Ilija Ilić

The compressibility and compactibility of different types of lactose

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate and quantify flow properties, compressibility, and compactibility of various pharmaceutical lactose powders found on the market today (DCL-11, DCL-21, M‐200, Flowlac-100, and Tablettose 70, 80, and 100). Methods: Flow properties were estimated by measuring flow time, angle of repose, and the Hausner ratio. Particle rearrangement was studied using Kawakitas linear model. Compressibility was studied using two ‘out-of-die’ methods: (i) the Heckel model and (ii) a modified Walker model. Compactibility was quantified using two methods: (i) the tensile strength profile (Cp) and (ii) the compactibility factor (Pr). Statistical approach was used to analyze the results. Results: Flow properties of all materials were passable or better, except for M-200, which has very poor flowability. Compressibility results demonstrated that the most compressible lactose is spray-dried grade of lactose (Flowlac-100) and the least compressible is milled lactose (M-200). Compactibility studies showed that β‐lactose (DCL-21) forms tablets with superior tensile strength in comparison with α-lactose. Conclusion: Results of the compressibility study showed that the discriminative power of modified Walker model is greater in comparison with Heckel model. Compactibility methods yield similar and comparable results.

A compressibility and compactibility study of real tableting mixtures: The impact of wet and dry granulation versus a direct tableting mixture

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of various powder agglomeration processes on tableting mixture flow and compaction properties. Four different granulation methods of the same model placebo formulation were tested at a semi-industrial scale and their properties were compared to those of the directly compressed mixture. The wet granulated mixtures had superior flow properties compared to other mixtures and showed better compressibility, measured by the Heckel and Walker models. This was attributed to work hardening due to the double particle processing and also to shorter contact times due to higher initial densities of dry granulated mixtures, allowing a shorter time for deformation. A strong linear correlation was established between the Heckel and Walker coefficients, which was further confirmed by the net energy results of force-displacement measurements. It was shown that the Walker model had slightly better discriminative power to differentiate tableting mixtures according to compressibility. The compactibility was considerably lower for the slugged mixture; however, the roller-compacted mixture produced tablets with unexpectedly high tensile strength. In conclusion, it is important to emphasize that general assumptions like higher porosity => better compressibility or better compressibility => better compactibility cannot be established for complex tableting mixtures.

A compressibility and compactibility study of real tableting mixtures: the effect of granule particle size.

This study investigates the effect of particle size on the compression characteristics of wet- (fluid-bed granulation - FBG) and dry-granulated (slugging - DGS) tableting mixtures. Particle-size distribution, flowability, compressibility, using the Heckel and Walker model, compactibility and elastic recovery as well as friability and disintegration were determined and compared between the two particle size fractions (180-400 μm, 400-710 μm) and initial unsieved mixtures. The results showed that the particle size of granules had no effect on the compressibility of the FBG and DGS mixtures, due to the high fragmenting nature of the formulation used in this study. On the other hand, compactibility was particle size dependent, as larger-sized fractions showed higher crushing strength, lower friability, and lower elastic recovery. This was attributed to increased fragmentation of larger particles, allowing stronger bonding between uncontaminated surface areas. As a result of better rearrangement of particles, both initial tableting mixtures showed lower compressibility and lower compactibility compared to their sieved fractions. V študiji smo prou~evali vpliv velikosti delcev na stisljivost vlano (vrtin~noslojno granuliranje - FBG) in suho (briketiranje - DGS) granuliranih zmesi za tabletiranje. Dvema velikostnima frakcijama vsake zmesi (180-400 μm, 400-710 μm) in primerjalno nepresejanima zmesema smo dolo~ili porazdelitev velikosti delcev, preto~nost, kompresibilnost z uporabo Heckelovega in Walkerjevega modela in kompaktibilnost. Tabletam izdelanim iz posameznih zmesi smo dolocili delez elasti~ne relaksacije, krušljivost in razpadnost. Rezultati naše študije potrjujejo, da velikost granulata ne vpliva na kompresibilnost FBG in DGS zmesi za tabletiranje, kar je posledica izrazite fragmentacijske narave uporabljene formulacije zmesi. V nasprotju s tem dejstvom pa je bil potrjen signifikanten vpliv velikosti delcev na kompaktibilnost, saj so imele tablete izdelane iz ve~jih velikostnih frakcij višjo natezno trdnost, nizjo krušljivost in nizji delez elasti~ne relaksacije. To pripisujemo izrazitejši fregmentaciji ve~jih delcev in posledi~no tvorbi mo~nejših povezav med novonastalimi ~istimi površnami delcev. Obe osnovni zmesi sta zaradi boljše za~etne prerazporeditve delcev izkazovali slabšo kompresibilnost in kompaktibilnost.

Deformation properties of pharmaceutical excipients determined using an in-die and out-die method

This study investigated deformation mechanisms of some commonly used pharmaceutical fillers, such as microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, dicalcium phosphate, isomalt and cornstarch, using a combination of the in-die and out-die method with the Heckel and Walker models. The tableting mixtures contained of 98.5% (w/w) filler, the rest consisted of dry binder and an antiadhesive agent. Our results showed that plasticity and elasticity may be considered independent deformation properties as highly plastic materials (microcrystalline cellulose, cornstarch) also exhibited high elasticity. Particular emphasis was placed on explaining the differences observed between the in-die and out-die method-comparison revealed that the differences are a consequence of the materials elastic properties. Larger error of in-die results can be expected for more elastic materials, and thus in-die Heckel should be used with some considerations. In contrast, the Walker model was found to be more robust and smaller differences were observed between the two methods. We consider the most correct results to have been obtained by the out-die approach, which excludes the elastic properties of the material evaluated. An excellent correlation between elastic determination at the single-particle level and multiple-particle scale was demonstrated, suggesting a great potential of nanoscale determination of a materials mechanical properties for better elucidation of deformation mechanisms.

An investigation into the effect of formulation variables and process parameters on characteristics of granules obtained by in situ fluidized hot melt granulation

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of binder content, binder particle size, granulation time and inlet air flow rate on granule size and size distribution, granule shape and flowability, as well as on drug release rate. Hydrophilic (polyethyleneglycol 2000) and hydrophobic meltable binder (glyceryl palmitostearate) were used for in situ fluidized hot melt granulation. Granule size was mainly influenced by binder particle size. Binder content was shown to be important for narrow size distribution and good flow properties. The results obtained indicate that conventional fluid bed granulator may be suitable for production of highly spherical agglomerates, particularly when immersion and layering is dominant agglomeration mechanism. Granule shape was affected by interplay of binder content, binder particle size and granulation time. Solid state analysis confirmed unaltered physical state of the granulate components and the absence of interactions between the active and excipients. Besides the nature and amount of binder, the mechanism of agglomerate formation seems to have an impact on drug dissolution rate. The results of the present study indicate that fluidized hot melt granulation is a promising powder agglomeration technique for spherical granules production.

In silico modeling of in situ fluidized bed melt granulation.

Fluidized bed melt granulation has recently been recognized as a promising technique with numerous advantages over conventional granulation techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using response surface methodology and artificial neural networks for optimizing in situ fluidized bed melt granulation and to compare them with regard to modeling ability and predictability. The experiments were organized in line with the Box-Behnken design. The influence of binder content, binder particle size, and granulation time on granule properties was evaluated. In addition to the response surface analysis, a multilayer perceptron neural network was applied for data modeling. It was found that in situ fluidized bed melt granulation can be used for production of spherical granules with good flowability. Binder particle size had the most pronounced influence on granule size and shape, suggesting the importance of this parameter in achieving desired granule properties. It was found that binder content can be a critical factor for the width of granule size distribution and yield when immersion and layering is the dominant agglomeration mechanism. The results obtained indicate that both in silico techniques can be useful tools in defining the design space and optimization of in situ fluidized bed melt granulation.

Nanomechanical Properties of Selected Single Pharmaceutical Crystals as a Predictor of Their Bulk Behaviour

PurposeThe main goal of this research was to assess the mechanical properties of APIs’ polymorphic forms at the single-crystal level (piroxicam, famotidine, nifedipine, olanzapine) in order to predict their bulk deformational attributes, which are critical for some pharmaceutical technology processes.MethodsThe mechanical properties of oriented single crystals were determined using instrumented nanoindentation (continuous stiffness measurement). All polymorphic forms investigated were previously identified using a combination of calorimetric and spectroscopic techniques.ResultsMechanical properties such as Young’s modulus and indentation hardness were consistent with the molecular packing of the polymorphic forms investigated with respect to crystal orientation. For mechanically interlocked structures, characteristic of most polymorphic forms, response of single crystals to indentation was isotropic. The material’s bulk elastic properties can be successfully predicted by measuring Young’s modulus of single crystals because a good linear correlation with a bulk parameter such as the tablets’ elastic relaxation index was determined.ConclusionsThe results confirm the idea that the intrinsic mechanical properties of pharmaceutical crystals (Young’s modulus) largely control and anticipate their deformational behavior during tablet compression. Young’s modulus and indentation hardness represent a very valuable and effective tool in preformulation studies for describing materials’ mechanical attributes, which are important for technological processes in which materials are exposed to deformation.

Compaction properties of crystalline pharmaceutical ingredients according to the Walker model and nanomechanical attributes

This study investigates the extent to which single-crystal mechanical properties of selected active ingredients (famotidine, nifedipine, olanzapine, piroxicam) influence their bulk compressibility and compactibility. Nanomechanical attributes of oriented single crystals were determined with instrumented nanoindentation, and bulk deformational properties were assessed with the Walker and Heckel models as well as the elastic relaxation index. Good correlations were established between bulk and single-crystal plasticity parameters: the Walker coefficient and indentation hardness. The Walker model showed more practical value for evaluating bulk deformational properties of the APIs investigated because their properties differed more distinctly compared to the Heckel model. In addition, it was possible to predict the elastic properties of the materials investigated at the bulk level because a correlation between the elastic relaxation index and compliance was established. The value of using indentation hardness for crystalline APIs was also confirmed because their compactibility at the bulk level was able to be predicted. Mechanically interlocked structures were characteristic of most polymorphic forms investigated, resulting in single crystals having isotropic mechanical properties. It was revealed that in such cases good correlations between single and bulk mechanical properties can be expected. The results imply that innate crystal deformational properties define their compressibility and compactibility properties to a great extent.

Effect of the surface free energy of materials on the lamination tendency of bilayer tablets

Dosage forms with fixed dose combinations of drugs is a frequent and advantageous mode of administration, but their production involves a number of technological problems. Numerous interactions in a homogeneous vehicle may be avoided through the use of layered tablets. The mechanical properties of these dosage forms depend on numerous process parameters and material characteristics. The aim of the present study was a detailed investigation of the relationships between the surface characteristics and deformation properties of tableting materials and the tendency of bilayer tablets to undergo lamination. Bilayer tablets were compressed from unlubricated materials with different plastic-elastic properties and surface free energies according to a mixed 2 and 3-level half-replicated factorial design. The results revealed that the surface characteristics play the main role in the lamination of layered tablets and the effect of the plastic-elastic behavior cannot be interpreted without a knowledge of these properties.

Melt granulation in fluidized bed: a comparative study of spray-on versus in situ procedure

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of process parameters, binder content and binder addition method on characteristics of the granules obtained by melt granulation (MG) in fluidized bed. Methods: Spray-on experiments were performed according to 23 full factorial design. The effect of binder content, molten binder feed rate, and spray air pressure on granule size and size distribution, granule shape, flowability and drug release rate was investigated. In the in situ experiments, the influence of binder particle size and binder content was evaluated. Solid-state characterization was performed by means of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results: Size of the granules obtained by spray-on procedure was significantly influenced by binder content and spray air pressure, while the width of particle size distribution was mainly affected by binder feed rate. Spray air pressure showed the most significant influence on granule shape. It was shown that smooth and spherical particles with good flow properties may be obtained by both procedures, spray-on and in situ MG. The results obtained indicated the influence of agglomeration mechanism on granule sphericity, with higher degree of granule sphericity observed when immersion and layering was the dominant mechanism. Paracetamol release from granulates was very rapid, but after compression of the granules into tablets, drug release was considerably slower. Solid-state analysis confirmed that the physical form of the granulate components remained unaffected after the MG process. Conclusion: The results presented indicate that MG in fluidized bed could be a good alternative to conventional granulation techniques.