Pharmaceutical tablets and formation of compressed tablets Flashcards
what is the basic set up for a tablet press?
- two punches
- one die
- > the die contains a cavity that will be filled with the powder/granule formulation
- > the punches will come into the die during the compression/compaction phase to form the tablet
what are the main types of tablet presses?
- Single-punch press also called eccentric press
- > low output; 130-200 tablets per minute - Rotary press
- > large scale production; 10,000 tablets per minute - Compaction stimulator
- > optimises compression setting and predicts any issues
How does die filling help the tableting process?
- die cavity is filled by gravitational flow
- powder properties effect powder flow
- granulation is removed from the direct compression process
How can you use glints to improve powder flow?
- glints work by decreasing cohesive forces and are added just before compression
How can binders be used in the tabletting process?
- binders help promote the formation of interparticular bonds
- binders are usually ductile which is important for the compression process
- for tablets prepared by direct compression a binder can be added as a dry powder
when are binders most useful? What are some examples?
they are most effective when added as solutions during granulation
examples
- starch, sucrose, gelatin
- polyvinylpyrrolidone
- cellulose derivatives: HPMC, methylcellulose
How do glidants, lubricants and anti adherents affect compression-compaction?
Glidants; help during initial phases of the process- particle rearrangement
Lubricants; added to lower friction between powder and die wall
Antiadherents; added to prevent adhesion of powder/granules to the die wall or punch tips e.g. talc, starch, magnesium stearate
how does high MC allow powder stick?
it promotes adhesive forces and makes powder stick to the punches
How does friction affect tablet ejection? How can any fracture be avoided?
- if friction is high tablets may fracture during the ejection process. Lubricants may be added to reduce friction
How can lubricants interfere with compression-compaction and dissolution
- bonding with compression-compaction; impact of lubricant on tablet strength can be assessed
- dissolution due to their hydrophobicity; use hydrophilic lubricants and added after the disintegrate to avoid generating lubricant-coated disintegrant particles
State the mechanisms of action for fluid lubrication
- formation of a fluid layer between solid surfaces
- minimise friction between and die wall during ejection
- not used for tablet formation
- can make tablet surface tacky and mottles
state the mechanism of action for boundary lubrication
- solid surfaces separated by a thin film of the solid lubricant
- tends to be fine particulate solids
- most effective agents (<1%):
- stearic acid
- stearic acid salts; magnesium stearate
What are some examples of some glidants?
Talc (1-2%)- works as an anti adherent and is hydrophobic; has impact on wetting/dissolution
Starch- helps disintegration and is used as a binder and diluent
Magnesium stearate (<1%)- used as a lubricant and can promote flow at low concentrations
colloidal silicon dioxide- efficient glidant, small spherical particles, can be hydrophilic and hydrophobic; particles “glide” over each other under pressure
What are chewable tablets used for?
- paediatric patients
- veterinary use; tailored flavouring and safety of excipients confirmed
- adult patients with swallowing difficulties
where does disintegration and drug dissolution occur for chewable tablets?
disintegration in the mouth but drug dissolution occurs in the GIT
what diluents are often used in chewable tablets? What can they act as and what should be considered?
sorbitol or mannitol and can also act as a sweetener
- consider organoleptic properties
what drugs disintegrate in the oral cavity?
- buccal tablets
- sublingual tablets
- compressed lozenges
how do buccal and sublingual tablets allow quick disintegration?
they are smaller and more porous to enable quick disintegration
- reduced tablet size will also help limit discomfort to the patient
how do compressed lozenges work and how are they prepared?
- they dissolve slowly in the mouth, and release some of the drug in the saliva
- they are prepared using high compression forces, which increases mechanical strength
what specifications must oro-mucosal tablets meet?
- they must be of suitable mechanical strength to allow processing and handling without breaking down
what are the means of multiple compression tablets? what are the able to?
- separate two or more incompatible APIs
- allow the APIs to be released at different rates
- address mixing issues where uniform distribution of the API cannot be guaranteed
how are layered tablets formed via tableting process?
- a first powder is compacted by compression, before the second or more powder is added to the die and compressed
how are tablets-in-tablets prepared?
prepared by compression coating. the core tablet is made first and then moved to a slightly larger die containing the second powder
what can occur when two powders are layered together?
- an interface can be caused and this can lead to stability issues in cases of incompatibility
what are the three different configurations that can be formed with tablets?
- two API-containing layers separated by a drug-free layer to keep APIs separated
- two API-containing layers with each layer providing different release layers
- tablet-in-a-tablet
how long does it take for ora-dispersible tablets to disintegrate/dissolve?
3 minutes before being swallowed
break down in the mouth
what are the 4 processes in which ODTs can be prepared?
- moulding
- spray-drying
- compression/compaction
- lyophilisation
what excipients are used in the manufacture of ODTs?
- rapidly dissolving fillers are used and sweetening agents will be required
- usually superdisintegrants will be used
what tests can be performed for manufacture of ODTs?
- wetting time test; relating to porosity and hydrophilicity. the shorter wetting time, the faster the disintegration
- moisture-uptake test; provides info on the stability of the tablets when exposed to humidity
what are the disadvantages and advantages of scored tablets?
Advantages - quick drug release - good patient acceptability - convenient - improved bioavailability Disadvantages - high hygroscopicity - low mechanical strength - stability issues - taste masking required
what are scored tablets?
some tablets when manufactured with scores or scoring lines and the scores are used to facilitate tablet splitting
what can splitting or breaking a tablet can affect?
it can affect
- uniformity of dosing, unless API is homogeneously distributed through the tablet
- disintegration or dissolution of the drug from the tablet fragments
- stability of the API and excipients become exposed to the environment
what is the definition of coating?
coating is the application of an outer layer to the surface of a solid dosage form
what are the reasons we coat tablets and other solid dosage forms?
- to protect the API from light and moisture
- to mask a bad taste
- to make large capsules or tablets easier to swallow
- to control drug release
- to sustain drug release and where it occurs
- to allow quick product identification
- to reduce contamination risk
What are the disadvantages and advantages of sugar coating?
Advantages 1. low upfront material cost 2. simple 3. taste masking 4. pleasing tablet appearance and tablet is easier to swallow Disadvantages 1. trained personnel needed 2. multiple steps 3. harder to add tablet marking 4. time consuming 5. intra and inter batch variability
what can be the other types of coating?
- film coating
- spray coating
- compression coating
what are the common issues with sugar coating? what are the solutions for each one?
- chips in coating; ensure enough polymer is added and check fillers
- cracks in the coating; apply a sealing coat to prevent moisture-induced tablet expansion and wait longer between compression and coating
- coating doesn’t dry; caused by excess of invert sugar and avoid heating sucrose under low pH conditions
- surface colour not uniform; ensure enough coating is used and mixing well has occurred. limit risk of colour migration and ensure surface is smooth before applying the coloured coating
- sweating; caused by excess moisture so optimise the drying steps
- marbled colour; caused by uneven color surface and so coating should be smooth before waxes are supplied
What are the 3 different types of sprays for spray coating?
- top spray
- bottom spray
- tangenital spray
describe the sugar coating process
- sealing of the tablet cores
- subcoating
- smoothing
- colouring
- polishing
- printing; identification and branding
why are tablets waterproof?
- prevent stability issues
2. prevent water from penetrating the tablet
what is the purpose of sealing in sugar coating process?
sealing prevents the core from breaking down during the coating process
what is the purpose of sub coating in sugar coating process? what does it require?
- applied to smooth edges and round off the tablets
- requires bulking agents, binders and anti adherents
describe what occurs with smoothing in sugar coating process?
- application of a sucrose coating
- completes the tablet roudning
- facilitates the colouring process
describe what occurs with colouring in sugar coating process?
sucrose and colouring agents are applied
describe what occurs with polishing in sugar coating process?
provides glossy finish
What is the international pharmacopoeia standard for scored tablets?
- select 30 tablets at random. break each tablet manually and take one part and reject the others
- weight each of the 30 parts and then calculate the average mass
- if no individual mass is outside limits of 75 to 120% and and not more than one individual mass is outside the limit of 85-115% of average mass then tablets comply
what are tablets?
- solid dosage form and are usually compressed tablets
what are some different types of tablets?
- buccal tablets
- sublingual tablets
- compressed lozenges
what goes into the tablet?
- one or more API and different excipients
what are the main excipients and their roles? give some examples
- FIller/diluent; bulk up the powder volume e.g. mannitol, lactose, cellulose
- Disintegrant; aid disintegration and dissolution e.g starch, sodium starch glycolate
- binderr; formation of granules and tablets with the right mechanical strength e.g for wet granulation PVP, sucrose, starch, HPMC and for dry granulation PVP, cellulose
- Glidant; improve flow properties e.g. talc 1-2% and colloidal silica 0.2%
- Lubricant; ensure successful tablet formation and ejection e.g. stearic and magnesium stearate
what are three main methods used in manufacture of compressed tablets?
- direct granulation
- wet granulation
- dry granulation
what factors can granules impact?
- flow properties
- mixing quality
- compactibility
- dissolution; if particles are hydrophobic/poorly soluble, dissolution is improved by mixing with hydrophobic filler and binder
what is low shear wet granulation? any disadvantages
- low speed planetary mixers are used
- wet mass dried in a tay drier
- > manual transfer of material needed
- > long drying times
- > mixing issues due to tray drying
what is high shear granulation? any dis/advantages?
high shear mixer granulators are used
+ lower amounts of water used
+ short processing time
+ end-point of granulation can be monitored
+ closed vessel and possible transfer to fluid bed drier
- risk of overgranulation
how does fluidised bed granulation work? dis/advantages?
- drug and excipients are loaded into a fluid bed processor and fluidised with air
- granulation fluid is sprayed onto the bed from above with a continuous stream of hot air
+ all steps completed in same equipment
+ easy for the optimised process to be automated
- initial upfront cost
- extensive development work needed for optimisation
how can a spray-drier be used for granulation? dis/advantages
dry granules are obtained from a suspension or solution
+ produces fee-flowing, hollow, spherical particles with good compaction properties
- results in material property changes
what are some examples of filler/diluent used in wet granulation?
microcrystalline cellulose - diameter of 50 microns - good compactibility lactose - fine grade to ensure sufficient binding
during wet granulation, how are binders added
2-10% by weight
- added as a dry powder to drug + filler
- added pre-dissolved in water
- need to balance tablet hardness vs. drug release
what are intragranular excipients and extra granular excipients?
intragranular- adding of ingredients to the material after granulation within the granule
- filler/diluent
- binder
extragranular- adding of ingredients to the material after granulation outside the granule
- disintegrant
how does dry granulation work ands what are its advantages?
the granules are formed under high pressure through slugging and roller compaction
\+ cost effective \+ versatile method \+ easy to scale- up \+ uniform mechanical strength \+ gentler than slugging
what are moulded tablets?
prepared by moulding rather than compression in a tablet
+ soft and disintegrates quickly
- small in size, limiting their use to low dose usage
how are moulded tablets prepared?
- drug is mixed with a diluent; water-soluble diluents are preferred e.g. lactose, sucrose, mannitol
- > check for incompatibilities of the drug with sugars
- a liquid is added to the powder to wet the powder and allow moulding
- tablet generated after evaporation under vacuum
why is dry granulation preferred?
as water can interact with drugs and excipients
- granules can also be sensitive to moisture