Comminution technologies in the pharmaceutical industry: a comprehensive review with recent advances

Abstract

Comminution processes play a pivotal role in diverse applications, ranging from food processing, to mining and materials engineering. The pharmaceutical industry is no exception, with an increased focus on particle engineering to overcome the growing challenges related to the complexity of new drug molecules such as poor water solubility or stability issues. Additionally, the preparation of powders for pulmonary, transdermal, topical, ophthalmic, oral or parenteral administration often requires specific particle size requirements. Thus, milling technologies offer an excellent option for controlling particle size, improving the stability, dissolution, absorption rate, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. They also contribute to enhancing pharmaceutical forms and overall product performance. This review highlights the different types of technologies used for comminution, the respective advantages and drawbacks, as well as connected topics including feed material properties, analytical techniques, process analytical technology, process safety, new top-down technologies and key information to consider when selecting a technology. Thus, an in-depth approach of comminution in the pharmaceutical industry is presented. This compilation serves as a source of comprehensive information for those who decide to initiate research projects in this field, or to update their existing literature knowledge and understanding.