Effect of Compression Force on Agglomeration of Micronized Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients: Techniques to Prevent API Agglomeration During Compression

Abstract

Micronization is one of the common processes for size reduction to increase surface area of poorly soluble Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient's (API). This size reduction improves the dissolution rate and permeability thereby increasing the bioavailability for hydrophobic API's. Tablets and capsules are the most marketed and easy to manufacture solid dosage forms. During manufacturing of tablets, high compression forces are applied uniaxially on the powder bed to get a coherent consolidated compact with good tensile strength. So, diluents are required to mix with API's and compress into tablets. When this mixture is compressed into tablets, there is a possibility of agglomeration of micronized API to API particles together within the tablet due to their high surface area and high surface free energy during compression. Increasing the particle size and decreasing the surface is generally expected to decrease the dissolution rate of the API. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1.