Satchets and powder capsules Flashcards
What is a satchet? what is it used for?
- used to deliver a small quantity of a medicine
- immediate release
- used to administer
- > dry solids; powders and granules
- > liquids
advantages and disadvantages of satchet use?
Advantages > convenience and easy > available as unit dose > easy to prepare > easy to swallow
Disadvantages
> relative use of manufacture
> increased shelf-life
> variable dose easily made by adjusting filled volume
> cost benefits; potentially less costly to ship compared to liquid dosage forms
What are the type of excipients that can be used and give some examples of these
Filler- dextrose, mannitol Glidant- silicon dioxide Sweetener- mannitol, marital Binder- starch Encapsulation- cyclodextrius
what contains the fewest excipients and why?
capsules contain fewest excipients as organoleptic properties is less worry for any other dosage forms presented
how can you achieve controlled release satchet formulation
requires the use of granules which can be coated with a gastro-resistant or modified-release coating
How can you see if a powder filing has passable flow?
corresponds to a Carr’s index of <25%
What is the particle settling time? How long should this be and what should be avoided?
relates to how quickly the powder settles at the bottom of the sachets
this time should be 1s max and the aeration of particles should be avoided
Explain the Wall Friction angle
it is the friction angle between bulk powder and a solid surface
what is mass flow? what does it decrease the risk of?
mass flow, the bulk powder moves as one, decreasing the risk of particles getting separated depending on size
What should the wall friction angle be for speedy satchet production?
<20 degrees
Particles that have funnel flow pattern, what can occur
demixing can happen as large and small particles have different flowabilities
- affects powders homogeneity
What is the Kawakita 1/b parameter?
relates to how much the bulk volume changes under an applied force
-> additional method to assess powder flow; for satchets it should be >5MPas
why are laminates used in packaging satchets?
to maximise shelf-life
What properties should good satchet packaging have?
- good moisture and chemical resistance
- paper/plastic based
- easily sealable; avoid loss of powder
- high mechanical performance; for transport and storage
- easy to use and safe; child-resistant packaging
what type of capsules can you have?
hard shell and soft shell
What do hard shell capsules look like and consist of?
- cylindrical in shape
- have to main parts:
- > body; longest part
- > cap; shortest part
body and cap are snapped in place to prevent leakage
what are the advantages of hard shell capsules?
what’s a disadvantage of large capsules?
- > simplicity of formulation
- > convenience
- > good absorption profile
- > tampering can be easily detected
some can find it difficult to swallow
What are hard shell capsules usually made of and how is it produced?
gelatine
it is produced through hydrolysis of collagen; protein is found in connective tissue and treated under acidic/alkaline conditions to generate gelatine
What are the different types of gelatine?
Type A: produced through acid hydrolysis; pH1-3
Type B: produced through basic hydrolysis; 3 month process
What are advantages about using fish gelatine?
- odourless
- tasteless
- renewable source
- collagen can be extracted from fish bones and skin
What is the bloom strength of gelatine? explain this characteristic
it typically has a bloom strength ca. 230-275g
bloom strength allows us to see the rigidity of gelatine gel and corresponds to ‘the force needed to depress the surface of a gelatine gel by 4mm, using a 12.7mm diameter flat-bottomed plunger