Blend Segregation in Tablets Manufacturing and Its Effect on Drug Content Uniformity-A Review

Real-time component-based particle size measurement and dissolution prediction during continuous powder feeding using machine vision and artificial intelligence-based object detection

This work presents a system, in which machine vision combined with artificial intelligence-based image analysis was used to determine the component-based particle size distribution of pharmaceutical powder blends. The blends consisted of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and calcium hydrogen phosphate (CHP). Images of powders were recorded with a digital camera in-line during feeding from a continuous feeder. The component-based particle size distributions determined with the system correlated well with those measured using a microscope as a reference method. This novel method proved to be effective in the real-time determination of particle size distribution of different components in the same blend. It was also possible to predict the in vitro dissolution profile of capsules filled with this blend by using the measured particle size distribution of ASA as input in a population balance model. The method could provide valuable information on the blends used in the pharmaceutical industry and could play a key role in the development of pharmaceutical quality control.

Blend Uniformity and Content Uniformity in Oral Solid Dosage Manufacturing: an IQ Consortium Industry Position Paper

The IQ Consortium Uniformity Testing Working Group reviewed the current BU and CU testing practices among ten member companies. All ten companies presented their current approach to BU and CU testing at the three stages of Product Lifecycle Management: the Process Design Stage, the Process Qualification Stage, and the Continuous Verification Stage. With this information on hand, the Uniformity Testing Working Group members developed a risk-based approach to BU and CU testing, and proposed innovative methods to reduce or eliminate blend sampling based on risk to Uniformity of Dosage Unit (UDU) testing. This approach uses prior knowledge, mechanistic understanding, and structured risk assessment tools to classify formulations as low-risk or high-risk, thus guiding the testing strategy. A decision tree was outlined on this basis for low-risk and high-risk formulations. The Working Group aims to influence health authorities on the matter, enabling streamlined testing expectations.

Deaggregation of micronized insoluble drugs by incorporating mannitol form α

Micronization is frequently employed to increase the dissolution of poorly soluble drugs, but it easily led to powder aggregation and difficult to mix well on the micro level with poor content uniformity and erratic dissolution behavior. Mannitol is the most commonly used pharmaceutical excipient, and its β form (β-mannitol) is commercially available and extensively investigated, whereas form α (α-mannitol) remain poorly understood. Here, this study demonstrated that α-mannitol could significantly eliminate aggregation phenomena of micronized drugs (i.e., lurasidone hydrochloride, indomethacin and ibuprofen) after general mixing, while β-mannitol could not. In addition, the drug dissolutions after mixing with α-mannitol were also significantly higher than that with β one. This stemmed from the different molecular orientation on their dominant crystal facets, resulting in greater number of unsaturated hydrogen bonds site (0.050 Å-2vs 0.042 Å-2) on α-mannitol's crystal facet {013}, leading to more positive charge and negative charge site and higher surface energy (64.42 mJ/m2vs 50.26mJ/m2). Subsequently, this increased the interaction between drug and α-mannitol, which is higher than interaction between drug itself, also higher than interaction between drug and β-mannitol, resulting in adhesion of drug powder on α-mannitol rather than cohesion into aggregates. Moreover, after 30 days of storage at 60 °C or 92.5 % relative humidity, the polymorphic purity of α-mannitol remained above 99 %, indicating good polymorphic stability during transportation and storage. This work illustrates that α-mannitol exhibited great potential to serve as a new pharmaceutical excipient in solid dosage forms. We believe that utilizing the benefits of polymorphism and mitigating their limitations will exert great potential for the development of functional pharmaceutical excipients.

Automated extrusion-based dispensing: Personalized dosing and quality control of clopidogrel tablets for pediatric care

The exploration of three-dimensional (3D) printing inspired technologies in pharmaceutical compounding reveals a promising frontier in personalized medicine manufacture. This study focuses on the development of clopidogrel bisulphate tablets, with doses ranging from 2 mg to 20 mg per tablet, suitable for pediatric use. The study explored a semi-solid extrusion-based deposition technology already being used in compounding pharmacies across several European locations. The investigation explored various properties of two formulations of 1 % and 2 % clopidogrel gel tablets, with a specific focus on mass variation, drug content uniformity, in vitro drug release profiles, disintegration time, and stability. The mean weights of the smallest printed 200 mg tablets with 1 % and 2 % clopidogrel concentrations were 199.1 ± 4.6 mg and 201.0 ± 3.2 mg, respectively. For the largest printed 500 mg tablets with 1 % and 2 % concentrations, the mean weights were 499.3 ± 7.7 mg and 501.7 ± 6.5 mg, respectively. The mean clopidogrel content uniformity for 1 % clopidogrel 200 mg and 500 mg tablets were 102.0 ± 1.8 %and 96.6 ± 2.6 %, respectively, and for 2 % clopidogrel 200 mg and 500 mg were 102.6 ± 3.9 % and 101.2 ± 1.6 %, respectively, well within the acceptable acceptance value (AV) range of 3 to 12. Both 1 % and 2 % formulations of clopidogrel tablets exhibited rapid drug release, meeting the USP pharmacopeial target of 85 % release in 15 min. All tablet sizes formulated at 1 % and 2 % concentrations met specified disintegration specifications. The stability assessment over three months revealed consistent pH values and assay results within target specifications for both clopidogrel formulations (93.5 % for 1 % formulation and 93.6 % for 2 % formulation). At three months, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) results demonstrated stability in clopidogrel tablets. In conclusion, a comprehensive evaluation of our developed clopidogrel tablets demonstrate their suitability for clinical use in an extemporaneous setting using the presented semi-solid extrusion-based automation technology.

Chemical Distribution Uniformity Assessment of "Intra-Tablet" by Hyperspectral Raman Imaging Analysis

PURPOSE

This study aimed to develop a new index, Distribution Uniformity Index (DUI), to assess the "intra-tablet" homogeneity.

METHODS

High-resolution hyperspectral Raman imaging was adopted to scan a tablet to get the components' distribution. The heuristic algorithm was applied to generate a Raman heatmap with RGB colors quantitatively correlated with the concentrations of each component. DUI is defined as the ratio of the area under the uniformity curve of the sample image to that of the randomized image. The accuracy and applicability of DUI were verified by constructing model images with controlled uniformity and random regions. The effects of "intra-tablet" homogeneity on the disintegration and dissolution of spironolactone tablets were investigated.

RESULTS

DUI value was directly obtained from heuristic visual analysis of macro-pixel from hyperspectral Raman images. A good linear relationship and good repeatability were confirmed between DUI and the uniformity of model images. The size of CaSO4·2H2O affected the "intra-tablet" homogeneity of spironolactone tablets, which was detected by the DUI value. The better "intra-tablet" homogeneity led to a higher disintegration and dissolution of spironolactone tablets.

CONCLUSIONS

DUI represents a novel index to evaluate the "intra-tablet" homogeneity and is beneficial for formulation research and development.

Real-time release testing of in vitro dissolution and blend uniformity in a continuous powder blending process by NIR spectroscopy and machine vision

Continuous manufacturing is gaining increasing interest in the pharmaceutical industry, also requiring real-time and non-destructive quality monitoring. Multiple studies have already addressed the possibility of surrogate in vitro dissolution testing, but the utilization has rarely been demonstrated in real-time. Therefore, in this work, the in-line applicability of an artificial intelligence-based dissolution surrogate model is developed the first time. NIR spectroscopy-based partial least squares regression and artificial neural networks were developed and tested in-line and at-line to assess the blend uniformity and dissolution of encapsulated acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) - microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) powder blends in a continuous blending process. The studied blend is related to a previously published end-to-end manufacturing line, where the varying size of the ASA crystals obtained from a continuous crystallization significantly affected the dissolution of the final product. The in-line monitoring was suitable for detecting the variations in the ASA content and dissolution caused by the feeding of ASA with different particle sizes, and the at-line predictions agreed well with the measured validation dissolution curves (f2 = 80.5). The results were further validated using machine vision-based particle size analysis. Consequently, this work could contribute to the advancement of RTRT in continuous end-to-end processes.

A Novel image processing technique for weighted particle size distribution assessment

The objective of the study was to create a reliable method that could be used to evaluate the particle size distribution of samples and pre-mixes in real-world situations, particularly those consisting of typical formulation blends. The goal was to use this method to assess the uniformity of the samples and ensure that they met the required quality standards. The researchers aimed to create a method that could be easily incorporated into the manufacturing process, providing a practical and efficient solution. This study demonstrates the use of ImageJ software to analyze the particle size distribution (PSD) of powders. The technique produces qualitative data from microscopy images and quantitative data from analysis of parameters including average diameter, D10, D50, D90, and standard deviation. The method was tested with various treatments, showing differentiating outcomes in all cases. The alternate technique provides a rapid and cost-effective method for PSD analysis, surpassing the limitations of sieve analysis. Extensive testing of the method, using a variety of sample types, including typical formulation blends, was performed. The results suggest that the method can effectively assess the morphology of changing materials during batch manufacturing and characterize uniformity in blends. The methodology has the capability to identify attributes related to PSD that are typically required to be monitored during manufacturing. The technique allows for accurate and reliable quantification of the attributes through image capture technology. The technique has future potential and has important implications for material science, powder rheology, pharmaceutical formulation development, and continual process monitoring.

Ten years of the manufacturing classification system: a review of literature applications and an extension of the framework to continuous manufacture

The MCS initiative was first introduced in 2013. Since then, two MCS papers have been published: the first proposing a structured approach to consider the impact of drug substance physical properties on manufacturability and the second outlining real world examples of MCS principles. By 2023, both publications had been extensively cited by over 240 publications. This article firstly reviews this citing work and considers how the MCS concepts have been received and are being applied. Secondly, we will extend the MCS framework to continuous manufacture. The review structure follows the flow of drug product development focussing first on optimisation of API properties. The exploitation of links between API particle properties and manufacturability using large datasets seems particularly promising. Subsequently, applications of the MCS for formulation design include a detailed look at the impact of percolation threshold, the role of excipients and how other classification systems can be of assistance. The final review section focusses on manufacturing process development, covering the impact of strain rate sensitivity and modelling applications. The second part of the paper focuses on continuous processing proposing a parallel MCS framework alongside the existing batch manufacturing guidance. Specifically, we propose that continuous direct compression can accommodate a wider range of API properties compared to its batch equivalent.

Quality assessment of oral antimalarial and antiretroviral medicines used by public health systems in Sahel countries

Malaria and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infections are among the top 10 causes of death in low income countries. Furthermore, many medicines used in these treatment areas are substandard, which contributes to the high death rate. Using a monitoring system to identify substandard and falsified medicines, the study aims to evaluate the quality of antimalarial and antiretroviral medicines in Sahel countries, assessing site conditions, compliance of medicines with pharmacopoeia tests, formulation equivalence with a reference medicine, and the influence of climate on quality attributes. Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography methods for eight active pharmaceutical ingredients were validated following the International Conference for Harmonization guideline for its detection and quantification. Quality control consists of visual inspections to detect any misinformation or imperfections and pharmacopeial testing to determine the quality of pharmaceutical products. Medicines which complied with uniformity dosage units and dissolution tests were stored under accelerated conditions for 6 months. Artemether/Lumefantrine and Lopinavir/Ritonavir formulations failed uniformity dosage units and disintegration tests respectively, detecting a total of 28.6% substandard medicines. After 6 months stored under accelerated conditions (40 °C // 75% relative humidity) simulating climatic conditions in Sahel countries, some medicines failed pharmacopeia tests. It demonstrated the influence of these two factors in their quality attributes. This study emphasizes the need of certified quality control laboratories as well as the need for regulatory systems to maintain standards in pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution in these countries, especially when medicines are transported to rural areas where these climatic conditions are harsher.

UV-VIS imaging-based investigation of API concentration fluctuation caused by the sticking behaviour of pharmaceutical powder blends

Surface powder sticking in pharmaceutical mixing vessels poses a risk to the uniformity and quality of drug formulations. This study explores methods for evaluating the amount of pharmaceutical powder mixtures adhering to the metallic surfaces. Binary powder blends consisting of amlodipine and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were used to investigate the effect of the mixing order on the adherence to the vessel wall. Elevated API concentrations were measured on the wall and within the dislodged material from the surface, regardless of the mixing order of the components. UV imaging was used to determine the particle size and the distribution of the API on the metallic surface. The results were compared to chemical maps obtained by Raman chemical imaging. The combination of UV and VIS imaging enabled the rapid acquisition of chemical maps, covering a substantially large area representative of the analysed sample. UV imaging was also applied in tablet inspection to detect tablets that fail to meet the content uniformity criteria. The results present powder adherence as a possible source of poor content uniformity, highlighting the need for 100% inspection of pharmaceutical products to ensure product quality and safety.

Exploring magnesium myristate for its dual functionality as a binder and lubricant in the formulation of tablet

Purpose: To explore 'magnesium myristate' for its dual functionality as a lubricant and binder in the formulation of tablets. Methods: Using (DoE), tablet formulations using magnesium myristate and conventional excipients (magnesium stearate and PVP K30) were developed by wet granulation technique. The prepared granules and formulated tablets were evaluated for pre- and post-compression parameters, respectively. Results: Magnesium myristate exhibited excellent flow properties. The optimized formulations containing magnesium myristate exhibited increased hardness and in vitro drug release in comparison to conventional excipients. f2 similarity index for in vitro drug release showed no significant variations with optimized formulations and with the marketed formulations. Conclusion: Magnesium myristate shows a promising replacement for conventional excipients as both a lubricant and binder in tablet formulation.

Sodium Starch Glycolate (SSG) from Sago Starch (Metroxylon sago) as a Superdisintegrant: Synthesis and Characterization

The characteristics of sago starch exhibit remarkable resemblances to those of cassava, potato, and maize starches. This review intends to discuss and summarize the synthesis and characterization of sodium starch glycolate (SSG) from sago starch as a superdisintegrant from published journals using keywords in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020). There are many methods for synthesizing sodium starch glycolate (SSG). Other methods may include the aqueous, extrusion, organic solvent slurry, and dry methods. Sago starch is a novel form of high-yield starch with significant development potential. After cross-linking, the phosphorus content of sago starch increases by approximately 0.3 mg/g, corresponding to approximately one phosphate ester group per 500 anhydroglucose units. The degree of substitution (DS) of sodium starch glycolate (SSG) from sago ranges from 0.25 to 0.30; in drug formulations, sodium starch glycolate (SSG) from sago ranges from 2% to 8% w/w. Higher levels of sodium starch glycolate (SSG) (2% and 4% w/w) resulted in shorter disintegration times (within 1 min). Sago starch is more swellable and less enzymatically digestible than pea and corn starch. These investigations demonstrate that sago starch is a novel form of high-yield starch with tremendous potential for novel development as superdisintegrant tablets and capsules.

Image-based simultaneous particle size distribution and concentration measurement of powder blend components with deep learning and machine vision

This work presents a system, where deep learning was used on images captured with a digital camera to simultaneously determine the API concentration and the particle size distribution (PSD) of two components of a powder blend. The blend consisted of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and calcium hydrogen phosphate (CHP), and the predicted API concentration was found corresponding with the HPLC measurements. The PSDs determined with the method corresponded with those measured with laser diffraction particle size analysis. This novel method provides fast and simple measurements and could be suitable for detecting segregation in the powder. By examining the powders discharged from a batch blender, the API concentrations at the top and bottom of the container could be measured, yielding information about the adequacy of the blending and improving the quality control of the manufacturing process.

Segregation of formulated powders in direct compression process and evaluations by small bench-scale testers

Powder segregation can cause severe issues in processes of pharmaceutical drugs for control of content uniformity if the powder is likely to be free or easy flowing. Assessing segregation intensity of formulated powders in a process is challenging at the formulation stage because of the limited availability of samples. An advanced segregation evaluation using small bench-scale testers can be useful for formulation decisions and suggestions of operation conditions in the process, which has not been practically investigated before. In this study, eight formulations (two co-processed excipients blended with one active pharmaceutical ingredient at different ratios) were used for the segregation study on two types of bench-scale testers (air-induced and surface rolling segregation tester), and a pilot simulation process rig as a comparative study. The results show that segregation measured on the bench-scale testers can give a good indication of the segregation intensity of a blend if the segregation intensity is not more than 20%. The comparison also shows that both the bench-scale testers have a good correlation to the process rig, respectively, which means either segregation tester can be used independently for the evaluation. A linear regression model was explored for prediction of segregation in the process.

Virtually Possible: Enhancing Quality Control of 3D-Printed Medicines with Machine Vision Trained on Photorealistic Images

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing technology, and concerted efforts are underway to establish its applicability to various industries. However, for any technology to achieve widespread adoption, robustness and reliability are critical factors. Machine vision (MV), a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), has emerged as a powerful tool to replace human inspection with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of MV in pharmaceutical processes. However, training models using real images proves to be both costly and time consuming. In this study, we present an alternative approach, where synthetic images were used to train models to classify the quality of dosage forms. We generated 200 photorealistic virtual images that replicated 3D-printed dosage forms, where seven machine learning techniques (MLTs) were used to perform image classification. By exploring various MV pipelines, including image resizing and transformation, we achieved remarkable classification accuracies of 80.8%, 74.3%, and 75.5% for capsules, tablets, and films, respectively, for classifying stereolithography (SLA)-printed dosage forms. Additionally, we subjected the MLTs to rigorous stress tests, evaluating their scalability to classify over 3000 images and their ability to handle irrelevant images, where accuracies of 66.5% (capsules), 72.0% (tablets), and 70.9% (films) were obtained. Moreover, model confidence was also measured, and Brier scores ranged from 0.20 to 0.40. Our results demonstrate promising proof of concept that virtual images exhibit great potential for image classification of SLA-printed dosage forms. By using photorealistic virtual images, which are faster and cheaper to generate, we pave the way for accelerated, reliable, and sustainable AI model development to enhance the quality control of 3D-printed medicines.

Lubricant Sensitivity of Direct Compression Grades of Lactose in Continuous and Batch Tableting Process

Modern pharmaceutical manufacturing based on Quality by Design and digitalisation is revolutionising the pharmaceutical industry. Continuous processes are promoted as they increase efficiency and improve quality control. Compared to batch blending, continuous blending is easier to scale and provides advantages for achieving blend homogeneity. One potential challenge of continuous blending is the risk of over-lubrication. In this study, blending homogeneity and lubricant sensitivity are investigated for both batch and continuous processes. Given their distinct chemical structures and morphologies, anhydrous lactose and granulated lactose are expected to exhibit varying sensitivities to changes in process settings across both technologies. The findings suggest that both lactose grades provide highly stable blends that can be safely utilised in both batch and continuous modes. Optimisation should focus on process variables, such as the quality of loss-in-weight feeders used for dosing low doses of ingredients. The most significant process parameter for lubricant sensitivity was the type of lactose used. Anhydrous lactose produced harder tablets than the more porous granulated lactose but was more sensitive to lubrication at the same settings. The magnesium stearate content and its interaction with the type of lactose are also critical factors, with magnesium stearate having a counterproductive impact on tabletability.

Challenges in the transfer and scale-up of mini-tableting: Case study with losartan potassium

Mini-tablets (MTs) with losartan potassium were developed to treat the rare disease Epidermolysis Bullosa. The focus was placed on transfer and scale-up of a direct compressible formulation from the compaction simulator STYL'One Evo (CS) to the rotary tablet press Korsch XM 12 (RP). Transfer of tabletability and compactibility profiles from CS to RP did not show good agreement, e.g. at a tableting pressure of 125 MPa mean tensile strengths (TS) of 4 MPa on CS and 1-1.5 MPa on RP were reached. These results highlight the impact of the feed frame on final product qualities depending on process and material factors. In the scale-up studies the critical quality attributes (CQAs) mass variation, content uniformity, TS and disintegration time were investigated. After an appropriate run-up time, most CQAs reached a plateau, after reaching a balance between influx, efflux and distribution of lubricant in the feed frame. TS values of 1-2 MPa, disintegration times of max. 50 s, mass variation of 0.9-2.2 % (CV) and acceptance values below 15.0 were reached depending on chosen process parameters.

Enhanced blend uniformity and flowability of low drug loaded fine API blends via dry coating: The effect of mixing time and excipient size

Although previous research demonstrated improved flowability, packing, fluidization, etc. of individual powders via nanoparticle dry coating, none considered its impact on very low drug loaded blends. Here, fine ibuprofen at 1, 3, and 5 wt% drug loadings (DL) was used in multi-component blends to examine the impact of the excipients size, dry coating with hydrophilic or hydrophobic silica, and mixing times on the blend uniformity, flowability and drug release rates. For uncoated active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), the blend uniformity (BU) was poor for all blends regardless of the excipient size and mixing time. In contrast, for dry coated API having low agglomerate ratio (AR), BU was dramatically improved, more so for the fine excipient blends, at lesser mixing times. For dry coated API, the fine excipient blends mixed for 30 min had enhanced flowability and lower AR; better for the lowest DL having lesser silica, likely due to mixing induced synergy of silica redistribution. For the fine excipient tablets, dry coating led to fast API release rates even with hydrophobic silica coating. Remarkably, the low AR of the dry coated API even at very low DL and amounts of silica in the blend led to the enhanced blend uniformity, flow, and API release rate.

Design of Experiments (DoE)-based approach for improvement of dry mixing processes in the production of low-dose Alprazolam tablets using Raman spectroscopy for content uniformity monitoring

A low-dose tablet formulation, containing a potent Benzodiazepine derivative Alprazolam was developed, considering the achievement of appropriate content uniformity of the active substance in powder blends and tablets as a major challenge. Two different types of lactose monohydrate (Tablettose 80 and Granulac 200) and two different types of dry mixing processes (high-shear mixing and "in bulk" mixing) were employed. To evaluate the influence of the variables (mixing speed, mixing time, filling level of the high-shear and cube mixer, lactose monohydrate type) and their interactions upon the response (content uniformity of Alprazolam in the powder blends), a Factorial 2 4 design (with 4 factors at 2 levels in 1 block) was generated for each type of mixer. For high-shear dry mixing the Response Surface, D-optimal Factorial 2 4 design (with 2 replications and 31 experiments) was used, while for the "in bulk" dry mixing the Response Surface, Central Composite Factorial 2 4 design (with 34 experiments) was used. The process parameters for the high-shear mixer were varied within the following ranges: filling level of 70-100%, impeller mixing speed of 50-300 rpm and mixing time of 2-10 minutes. For the cube mixer the following process parameter ranges were employed: filling level of 30-60%, mixing speed of 20-390 rpm and mixing time of 2-10 minutes. Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with a validated Partial Least Square (PLS) regression model was used as a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tool for Alprazolam content determination and content uniformity monitoring. The DoE model was further employed to optimize the powder blending process in regard to the achievement of appropriate Alprazolam content uniformity using high-shear mixing and Tabletosse 80 as filler. The desirability function revealed that the following process parameters: a mixing time of 2 minutes, a mixing speed of 300 rpm and a 70% filling level of the mixer would produce powder blends with the lowest variability in Alprazolam content. The three independent lab batches of low-dose Alprazolam tablets, produced with high-shear mixing using these process parameters, conformed to the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia for content (assay) of Alprazolam and uniformity of the dosage units.

Effect of roll compaction pressure on the properties of high drug-loaded piracetam granules and tablets

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to use an alternative granulation technique, solventless roll compaction, and to investigate the effect of the roll compaction pressure on the properties of granules and high-drug-loaded (80%, w/w) immediate release piracetam tablets.Significance. Piracetam commonly manufactured as high drug-loaded tablets by wet granulation with an aqueous binder solution. Due to its high solubility in water, the wet granulation process is largely susceptible to processing methods and can induce the uncontrolled polymorphic transition of piracetam as well as convert it into mono- and di-hydrates.

METHODS

The blends, comprising of piracetam, Kollidon® 30, and Avicel^® PH-101 were roll compacted at 4, 5 and 13 MPa hydraulic pressure and calibrated using an industrial roll compactor. The resultant granules milled and raw piracetam were investigated with DSC. The resultant granules mixed with Ac-Di-Sol^®, Aerosil^® 200 Pharma, and magnesium stearate to prepare tablets using an industrial tablet press at the same compression force and 25, 65, and 100 rpm. The obtained tablets were film coated with an aqueous dispersion of Opadry^® II using a pilot-scale solid-wall pan coater.

RESULTS

Roll compaction pressure influenced the polymorphic composition of piracetam, the granule properties and tablet mixture in relation to morphology, particle size, flowability, bulk and tapped density, as well as tablet hardness, tablet friability, disintegration, and dissolution.

CONCLUSION

This study showed the roll compaction can be successfully used for the preparation of highly water-soluble, highly drug-loaded piracetam film-coated tablets avoiding wet granulation pitfalls.

Varied Bulk Powder Properties of Micro-Sized API within Size Specifications as a Result of Particle Engineering Methods

Micronized particles are commonly used to improve the content uniformity (CU), dissolution performance, and bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Different particle engineering routes have been developed to prepare micron-sized API in a specific size range to deliver desirable biopharmaceutical performance. However, such API particles still risk varying bulk powder properties critical to successful manufacturing of quality drug products due to different particle shapes, size distribution, and surface energetics, arising from the anisotropy of API crystals. In this work, we systematically investigated key bulk properties of 10 different batches of Odanacatib prepared through either jet milling or fast precipitation, all of which meet the particle size specification established to ensure equivalent biopharmaceutical performance. However, they exhibited significantly different powder properties, solid-state properties, dissolution, and tablet CU. Among the 10 batches, a directly precipitated sample exhibited overall best performance, considering tabletability, dissolution, and CU. This work highlights the measurable impact of processing route on API properties and the importance of selecting a suitable processing route for preparing fine particles with optimal properties and performance.

Application of Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry in Quality Assessment of Dietary Supplements-A Case Study of Tryptophan Supplements: Release Assay, Targeted and Untargeted Studies

Dietary supplements are widely consumed in the EU and the USA. Based on their similarity to pharmaceuticals, consumers mistakenly believe that dietary supplements have also been approved for safety and efficacy. However, in the absence of mandatory testing, data on supplement quality is scarce. Thus, we applied liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to analyse the quality of dietary supplements containing tryptophan (Trp). We examined 22 supplements in tablets or capsules, produced in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Czech Republic, and Poland. Trp release, crucial for bioavailability and efficiency, was assessed. Additionally, we performed a qualitative analysis of the main ingredient and screened for contaminants. Among the contaminants, we detected Trp's metabolites, condensation products of Trp and carbonyl compounds, Trp degradation products, degradation products of kynurenine, and other contaminants such as glucosamine and melatonin. The main ingredient content was in the range of 55-100% in capsules and 69-87% in tablets. Surprisingly, almost no Trp release was noted from some supplements. Our study confirms the need to advance research on supplements. We believe that the high-quality analysis of supplements based on reliable analytical techniques will be an important contribution to the discussion on the regulatory framework of these products.