The Fundamental and Functional Property Differences Between HPMC and PVP Co-Processed Herbal Particles Prepared by Fluid Bed Coating

The Fabrication, Drug Loading, and Release Behavior of Porous Mannitol

Porous materials are widely used as an effective strategy for the solubilization of insoluble drugs. In order to improve the solubility and bioavailability of low water-solubility drugs, it is necessary to prepare porous materials. Mannitol is one of the most popular excipients in food and drug formulations. In this study, porous mannitol was investigated as a drug carrier for low water solubility drugs. Its fabrication, drug loading, and drug release mechanisms were investigated. Porous mannitol was fabricated using the co-spray-antisolvent process and utilizing polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30) as the template agent. Porous mannitol particles were prepared by changing the proportion of the template agent, spraying the particles with mannitol, and eluting with ethanol in order to regulate their pore structure. In subsequent studies, porous mannitol morphology and characteristics were determined systematically. Furthermore, curcumin and ibuprofen, two poorly water-soluble drugs, were loaded into porous mannitol, and their release profiles were analyzed. The results of the study indicated that porous mannitol can be prepared using PVP K30 as a template and that the amount of template agent can be adjusted in order to control the structure of the porous mannitol. When the template agent was added in amounts of 1%, 3%, and 5%, the mannitol pore size increased by 167.80%, 95.16%, and 163.98%, respectively, compared to raw mannitol. Molecular docking revealed that mannitol and drugs are adsorbents and adhere to each other by force interaction. The cumulative dissolution of curcumin and ibuprofen-loaded porous mannitol reached 69% and 70%, respectively. The release mechanism of curcumin and ibuprofen from drug-loaded mannitol was suitable for the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. In summary, the co-spray-antisolvent method proved effective in fabricating porous materials rapidly, and porous mannitol had a remarkable effect on drug solubilization. The results obtained are conducive to the development of porous materials.

Updates on applications of low-viscosity grade Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in coprocessing for improvement of physical properties of pharmaceutical powders

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is an important polymeric excipient. Its versatility in terms of molecular weights and viscosity grades is the basis for its wide and successful application in the pharmaceutical industry. Low viscosity grades of HPMC (like E3 and E5) have been used as physical modifiers for pharmaceutical powders in recent years due to their unique physicochemical and biological properties (e.g., low surface tension, high T_g, strong hydrogen bonding ability, etc.). Such modification is the co-processing of HPMC with a drug/excipient to create composite particles (CPs) for the purpose of providing synergistic effects of functional improvement as well as of masking undesirable properties of the powder (e.g., flowability, compressibility, compactibility, solubility, stability, etc.). Therefore, given its irreplaceability and tremendous opportunities for future developments, this review summarized and updated studies on improving the functional properties of drugs and/or excipients by forming CPs with low-viscosity HPMC, analyzed and exploited the improvement mechanisms (e.g., improved surface properties, increased polarity, hydrogen bonding, etc.) for the further development of novel co-processed pharmaceutical powders containing HPMC. It also provides an outlook on the future applications of HPMC, aiming to provide a reference on the crucial role of HPMC in various areas for interested readers.

Surface Modifiers on Composite Particles for Direct Compaction

Direct compaction (DC) is considered to be the most effective method of tablet production. However, only a small number of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can be successfully manufactured into tablets using DC since most APIs lack adequate functional properties to meet DC requirements. The use of suitable modifiers and appropriate co-processing technologies can provide a promising approach for the preparation of composite particles with high functional properties. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview and classification of different modifiers and their multiple combinations that may improve API tableting properties or prepare composite excipients with appropriate co-processed technology, as well as discuss the corresponding modification mechanism. Moreover, it provides solutions for selecting appropriate modifiers and co-processing technologies to prepare composite particles with improved properties.

The Novel Use of PVP K30 as Templating Agent in Production of Porous Lactose

It is necessary to prepare porous lactose in order to improve the dissolution behavior of insoluble active ingredient. In this study, polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30) was firstly utilized as a templating agent with different use levels in preparing porous lactose. Then, the physical properties were profoundly characterized. Finally, the porous lactose was also employed as a health functional food/drug carrier to explore the effect on the dissolution behavior of curcumin. The results confirmed that (i) porous lactose was successfully prepared using PVP K30 as templating agent; (ii) PVP K30 significantly improved the yield of lactose in the spray drying; (iii) the improved powder properties of porous lactose were more conducive to the downstream operating process for the preparation of health functional food or drug; and (iv) the porous lactose significantly improved the dissolution behavior of curcumin. Therefore, the results obtained are beneficial to boosting the development of porous materials.

Texture and surface feature-mediated striking improvements on multiple direct compaction properties of Zingiberis Rhizoma extracted powder by coprocessing with nano-silica

The study aims to markedly improve direct compaction (DC) properties of Zingiberis Rhizoma extracted powder (ZR) by modifying its texture and surface properties with nano-silica (NS). A wet coprocessing method was applied to evenly distribute up to 33.3% NS to ZR. To clarify uniqueness of NS, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a superior filler-binder in DC, was used as control. Coprocessed particles and physical mixtures (PMs) were comprehensively evaluated for surface features, micromeritic properties, and texture and compacting parameters. Compared to MCC, NS could more significantly modify the texture and surface features of ZR (e.g., hardness, cohesiveness, yield pressure, and nanoscaled surface roughness) via coprocessing, resulting in more striking improvements on multiple DC properties of ZR, including tabletability, flowability, lubricant sensitivity, hygroscopicity, etc. Especially, tensile strength (σ_t) of coprocessed ZR-NS (1:0.5) tablets was 4.62 and 3.22 times that of ZR and ZR-MCC counterparts pressed at 210 MPa, respectively. Moreover, percolation thresholds of σ_t enhancement were observed for ZR-NSs, but not for ZR-MCCs. Evaluation by the SeDeM expert system indicated that some ZR-NSs (but no ZR-MCCs) were qualified for DC. Collectively, coprocessing with NS by liquid dispersion appears to be a novel, effective, and pragmatic option for DC of drugs like ZR.