Effect of Powdered Cellulose Nanofiber with Different Particle Sizes on the Physical Properties of Tablets Manufactured <i>via</i> Direct Compression

Abstract

Direct compression is a tableting technique that involves a few steps in non-demanding manufacturing conditions. High strength and rapid disintegration of tablet formulations were previously achieved through the addition of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), which have recently attracted attention as a high-performance biomass material. However, CNF addition results in greater variation in tablet weight and drug content, potentially due to differences in particle size between CNF and other additives. Herein, we used pulverized CNF to evaluate the effect of CNF particle size on the variation in tablet weight and drug content. Tablet formulations consisted of CNF with different particle sizes (approximately 100 µm [CNF 100 ] and 300 µm [CNF 300 ], at 0, 10, 30, or 50%), lactose hydrate, acetaminophen, and magnesium stearate. Ten powder formulations with different particle sizes and CNF concentrations were prepared; thereafter, the tablets were produced using a rotary tableting press with a compression force of 10 kN. The variation in weight and drug content as well as the tensile strength, friability, disintegration time, and drug dissolution of tablets were evaluated. CNF 100 addition to the tablets reduced the weight and drug content variation to a greater extent than CNF 300 addition. Using CNF 300 , we produced tablets of sufficient strength and short disintegration time. These properties were also achieved with CNF 100 addition. Our findings suggest that adding CNF of small particle size to the tablet formulation can reduce the variation in weight and drug content while maintaining high strength and short disintegration time.