were also analyzed. Combined with the Heckel equation, the Ryshkewitch-Duckworth equation, the energy method, PXRD, SEM, and other evaluation methods, the results suggest that the high-shear granulation process reduced the compressibility of MCC, which may be caused by the reduced plastic deformation capacity of MCC and the change of the particle morphology structure. The method applied in this study can also be applied to other excipients, which is an important guideline for solving possible problems and process selections during the preparation stage of solid formulations.

Formulation design of granules prepared by wet granulation method using a multi-functional single-punch tablet press to avoid tableting failures

We previously determined "Tableting properties" by using a multi-functional single-punch tablet press (GTP-1). We plotted "Compactability" on the x-axis against "Manufacturability" on the y-axis to allow visual evaluation of "Tableting properties". Here, we examined whether this evaluation method can be used in the formulation design of tablets prepared by wet granulation. We used the GTP-1 to measure "Tableting properties" with different amounts of binder, disintegrant, and lubricant, and compared the results with those of tableting on a commercial rotary tableting machine. Tableting failures (capping and binding in particular) occurred when samples that had been evaluated as having poor "Compactability" or "Manufacturability" on the GTP-1 were compressed on the rotary tableting machine. Thus, our evaluation method predicted tableting failure at the commercial scale. The method will prove useful for scaling up production.

Prediction of effects of punch shapes on tableting failure by using a multi-functional single-punch tablet press

We previously determined “Tableting properties” by using a multi-functional single-punch tablet press (GTP-1). We proposed plotting “Compactability” on the x-axis against “Manufacturability” on the y-axis to allow visual evaluation of “Tableting properties”. Various types of tableting failure occur in commercial drug production and are influenced by the amount of lubricant used and the shape of the punch. We used the GTP-1 to measure “Tableting properties” with different amounts of lubricant and compared the results with those of tableting on a commercial rotary tableting machine. Tablets compressed with a small amount of lubricant showed bad “Manufacturability”, leading to sticking of powder on punches. We also tested various punch shapes. The GTP-1 correctly predicted the actual tableting results for all punch shapes. With punches that were more likely to cause tableting failure, our system predicted the effects of lubricant quantity in the tablet formulation and the occurrence of sticking in the rotary tableting machine.