The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of different polysulfonate resins and direct compression fillers on physical properties of multiple-unit sustained-release dextromethorphan (DMP) tablets. DMP resinates were formed by a complexation of DMP and strong cation exchange resins, Dowex 50 W and Amberlite IRP69. The tablets consisted of the DMP resinates and direct compression fillers, such as microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCP), and spray-dried rice starch (SDRS). Physical properties of tablets, such as hardness, disintegration time, and in vitro release, were investigated. A good performance of the tablets was obtained when MCC or SDRS was used. The use of rod-like and plate-like particles of Amberlite IRP69 caused a statistical decrease in tablet hardness, whereas good tablet hardness was obtained when spherical particle of Dowex 50 W was used.

This study evaluated tableting compression by using internal and external lubricant addition. The effect of lubricant addition o­n the enzymatic activity of trypsin, which was used as a model drug during the tableting compression process, was also investigated. The powder mixture (2% crystalline trypsin, 58% crystalline lactose, and 40% microcrystalline cellulose) was kneaded with 5% hydroxypropyl cellulose aqueous solution and then granulated using an extruding granulator equipped with a 0.5-mm mesh screen at 20 rpm. After drying, the sample granules were passed through a 10-mesh screen (1680 μm). A 200-mg sample was compressed by using 8-mm punches and dies at 49, 98, 196, or 388 MPa (Mega Pascal) at a speed of 25 mm/min. The external lubricant compression was performed using granules without lubricant in the punches and dies. The granules were already dry coated by the lubricant.

Currently, high-production rates and continuous production processes favor existing tableting technologies. However, if tablet development becomes rate-limiting in the future, alternative technologies may prove attractive .


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Ossi Korhonen, Seppo Pohja, Soili Peltonen, Eero Suihko, Mika Vidgren, Petteri Paronen, Jarkko KetolainenAAPS PharmSciTech. 2002; 3(4): article 34.

The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that time plasticity (parameter d from 3-D modeling) is influenced by tableting speed. Tablets were produced at different maximum relative densities (ρrel, max) o­n an instrumented eccentric tableting machine and o­n a linear rotary tableting machine replicator. Some 3-D data plots were prepared using pressure, normalized time, and porosity according to Heckel. After fitting of a twisted plane, the resulting parameters were analyzed in a 3-D parameter plot. The materials used were dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD), spray-dried lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), κ-carrageenan (CAR), and theophylline monohydrate (TheoM). The results show that tableting speed especially influences the parameter d (time plasticity) of the 3-D model for plastically and viscoelastically deforming materials such as MCC, HPMC, CAR, and TheoM.

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence fill weight and weight variability of capsules produced o­n the In-Cap and to assess any differences in terms of capsule defects between gelatin and HPMC (Quali-V) shells. The In-Cap is an automatic tamping type capsule-filling machine and the low output of ~3000 capsules/hour makes it ideal for early formulation development and phase I/IIa clinical supplies manufacture. Four commonly used excipients (Avicel PH101, Avicel PH302, A-Tab, and Prosolv HD90) and a poorly flowing drug blend were encapsulated at various pin settings and powder bed heights. The average fill weight and coefficient of weight variation were determined. The percentage of defective capsules formed during encapsulation was calculated. Results of the study showed that pin setting was critical for controlling the fill weight and the weight variation.

For solid dosage forms, a better understanding of the fundamental properties of the binders helps in the development of better formulations and products.


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The pace of biotechnology advancement has never been more rapid, with the number of biotech research centers, academic programs, and proposed manufacturing sites at an all-time high. Though biotechnology products are targeting a steadily widening range of therapeutic applications, their manufacture also entails levels of complexity previously unseen in the pharmaceutical industry. As a result of this complexity, manufacturers have their eyes squarely focused on two critical considerations: time and cost. As a result, any technology that promises to reduce one or both of these factors, without compromising product quality, is sure to gain the industry’s attention.

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A tablet press is one of the most complex machines used in the manufacturing environment. Clearly defining the basic principles in tablet press operation is essential to having a successful run. Learning key factors can help to avoid the many obstacles that can interrupt a successful run. Worldwide, more than 18 different companies make tablet presses. All tablet presses operate in the same basic way with only a few exceptions. This fact allowed the industry to define and create a standard for tablet press machines and tablet press tooling, which was published in the Tablet Specification Manual (TSM) by the American Pharmaceutical Association. The TSM can be acquired through any tooling or tablet press supplier. This article discusses how tblet press performance can be optimized by clearly distinguishing between granulation and machine issues; focusing on the importance of flow, compression, and ejection; and performing the necessary maintenance and quality control checks.

Starch is a multipurpose excipient in tablet formulations.
It can be used as a binder, disintegrant, and filler. Natural
starches also have been pregelatinized to increase
their cold-water swellability and increase their flowability
(1). Pregelatinization can be carried out by thermal methods
(2). Although some research has been carried out on the
compressional characteristics of natural starches (3,4), little or
no research appears to have been conducted on the effect of
pregelatinization on the compressional characteristics of starches
in relation to their usefulness in tablet formulations.
Sorghum and plantain starches obtained from Sorghum bicolor
L. (poaceae) and Musa paradisiaca L. (musaceae), respectively,
have been investigated as binders and disintegrants in
tablet formulations (5,6). However, it appears that no attempt
has been made to study the effects of these starches in either

The tabletting characteristics of low crystallinity celluloses (LCPC)-LCPC-700, LCPC-2000, and LCPC-4000-prepared using agitation rates of 700, 2000, and 4000 rpm, respectively, during their regeneration from phosphoric acid, were evaluated and compared with those of Avicel PH-102 and Avicel PH-302. The mean deformation pressure values calculated from the linear region of the Athy-Heckel curves indicated LCPC-4000 to be the most ductile material. The area under the Athy-Heckel curve for LCPC-4000 was 330 MPa, whereas LCPC-700 and LCPC-2000 showed a corresponding value similar to that of Avicel PH-102 and Avicel PH-302 (192-232 MPa). The tensile strength of LCPC and Avicel compacts increased linearly with increasing applied pressures. A comparison of the area under the tensile strength-compression pressure curves indicated that LCPC-4000 formed the strongest tablets.

Starch is one of the most widely used excipients in the manufacture of solid dosage forms. Researchers have tried to develop botanical starches for use as binders and disintegrants in tablet formulations (1–5). For example, sweet potato and cocoyam starches have shown potential as binding agents and/or disintegrants in tablet formulations (3, 6). The effects of these starches on compressional characteristics of the tablets and mechanical properties, however, have not been investigated. In this article, the effects of sweet potato and cocoyam starches on a paracetamol tablet formulation’s compressional characteristics and mechanical properties are compared with those of official cornstarch BP grade. The tablets’ compressional characteristics were studied using density measurements and the Heckel and Kawakita equations (7–9).