Advanced analysis of disintegrating pharmaceutical compacts using deep learning-based segmentation of time-resolved micro-tomography images

The mechanism governing pharmaceutical tablet disintegration is far from fully understood. Despite the importance of controlling a formulation's disintegration process to maximize the active pharmaceutical ingredient's bioavailability and ensure predictable and consistent release profiles, the current understanding of the process is based on indirect or superficial measurements. Formulation science could, therefore, additionally deepen the understanding of the fundamental physical principles governing disintegration based on direct observations of the process. We aim to help bridge the gap by generating a series of time-resolved X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) images capturing volumetric images of a broad range of mini-tablet formulations undergoing disintegration. Automated image segmentation was a prerequisite to overcoming the challenges of analyzing multiple time series of heterogeneous tomographic images at high magnification. We devised and trained a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on the U-Net architecture for autonomous, rapid, and consistent image segmentation. We created our own μCT data reconstruction pipeline and parameterized it to deliver image quality optimal for our CNN-based segmentation. Our approach enabled us to visualize the internal microstructures of the tablets during disintegration and to extract parameters of disintegration kinetics from the time-resolved data. We determine by factor analysis the influence of the different formulation components on the disintegration process in terms of both qualitative and quantitative experimental responses. We relate our findings to known formulation component properties and established experimental results. Our direct imaging approach, enabled by deep learning-based image processing, delivers new insights into the disintegration mechanism of pharmaceutical tablets.

Elucidating the effect of salt incorporation in tablets on tablet disintegratability

The disintegration of tablets plays a crucial role in facilitating drug release, and disintegrants are used in tablet formulations to promote the disintegration process. This study aimed to explore and understand the impact of salt incorporation on tablet disintegratability. The study was designed to modulate the microenvironment temperature of tablets through dissolution of salts incorporated in the formulation, with the aim to facilitate tablet disintegration. It was observed that the incorporation of salts generally prolonged tablet disintegration. The impact of incorporating salts on tablet properties was both concentration-dependent and multi-factorial. The observed effect of salts on tablet disintegration was likely influenced by a combination of factors, including different properties of the salts, enhanced solubility of components, the temperature difference between the tablet and the disintegration medium, the expansion of air resulting from increased microenvironment temperature, and the competition for water between salts and disintegrants. These factors collectively contributed to the overall impact of salts on tablet disintegration.

Near-infrared imaging of in vivo performance of orally administered solid forms to rats: Feasibility study with indocyanine green

This study demonstrates the applicability of near-infrared (NIR) imaging to evaluating in vivo oral formulation performance. As a NIR probe and model drug, indocyanine green (ICG) and acetaminophen (ACE) were selected, respectively. The fluorescence intensity of ICG greatly increased upon dissolution, with the dissolved ICG passing through the gastrointestinal tract over time. Both compounds (0.05 mg of ICG and 0.5 mg of ACE) were encapsulated in gelatin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules in the solid form. In vitro, the HPMC capsules showed a disintegration lag time, a feature that was not observed for the gelatin capsules. After oral administration of each capsule to rats, blood samples were collected, followed by fluorescent imaging of the abdominal region. At 0.25 h after HPMC capsule administration, the fluorescence area and intensity were significantly small and relatively weak compared to that of the gelatin capsule. These tendencies resulted from the difference in capsule disintegration times, leading to a change in gastric emptying, which corresponded well with the initial time profile of the plasma concentration of ACE. These results indicate that possibility of NIR imaging with ICG to evaluate in vivo performance of orally administered formulations.

Effect of tableting temperature on tablet properties and dissolution behavior of heat sensitive formulations

The tableting process involves the conversion of mechanical to thermal energy. This study evaluated the influence of temperature on the tableting behavior of formulations with different compositions. The tableting machine was equipped with a thermally controlled die to mimic the heat evolution from tableting on an industrial scale. Six formulations containing binders with a comparably low glass transition temperature were examined. Besides the polymer type and concentration, the filler was varied. Paracetamol was chosen as the model active pharmaceutical ingredient. The investigation included alterations in tabletability, disintegration and dissolution. Elevated temperatures led to an enhanced tabletability. The polymer type and concentration were decisive for the extent of alterations. The variation of the filler composition played a minor role due to the high melting points of its components. The results were confirmed in disintegration and dissolution studies. A high binding capacity and a low glass transition temperature resulted in a stronger delay of disintegration. The dissolution was sustained. Increased concentrations of the binding polymer enhanced the effect. If the tableting behavior of a formulation is changed by elevated temperatures during formulation development and production, a change of the binder type or concentration should be considered to ensure a reproducible tablet quality.

The use of hydrodynamic cavitation for waste-to-energy approach to enhance methane production from waste activated sludge

Anaerobic digestion in wastewater treatment plants converts its unwanted end product - waste activated sludge into biogas. Even if the process is well established, pre-treatment of the sludge can further improve its efficiency. In this study, four treatment regimes for increasing methane production through prior sludge disintegration were investigated using lab-scale cavitation generator and real sludge samples. Three different cavitating (attached cavitation regime, developed cloud shedding cavitation regime and cavitation in a wake regime) and one non-cavitating regime at elevated static pressure were studied in detail for their effectiveness on physical and chemical properties of sludge samples. Volume-weighted mean diameter D[4,3] of sludge's particles decreased by up to 92%, specific surface area increased by up to 611%, while viscosity (at a shear rate of 3.0 s-1) increased by up to 39% in the non-cavitating and decreased by up to 24% in all three cavitating regimes. Chemical changes were more pronounced in cavitating regimes, where released soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) and increase of dissolved organic matter (DOM) compounds by up to 175% and 122% were achieved, respectively. Methane production increased in all four cases, with the highest increase of 70% corresponding to 312 mL CH4 g-1 COD. However, this treatment was not particularly efficient in terms of energy consumption. The best energy balance was found for the regime with a biochemical methane potencial increase of 43%.

At-line porosity sensing for non-destructive disintegration testing in immediate release tablets

Fully automated at-line terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in transmission mode is used to measure tablet porosity for thousands of immediate release tablets. The measurements are rapid and non-destructive. Both laboratory prepared tablets and commercial samples are studied. Multiple measurements on individual tablets quantify the random errors in the terahertz results. These show that the measurements of refractive index are precise, with the standard deviation on a single tablet being about 0.002, with variation between measurements being due to small errors in thickness measurement and from the resolution of the instrument. Six batches of 1000 tablets each were directly compressed using a rotary press. The tabletting turret speed (10 and 30 rpm) and compaction pressure (50, 100 and 200 MPa) were varied between the batches. As expected, the tablets compacted at the highest pressure have far lower porosity than those compacted at the lowest pressure. The turret rotation speed also has a significant effect on porosity. This variation in process parameters resulted in batches of tablets with an average porosity between 5.5 and 26.5%. Within each batch, there is a distribution of porosity values, the standard deviation of which is in the range 1.1 to 1.9%. Destructive measurements of disintegration time were performed in order to develop a predictive model correlating disintegration time and tablet porosity. Testing of the model suggested it was reasonable though there may be some small systematic errors in disintegration time measurement. The terahertz measurements further showed that there are changes in tablet properties after storage for nine months in ambient conditions.

The impact of polymer mixture composition on the properties of electrospun membranes for drug delivery applications

Orally dispersible films (ODFs) prepared by an electrospinning are a novel type of pharmaceutical formulation. This dosage form has the potential to be beneficial for small children and the elderly, who can have problems with administration of classical tablets due to the increased risk of choking and difficulty with swallowing. Due to the highly porous nanofiber morphology, the ODFs examined in this study achieve rapid disintegration into drug microparticles when in contact with saliva. The suspension is then easier to swallow. In this study, we focus on the impact of film composition (polymer matrix composition) on the properties of electrospun membranes. In particular, we prepared ODFs composed of a mixture of PEG 100 000 with HPMC E5 and PVP k90 with HPMC E5. We found significant differences in the structure of electrospinned membranes, where samples containing PEG 100 000 and HPMC E5 exhibited much narrower distribution of fibers. Furthermore, nanofibers containing PVP k90 exhibit a faster disintegration rate, while dissolution of the drug was faster in the case of PEG 100 000 containing ODFs. The improvement was caused by both the structure and composition of the membranes.

Effect of thermal-calcium peroxide mediated exopolymer release on disperser pre-treatment for efficient anaerobic digestion

The present study aimed to improve the hydrolysis potential of paper mill sludge through a two-phase disintegration process. In Particular, attention was focused on removal of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) i.e. deflocculation of sludge in order to improve the efficiency of subsequent disperser disintegration. During deflocculation, carbohydrate, protein and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) were used as assessment parameters. During disintegration, soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) and suspended solids (SS) reduction were used as assessment index to evaluate the efficiency of disintegration. A greater EPS removal was attained while deflocculating the sludge at calcium peroxide dosage of 0.05 g/g suspended solids (SS) and at a temperature of 70 °C. When comparing the disintegrated samples, a clear variation was noted in deflocculated and disintegrated sludge (19.2%) than the disintegrated sludge alone (13.5%). This clearly shows the need for deflocculation prior to disintegration. Likewise, a higher biomethane production of 0.214 L/g COD was achieved in deflocculated and disintegrated sludge than the pretreated sludge alone. Deflocculation reduces sludge management cost from 170 USD (Disperser alone (D alone disintegration)) to 51 USD (Thermal calcium peroxide mediated-Disperser (TCaO2-D disintegration), indicating the efficiency of the proposed disintegration.

Imaging techniques for studying solid dosage formulation: Principles and applications

Classic methods for evaluating the disintegration and dissolution kinetics of solid dosage forms are no longer sufficient to meet the growing demands in the pharmaceutical field. Hence, scientists have turned to imaging techniques and computer technology to develop innovative visualization methods. These methods allow for a visual understanding of the disintegration or dissolution process and offer valuable insights into the drug release kinetics. This article aims to provide an overview of the commonly used imaging techniques and their applications in studying the disintegration or dissolution of solid dosage forms. Therefore, imaging presents a novel and alternative approach to understanding the mechanisms of disintegration and dissolution in the formulation study of solid dosages.

Bootstrap Statistics and Its Application in Disintegration and Dissolution Data Analysis

Disintegration time (DT) and rate of drug dissolution in different media are among the most widely studied crucial parameters for various types of drug products. In the ever-evolving landscape of generic formulation development, dissolution comparison of reference and test products is the major reliable in vitro method of establishing product similarity. This is one of the most widely accepted methods of proving pharma equivalency between two drug products. A well-studied match between the disintegration and dissolution profile of the test and reference formulations can ensure in vitro product similarity. Various statistical approaches have been employed to establish product performance similarity; among them, the similarity factor (f2) calculation based approach is the most widely accepted and explored method to date. However, the f2 statistics fail to predict the similarity of batches with unit-to-unit variability. Bootstrap statistical analysis of dissolution data between the test and reference products was introduced to overcome the problems associated with batches with unit variability. Bootstrap can also be applied to extract statistically significant results by treating a series of data from different batches, which can further help to understand the trend. The current review depicts different case study based approaches to show the applications of bootstrap statistics in disintegration and dissolution similarity evaluation for both conventional and additively manufactured solid dosage forms. It is concluded that bootstrap statistics can be a very promising and reliable data analytical tool for establishing in vitro product similarity for both conventional and additively manufactured formulations with a high level of intraunit variability.

Disintegration of biochar adsorbent under the hydraulic conditions of fixed bed water treatment

Recent studies have provided promising evidence for potential applications of biochar in environmental engineering, including its use as an alternative carbonaceous adsorbent for water and wastewater treatment. Carbonaceous adsorbents, such as activated carbon and biochar, are prone to disintegration and erosion due to water flow, potentially leading to the co-transport of hazardous contaminants with eroded fine particles (1 μm or smaller). Despite its significance in overall performance assessment, the stability and erodibility of biochar as an adsorbent in fixed bed water treatment have received limited research attention. This paper presents the results of a series of filtration tests and microscopic examinations to evaluate the disintegration of activated carbon and three types of biochar filters under the hydraulic conditions of fixed bed filtration. A novel testing design was employed to study the effects of fluid velocities and ionic strengths on disintegration, mass loss, and the morphology of granular adsorbents before and after water flushing. The results indicate that disintegration of both activated carbon and biochar is continuous but exhibits different behaviour with pore volume. Although fluid velocity influenced erosion rates, minimal differences were observed in overall mass loss. Ionic strength had a more pronounced impact on the erodibility and stability of particles in suspension by altering electrical conductivity and Zeta potential. Disintegration of hardwood biochar was found to be comparable to that of activated carbon; however, impurities in biochar (elements other than carbon and oxygen) are more likely to be flushed out, creating additional pathways for co-transport of contaminants.

Alkalization-induced disintegration increased redox activity of solid humic acids and its soil biogeochemical implications

Solid humic acids (HA_solid) plays a significant role in maintaining soil ecosystem services, especially in alkaline soil. The unique chemical structures and electrochemical properties are the cores that HA_solid works. In this study, the alkalization-induced variations of particle morphology, functional groups and redox activity of HA_solid were investigated and its soil biogeochemical implications were discussed. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) deflection images and zeta potential results showed that alkalization induced disintegration of HA_solid, with particle size reducing to 200 nm when pH value reached 10.0. This result suggested that HA_solid could exist in alkaline soil. AFM-IR along with fluorescence intensity of HA_solid at different pH further proved that the supramolecular aggregation of HA_solid became loose and dispersive with more redox-active functional groups exposure after alkalization, which could lead to HA_solid susceptible to degradation in alkaline soil. Conductivity of HA_solid decreased 42.86 % when pH increased from 5.0 to 10.0, while electron exchange capacity (EEC) of HA_solid increased 45.30 %, indicating the increase of redox activity of HA_solid. Increase of redox activity of HA_solid by alkalization-induced disintegration not only can accelerate organic pollutant degradation via enhancing microbial co-metabolism, but also will speed the organic carbon loss. This study contributes to a better understanding of the role of HA_solid in organic carbon stocks and fluxes of alkaline soils and has great implications for soil biogeochemical process.

In vitro comparative quality evaluation of different brands of carbamazepine tablets commercially available in Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Good-quality drugs that fulfill the regulatory parameters and are produced per the current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) standards are very critical for the best therapeutic outcomes. However, the variety of branded drugs circulation in the market often put clinicians and pharmacists in a difficult situation of choice due to the possibility of interchangeability among brands, so we should ascertain the quality of the various brands of drugs, available in the drug market. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quality and physicochemical equivalence of six brands of carbamazepine tablets that are commercially available in Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia.

METHODS

An experimental study design was used. Six different brands of carbamazepine tablets were purchased from community pharmacies in Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia, which were selected using simple random sampling methods. Identification, weight variation, friability, hardness, disintegration, dissolution test, and assay for the content of active ingredients were evaluated according to the procedures described in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and British Pharmacopeia (BP), and the results were compared with USP and BP standards. The difference (f1) and similarity (f2) factors were calculated to assess in vitro bioequivalence requirements.

RESULTS

The identification test results revealed that all samples contained the stated active pharmaceutical ingredients and all brands of carbamazepine tablets complied with the official specification for weight variation, friability, and hardness tests. The percentage concentration of carbamazepine was found in the range of 97.85 to 102.09, which met the USP specification of 92% to 108% of the stated amount. Similarly, all samples fulfilled disintegration time (i.e., ≤ 30 min) except brand CA1 (34.183 min) and dissolution tolerance limits (i.e., Q ≥ 75% at 60 min), which was found in the range of 91.673% -97.124%. The difference factor (f1) values were < 15 and the similarity factor (f2) values were > 50 for all the tested brands of carbamazepine tablets.

CONCLUSION

The present study revealed that all brands of carbamazepine 200 mg tablets met the quality control parameters as per pharmacopoeial specifications except the disintegration test of brand CA1, and could be used each brand interchangeably to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.

Enhanced in-situ liquid transport investigation setup for pharmaceutical tablet disintegration analysis using terahertz radiation

The disintegration process of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms commences on contact with the dissolution medium and continues with subsequent spontaneous imbibition of the medium in the tablet matrix. Identifying the location of the liquid front in situ during imbibition, therefore, plays a significant role in understanding and modelling the disintegration process. Terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) technology can be used to investigate this process by its ability to penetrate and identify the liquid front in pharmaceutical tablets. However, previous studies were limited to samples suitable for a flow cell environment, i.e. flat cylindrical disk shapes; thus, most commercial tablets could only be measured with prior destructive sample preparation. This study presents a new experimental setup named open immersion to measure a wide range of pharmaceutical tablets in their intact form. Besides, a series of data processing techniques to extract subtle features of the advancing liquid front are designed and utilised, effectively increasing the maximum thickness of tablets that can be analysed. We used the new method and successfully measured the liquid ingress profiles for a set of oval convex tablets prepared from a complex eroding immediate-release formulation.

Ethanol-induced dose dumping from sodium alginate matrix tablets: Investigation of the effects of medium viscosity and pH

In this work, the swelling and disintegration of drug-free sodium alginate (SA) compacts and the release of metformin HCl from SA matrix tablets were investigated in acidic media of different ethanol concentrations (0, 10, 20, and 40 % v/v), pH (1.2 and 4.5) and HPMC K4M concentrations (0-1 % w/v). The investigated dissolution media represented the consumption of different alcoholic beverages, the pH of fasted and fed states, and a range of viscosity resembling diluted homogenized FDA meal. The dissolution efficiency and the time to 50 % release (t_50%) were selected as release parameters. It was found that both ethanol concentration and medium pH affected drug release from SA matrix tablets and the swelling of SA compacts. Dose dumping occurred at high ethanol concentration (40 %) at both media pH with almost complete drug release within 15-30 min associated with rapid matrix disintegration. HPMC at 0.5-1 % concentrations increased the medium's viscosity, preventing dose dumping at high ethanol concentrations. Erosion and disintegration of SA compacts were decelerated by increasing HPMC concentration in hydroethanolic media in consonance with decreased release rate from matrix tablets. ANOVA tests showed significant effects of pH and concentrations of ethanol and HPMC in the dissolution medium on the release parameters.

The effect of pre-treatment and anaerobic digestion for pathogens reduction in agricultural utilization of sewage sludge

The aim of the research work was to explain the possibilities of application of waste activated sludge (WAS) pretreatment processes prior to anaerobic digestion (mesophilic fermentation). Hydrodynamic disintegration and freezing/thawing disintegration methods were used. Based on the microbiological and parasitological analyses, a significant decrease in pathogenic bacteria, coliphages, and parasite eggs was observed. The number of bacteria analyzed (Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens) and coliphages were reduced from 19.3to 42.3% after hydrodynamic cavitation. A similar effect was achieved for destruction by freezing/thawing with dry ice between 7.8 and 14.9%. The effectiveness of parasite eggs reduction (Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., Toxocara sp.) for these disintegration methods ranged from 10.7 to 29.3%. The highest results were observed for the hybrid disintegration method (hydrodynamic cavitation + dry ice disintegration) caused by a synergistic effect. Salmonella sp. in 1 g_d.w. decrease about 69.7%, E. coli by 70.0%, Clostridium perfringens by 38.4%, and coliphages by 48.2%. Disruption of WAS by a hybrid method led to a reduction in the number of helminth eggs Ascaris sp. (63.8%), Trichuris sp. (64.3%), and Toxocara sp. (66.4%). After anaerobic digestion under mesophilic conditions, an additional reduction of analyzed bacterial pathogens and helminth eggs were observed. The introduction of hybrid disintegrated WAS to the fermentation chamber resulted in higher efficiency in decrease (from 1 to 23%) in comparison to the control sample (70%WAS + 30%DS (inoculum-digested sludge)).

New insights into mechanism of emerging pollutant polybrominated diphenyl ether inhibiting sludge dark fermentation

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), derived from electronics, furniture, etc., are detected with high level in excess sludge (ES). In this work, the influence of PBDEs on ES dark fermentation (ESDF) hydrogen production and the related key mechanisms were explored. The result shows PBDEs exposure reduced hydrogen production, and hydrogen accumulation decreased from 17.6 mL/g in blank to 12.3 mL/g with 12.0 mg/Kg PBDEs. PBDEs induced the reactive oxygen species production, which directly led to cell inactivation and reduced hydrogen production. Furthermore, PBDEs decreased ES disintegration, hydrolysis, acidification and homoacetogenic processes and inhibited the activities of enzymes related to hydrogen production. PBDEs also affected the diversity and richness of microbial communities in dark fermentation systems, especially high doses of PBDEs reduced the relative abundance of microorganisms associated with hydrogen production. In conclusion, PBDEs reduce hydrogen generation from ES.

Enhanced biohydrogen generation through calcium peroxide engendered efficient ultrasonic disintegration of waste activated sludge in low temperature environment

Waste activated sludge is a renewable source for biohydrogen production, whereas the presence of complex biopolymers limits the hydrolysis step during this process, and thus pretreatment is required to disintegrate the sludge biomass. In this study, the feasibility of utilizing waste activated sludge to produce biohydrogen by improving the solubilization by means of thermo CaO₂ engendered sonication disintegration (TCP-US) was studied. The optimized condition for extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) dissociation was obtained at the CaO₂ dosage of 0.05 g/g SS at 70 °C. The maximum disintegration after EPS removal was achieved at the sonic specific energy input of 1612.8 kJ/kg TS with the maximum solubilization and SS reduction of 23.7% and 18.14%, respectively, which was higher than the US alone pretreatment. Thus, this solubilization yields higher biohydrogen production of 114.3 mLH₂/gCOD in TCP-US sample.

Studying the dissolution of immediate release film coating using terahertz pulsed imaging

Coated tablets introduce complexity to the dissolution process, even with readily soluble immediate release coating layers. Therefore, a more detailed understanding of the physical steps involved in the dissolution process can improve the efficiency of formulation and process design. The current study uses terahertz pulsed imaging to visualise the hydration process of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) tablet cores that were film coated with an immediate release coating formulation upon exposure to the dissolution medium. Film coated tablets that were prepared from three levels of core porosity (10%, 20% and 30%) and with coating thickness in the range of 30μm to 250μm were investigated. It was possible to resolve and quantify the distinct stages of wetting of the coating layer, swelling of the MCC particles at the core surface, and dissolution of the coating layer followed by the ingress of dissolution media into the tablet core. The liquid transport process through the coating layer was highly consistent and scalable. The penetration rate through the coating layer and the tablet core both strongly depended on coating thickness and core porosity.

Microcluster colloidosomes for hemostat delivery into complex wounds: A platform inspired by the attack action of torpedoes

Complex yet lethal wounds with uncontrollable bleeding hinder conventional hemostats from clotting blood at the source or deep sites of injury vasculature, thereby causing massive blood loss and significantly increased mortality. Inspired by the attack action of torpedoes, we synthesized microcluster (MC) colloidosomes equipped with magnetic-mediated navigation and "blast" systems to deliver hemostats into the cavity of vase-type wounds. CaCO₃/Fe₂O₃ (CF) microparticles functionalized with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) modified polyelectrolyte multilayers were co-assembled with oppositely charged zwitterionic carbon dots (CDs) to form MC colloidosomes, which were loaded with thrombin and protonated tranexamic acid (TXA-NH₃ ⁺). The composite microparticles moved against blood flow under magnetic mediation and simultaneously disassembled for the burst release of thrombin stimulated by TXA-NH₃ ⁺. The CO₂ bubbles generated during disassembly produced a "blast" that propelled thrombin into the wound cavity. Severe bleeding in a vase-type hemorrhage model in the rabbit liver was rapidly controlled within ∼60 s. Furthermore, in vivo subcutaneous muscle and liver implantation models demonstrated excellent biodegradability of MC colloidosomes. This study is the first to propose a novel strategy based on the principle of torpedoes for transporting hemostats into vase-type wounds to achieve rapid hemostasis, creating a new paradigm for combating trauma treatment.

Dispersion assisted pretreatment for enhanced anaerobic biodegradability and biogas recovery -strategies and applications

Disperser assisted homogenization is a promising mechanical based disintegration process to improve the substrate biodegradability and biogas recovery from biomass. During dispersion, the extent of liquefaction relies on the dispersion parameters and biomass properties. Hence, assessment of the optimal parameters varies with type of disperser and biomass. Dispersion assisted homogenization of some biomass such as sludge is not only studied in lab scale but also investigated in full scale plants providing positive outcome. For instance, the large-scale investigation of disperser homogenization has attained nearly 40-50 percent increment in bioenergy recovery. However, research gaps in terms of energy and cost efficiency still exists. This review paper outlines the impact of disperser parameters, its efficiency in biomass disintegration and biogas recovery. It has been proposed to combine homogenization process in the bioenergy generation to investigate the energy and cost efficiency of the entire process.

Visualising liquid transport through coated pharmaceutical tablets using Terahertz pulsed imaging

Dissolution of pharmaceutical tablets is a complex process, especially for coated tablets where layered structures form an additional barrier for liquid transport into the porous tablet matrix. A better understanding of the role of the coating structure in the mass transport processes that govern drug release, starting with the wetting of the coating layer by the dissolution medium, can benefit the formulation design and optimisation of the production. For this study, terahertz pulsed imaging was used to investigate how dissolution medium can penetrate coated tablets. In order to focus on the fundamental process, the model system for this proof-of-principle study consisted of tablet cores made from pure microcrystalline cellulose compacted to a defined porosity coated with Opadry II, a PVA-based immediate release coating blend. The coating was applied to a single side of flat-faced tablets using vacuum compression moulding. It was possible to resolve the hydration of the coating layer and the subsequent liquid ingress into the dry tablet core. The analysis revealed a discontinuity in density at the interface between coating and core, where coating polymer could enter the pore space at the immediate surface of the tablet cores during the coating process. This structure affected the liquid transport of the dissolution medium into the core. We found evidence for the formation of a gel layer upon hydration of the coating polymer. The porosity of the tablet core impacted the quality of coating and thus affected its dissolution performance (r =  0.6932 for the effective liquid penetration rate RP_eff and the core porosity). This study established a methodology and can facilitate a more in-depth understanding of the role of coating on tablet dissolution.

Disintegration Testing Augmented by Computer Vision Technology

Oral solid dosage forms, specifically immediate release tablets, are prevalent in the pharmaceutical industry. Disintegration testing is often the first step of commercialization and large-scale production of these dosage forms. Current disintegration testing in the pharmaceutical industry, according to United States Pharmacopeia (USP) chapter <701>, only gives information about the duration of the tablet disintegration process. This information is subjective, variable, and prone to human error due to manual or physical data collection methods via the human eye or contact disks. To lessen the data integrity risk associated with this process, efforts have been made to automate the analysis of the disintegration process using digital lens and other imaging technologies. This would provide a non-invasive method to quantitatively determine disintegration time through computer algorithms. The main challenges associated with developing such a system involve visualization of tablet pieces through cloudy and turbid liquid. The Computer Vision for Disintegration (CVD) system has been developed to be used along with traditional pharmaceutical disintegration testing devices to monitor tablet pieces and distinguish them from the surrounding liquid. The software written for CVD utilizes data captured by cameras or other lenses then uses mobile SSD and CNN, with an OpenCV and FRCNN machine learning model, to analyze and interpreted the data. This technology is capable of consistently identifying tablets with ≥ 99.6% accuracy. Not only is the data produced by CVD more reliable, but it opens the possibility of a deeper understanding of disintegration rates and mechanisms in addition to duration.

A case of disintegrated Strattice™ 4 years after immediate breast reconstruction

Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are used frequently in immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). In general, the porcine-derived ADM Strattice™ has been reported with good outcomes and low complication rates. Nonetheless, we report here a case of a 42-year-old, otherwise healthy woman with a history of uncomplicated bilateral prophylactic nipple-sparing mastectomies and subpectoral IBRs performed using Strattice™ and Mentor^® CPG™, who was referred to the Department of Plastic Surgery 4 years after this surgery due to changed appearance of her breast implants. Both CPG implants were found intact and there were no signs of infection but, surprisingly, the Strattice™ had completely disintegrated on both sides. Examinations did not show any malignancies, and at 1-year clinical follow-up, the patient had no signs of relapse. Thus, we suggest that the Strattice™ had disintegrated as a late aseptic foreign body reaction and emphasise the importance of surgeons being aware of this late and rare complication.

New insights into the disintegration mechanism and disintegration profiling of rapidly disintegrating tablets (RDTs) by thermal imaging

In current studies, the disintegration process of tablets has been studied by thermal imaging. The study covers two major aspects; first, new revelations in the mechanism of tablet disintegration, and second, the development of disintegration test as a multi-point test by new thermometric and non-thermometric methods. The study has been carried out on fexofenadine rapidly disintegrating tablets (FEX RDTs) in a dark room cabinet fitted with a Fluke thermal imager and using water as the disintegration medium. The studies exhibit the existence of endothermic peaks during the early penetration of water in FEX RDTs. These endotherms are prominent at the starting point when the disintegration has just started, or the tablet has been just exposed to the water. Such endotherms have not been reported earlier for tablets and can be considered as a part of the wicking mechanism during disintegration. In later stages, when the water has completely wet the tablet, the endotherms are superimposed by exotherms. The endotherms or exotherms have also been used as a measurement of disintegration in the form of a new thermometric parameter, "area under temperature curve" (AUTC). Non-thermometric disintegration profiling by residual and subtraction methods is also performed. Among these, disintegration by the residual method, i.e., disintegration (residual) is newly introduced. In the end, the principal component analysis (PCA) describes the relationship between various disintegration methods, particle size distribution, and dissolution. PCA reveals that AUTC is the best method for studying the disintegration behavior of FEX RDTs.

Production and assessment of the biodegradation and ecotoxicity of xylan- and starch-based bioplastics

Developing novel renewable (and preferably biodegradable) materials has become recurrent due to the growing concerns with environmental impacts of high volumes of plastic waste produced from oil-based sources over the past decades. This study aimed at developing bioplastics from a mixture of starch and xylan in variable ratios, and the combined effect of α-cellulose and holocellulose extracted from sugarcane bagasse added to the process. The disintegration of bioplastics was evaluated in both soil and composting. The ecotoxicity analyses with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus subtilis and seeds of Cucumis sativus were conducted after disintegration. All formulations based on 5% (w/v) of total polysaccharides were dried at 30 °C and resulted in homogeneous and non-brittle bioplastics. The composting results showed that all bioplastic formulations disintegrated in 3 days, whereas the 25/75% (xylan/starch, w/w) formulation vanished in soil within 13 days. The ecotoxicity data showed no inhibition of microbial growth after biodegradation, yielding 100% of seed germination. Despite the positive influence of the bioplastic degradation on the root and hypocotyl growth, temporary inhibition of C. sativus tissues exposed to soil washing (10 days of disintegration) was observed. The study demonstrated that xylan/starch bioplastics result in non-ecotoxic biodegradable materials.

Tablet disintegration performance: Effect of compression pressure and storage conditions on surface liquid absorption and swelling kinetics

The disintegration process of pharmaceutical tablets is a crucial step in the oral delivery of a drug. Tablet disintegration does not only refer to the break up of the interparticle bonds, but also relates to the liquid absorption and swelling behaviour of the tablet. This study demonstrates the use of the sessile drop method coupled with image processing and models to analyse the surface liquid absorption and swelling kinetics of four filler combinations (microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/mannitol, MCC/lactose, MCC/dibasic calcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA) and DCPA/lactose) with croscarmellose sodium as a disintegrant. Changes in the disintegration performance of these formulations were analysed by quantifying the effect of compression pressure and storage condition on characteristic liquid absorption and swelling parameters. The results indicate that the disintegration performance of the MCC/mannitol and MCC/lactose formulations are driven by the liquid absorption behaviour. For the MCC/DCPA formulation, both liquid absorption and swelling characteristics affect the disintegration time, whereas DCPA/lactose tablets is primarily controlled by swelling characteristics of the various excipients. The approach discussed in this study enables a rapid (<1 min) assessment of characteristic properties that are related to tablet disintegration to inform the design of the formulation, process settings and storage conditions.

Age-related disintegration in functional connectivity: Evidence from Reference Ability Neural Network (RANN) cohort

Aging is typically marked by a decline in some domains of cognition. Some theories have linked this decline to a reduction in distinctiveness of processing at the neural level that in turn leads to cognitive decline. Increasing correlations with age among tasks formerly considered independent have been posited, supporting dedifferentiation, although results have been mixed. An alternative view is that tasks become more, and not less, independent of one another with increasing age, suggesting age-related differentiation, or what has also been termed disintegration. In the current study, we investigated if the aging process leads to a loss of behavioral and neural specificity within latent cognitive abilities. To this end, we tested 287 participants (20-80 years) on a battery of 12 in-scanner tests, three each tapping one of four reference abilities. We performed between-task correlations within domain (pertaining to convergent validity), and between domain (pertaining to discriminant validity) at both the behavioral and neural level and found that neural convergent validity was positively associated with behavioral convergent validity. In examining neural validity across the lifespan, we found significant reductions in both within- and between-domain task correlations, with a significant decrease in construct validity (convergent or discriminant) with age. Furthermore, the effect of age on total cognition was significantly mediated by neural construct validity. Taken together, contrary to a hypothesis of dedifferentiation, these correlation reductions suggest that tasks indeed become more independent with advancing age, favoring a differentiation/disintegration hypothesis of aging.

An enhanced disintegration using refinery spent caustic for anaerobic digestion of refinery waste activated sludge

Alkali-mediated disintegration is efficient to improve the anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge (WAS). In the present study, the role and potential of refinery spent caustic (RSC), an alkaline hazardous waste, in enhancing the disintegration of refinery waste activated sludge (RWAS) was investigated. The high alkalinity and free ammonia of RSC destroyed the microbial cell wall and promoted the release of intracellular substances. The contents of N-acetylglucosamine and proteins in the disintegrated liquid greatly increased to 0.41 mg/L and 1147 mg/L, respectively, relative to no disintegration (0.04 mg/L and 3.3 mg/L). The methane production (66.1 mL/g-VS) from RWAS anaerobic digestion increased by 226% compared to without disintegration (20.3 mL/g-VS). This study provides a newly developed "wastes-treat-wastes" management approach of refinery wastewater using combined treatment processes for RWAS and RSC using a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly disintegration of RWAS.

Human language evolution: a view from theoretical linguistics on how syntax and the lexicon first came into being

Human language is a multi-componential function comprising several sub-functions each of which may have evolved in other species independently of language. Among them, two sub-functions, or modules, have been claimed to be truly unique to the humans, namely hierarchical syntax (known as “Merge” in linguistics) and the “lexicon.” This kind of species-specificity stands as a hindrance to our natural understanding of human language evolution. Here we challenge this issue and advance our hypotheses on how human syntax and lexicon may have evolved from pre-existing cognitive capacities in our ancestors and other species including but not limited to nonhuman primates. Specifically, we argue that Merge evolved from motor action planning, and that the human lexicon with the distinction between lexical and functional categories evolved from its predecessors found in animal cognition through a process we call “disintegration.” We build our arguments on recent developments in generative grammar but crucially depart from some of its core ideas by borrowing insights from other relevant disciplines. Most importantly, we maintain that every sub-function of human language keeps evolutionary continuity with other species’ cognitive capacities and reject a saltational emergence of language in favor of its gradual evolution. By doing so, we aim to offer a firm theoretical background on which a promising scenario of language evolution can be constructed.

Alginates as tablet disintegrants: Understanding disintegration mechanisms and defining ranges of applications

Alginates are biopolymers that have been investigated for their use in food and medical fields. Minimal information is available regarding their potential application as tablet superdisintegrants. Here we studied the disintegration action of sodium alginate (SA), calcium alginate (CA) and alginic acid (AA). Initially, we characterised the swelling and wicking abilities and the disintegration mechanism of pure disintegrants. We found that the liquid uptake of both CA and AA is more swelling-driven in phosphate buffer and more wicking-driven in hydrochloric acid and water. CA acts by shape-recovery, AA by a combination of swelling and shape-recovery mechanisms. SA cannot be used as disintegrant due to gelling. In the second part of the paper, the disintegration time of formulations with different physico-chemical properties and different alginate concentrations (i.e. 4% and 10%) was measured, thus delivering a direct readout for the ranges of application of alginates as tablets disintegrants. The main observations are: i) CA and AA often provide very rapid disintegration, similarly to the superdisintegrants used as controls; ii) the action of CA is more susceptible to the medium conditions than AA; iii) CA underperforms in hard tablets containing a binder; iv) both CA and AA have slightly slower disintegration than other superdisintegrants in tablets containing a hydrophobic component. While the suitability of CA as a disintegrant is formulation- and medium- dependent, AA appears as a promising tablet superdisintegrant, particularly for the development of uncomplicated hydrophilic formulations for the nutraceutical and supplement industry, where natural ingredients are favoured.

Advancing the understanding of the tablet disintegration phenomenon - An update on recent studies

Disintegration is the de-aggregation of particles within tablets upon exposure to aqueous fluids. Being an essential step in the bioavailability cascade, disintegration is a fundamental quality attribute of immediate release tablets. Although the disintegration phenomenon has been studied for over six decades, some gaps of knowledge and research questions still exist. Three reviews, published in 2015, 2016 and 2017, have discussed the literature relative to tablet disintegration and summarised the understanding of this topic. Yet, since then more studies have been published, adding to the established body of knowledge. This article guides a step forward towards the comprehension of disintegration by reviewing, concisely, the most recent scientific updates on this topic. Initially, we revisit the mechanisms of disintegration with relation to the three most used superdisintegrants, namely sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose sodium and crospovidone. Then, the influence of formulation, storage, manufacturing and media conditions on disintegration is analysed. This is followed by an excursus on novel disintegrants. Finally, we highlight unanswered research questions and envision future research venues in the field.

What drives us to be (ir)responsible for our health during the COVID-19 pandemic? The role of personality, thinking styles, and conspiracy mentality

The study aimed to investigate the role of personality, thinking styles, and conspiracy mentality in health-related behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e., recommended health behaviors according to COVID-19 guidelines and engagement in pseudoscientific practices related to COVID-19. Basic personality space was defined by the HEXACO model complemented by Disintegration, which represents psychotic-like experiences and behaviors reconceptualized as a personality trait. Mediation analyses conducted on a convenient sample from the general population recruited via social media and by snowballing (N = 417) showed that engagement in pseudoscientific behaviors was predicted by high Disintegration. However, this relationship was entirely mediated by high experiential and low rational thinking styles. Adherence to health practices recommended by COVID-19 guidelines was predicted by high Honesty traits, while low Disintegration had both direct and indirect effects through conspiracy mentality.

The preparation and validation of chitosan tablets that rapidly disperse and disintegrate as an oral adsorbent in the treatment of lifestyle-related diseases

A carrier and an oral absorbent for the treatment of chronic diseases in the form of a tablet was prepared from granulated chitosan (G-CS) particles. The resulting tablet was highly dispersible and disintegrated rapidly (< 30 s) in aqueous media. The non-granulated chitosan (N-CS) powder partially crystallized (2θ = 12-15° and 20°) during wet granulation to give G-CS crystalline particles. The rate of penetration of water into G-CS aggregates was markedly faster than that for N-CS aggregates, as evidenced by the ease of disintegration of the tablets. The rapid disintegration and dispersion of the tablets in vivo was confirmed by MRI measurements after the oral administration of the both tablets to rats. Some ureic toxins were adsorbed more strongly to G-CS tablets than on N-CS tablets. The results suggest that G-CS tablets have great potential for use as a fast disintegrating carrier and as an oral adsorbent in lifestyle-related diseases.

Impact of polymer type, ASD loading and polymer-drug ratio on ASD tablet disintegration and drug release

Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) has become an attractive strategy to enhance solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. To facilitate oral administration, ASDs are commonly incorporated into tablets. Disintegration and drug release from ASD tablets are thus critical for achieving the inherent solubility advantage of amorphous drugs. In this work, the impact of polymer type, ASD loading in tablet and polymer-drug ratio in ASD on disintegration and drug release of ASD tablets was systematically studied. Two hydrophilic polymers PVPVA and HPMC and one relatively hydrophobic polymer HPMCAS were evaluated. Dissolution testing was performed, and disintegration time was recorded during dissolution testing. As ASD loading increased, tablet disintegration time increased for all three polymer-based ASD tablets, and this effect was more pronounced for hydrophilic polymer-based ASD tablets. As polymer-drug ratio increased, tablet disintegration time increased for hydrophilic polymer-based ASD tablets, however, it remained short and largely unchanged for HPMCAS-based ASD tablets. Consequently, at high ASD loadings or high polymer-drug ratios, HPMCAS-based ASD tablets showed faster drug release than PVPVA- or HPMC-based ASD tablets. These results were attributed to the differences between polymer hydrophilicities and viscosities of polymer aqueous solutions. This work is valuable for understanding the disintegration and drug release of ASD tablets and provides insight to ASD composition selection from downstream tablet formulation perspective.

Unflushable or missing toilet paper, the dilemma for developing communities during the COVID-19 episode

Unlike in developed countries, most public toilets in China do not provide toilet paper onsite and users must bring their toilet paper. Moreover, an open waste bin is placed in each user's cubicle to collect used toilet paper and tissues. Such practices, which are common in East Asia and central America, have induced a dilemma of toilet paper disposal because some municipalities have removed waste bins from public toilets to prevent virus transmission by fecal matter. As a consequence, users were forced to flush down their used toilet paper and tissues. Yet, it is unknown whether standard toilet paper can be flushed easily without causing issues in sewer operations. Here, we surveyed the conditions of toilets in university campus and other public facilities in different regions across China. We also evaluated the disintegration characteristics of toilet paper products both by conducting online surveys and by physical disintegration experiments. We found that only 15% of toilets provided toilet paper, while open waste bins occurred at nearly all sites. Further, our survey indicated that 82% of toilet paper products sold in China did not give any indication on their flushability, whereas 77% of US products did. Disintegration results showed that none of the five popular, best-selling toilet paper products passed the flushability standard. We propose strategies to solve the current toilet paper dilemma in developing communities.

Oral Disintegrating Tablets - An Updated Patent Perspective

Current Development in drug delivery system has been employed with an endeavour to enhance the bioavailability of the drug, mask its taste, induce the rapid onset of action and improve patient compliance. An alternative approach to the conventional dosage form is being employed to triumph over all these issues named as Orodispersible system. Over the past three decades, this novel dosage form has gained considerable attention as compared to other conventional solid dosage forms such as tablets and capsules. ODTs dissolve or disintegrate within a few seconds or a minute when put on the tongue, without the need for water. ODT has an advantageous effect on paediatrics and geriatrics patients with dysphagia. Over the last decade, widespread advances in the formulation of ODTs have been executed in academia and industry that resulted in the emergence of a large number of patents. Products developed from ODT mechanics launched in the market in the 1980s have grown bit by bit in demand and their products are rapidly escalating. Expanding in the technology forum based on industrialization, these systems include the use of lyophilization, cotton candy, sublimation, melt extrusion and direct compression in addition to the conventional wet granulation processes and patent techniques. The present study focused on non-patent and patent citations concerning ODT along with active ingredients, techniques used and results of the innovations.

Effect of supercritical incorporation of cinnamaldehyde on physical-chemical properties, disintegration and toxicity studies of PLA/lignin nanocomposites

Poly (lactic acid)/lignin nanocomposites (PLA/Lig-Np) containing cinnamaldehyde (Ci) were obtained by a combination of melt extrusion and supercritical impregnation process. In this work, Ci impregnation tests were carried out in a high-pressure cell at 40 °C for 3 h using 12 MPa and 1 MPa min^-1 of depressurization rate, obtaining impregnation yields ranging from 5.7 to 10.8% w/w. Thermal, mechanical and colorimetric properties of the developed films were affected by the incorporation of lignin nanoparticles and the active compound, obtaining biodegradable plastic materials with a strong UV-light barrier property compared to PLA films. In addition, disintegrability tests under composting conditions confirmed the biodegradable character of nanocomposites developed. On day 23, a disintegration percentage greater than 90% was determined for all bionanocomposites. Finally, to establish the possible toxicity effect of the nanocomposites obtained, studies in vivo were performed in normal rats. Toxicity studies showed normal blood parameters after a single dose of nanocomposites. PLA/Ci/Lig-Np bionanocomposite films could be potentially applied to design biodegradable UV-light barrier materials for food packaging and biomedical applications.

Size-dependent biochar breaking under compaction: Implications on clogging and pathogen removal in biofilters

Breaking of biochar during compaction of amended soil in roadside biofilters or landfill cover can affect infiltration and pollutant removal capacity. It is unknown how the initial biochar size affects the biochar breaking, clogging potential, and contaminant removal capacity of the biochar-amended soil. We compacted a mixture of coarse sand and biochar with sizes smaller than, similar to, or larger than the sand in columns and applied stormwater contaminated with E. coli. Packing columns with biochar pre-coated with a dye and analyzing the dye concentration in the broken biochar particles eluted from the columns, we proved that biochar predominantly breaks under compaction by disintegration or splitting, not by abrasion. Increases in biochar size decrease the likelihood of biochar breaking. We attribute this result to the effective dissipation of compaction energy through a greater number of contact points between a large biochar particle and the adjacent particles. Most of the broken biochar particles are deposited in the pore spaces of the background geomedia, resulting in an exponential decrease in hydraulic conductivity of amended sand with an increase in suspended sediment loading. The clogging rate was higher in the columns with small biochar. The columns with small biochar also exhibited high E. coli removal capacity, partly because of an increase in bacterial straining at reduced pore size after compaction. These results are useful in selecting appropriate biochar size for its application in soils and roadside biofilters for stormwater treatment.

Egg white gel structure determines biochemical digestion with consequences on softening and mechanical disintegration during in vitro gastric digestion

The aim of this work was to investigate the role of biochemical digestion on softening and disintegration kinetics of pH 5 and pH 9 egg white gel (EWGs) during in vitro gastric digestion. EWG samples (5 mm length cubes) underwent in vitro digestion by incubation in simulated gastric fluid at different time intervals for up to 240 min. The hardness was measured using a Texture Analyser; softening kinetics was fit to the Weibull model. Results revealed that pH 9 EWG had the highest softening halftime (458 ± 86 min), indicating the slowest softening, whereas pH 5 EWG had the lowest softening halftime (197 ± 12 min), indicating the quickest softening. The digested samples were immediately exposed to mechanical forces generated by the human gastric simulator (HGS) for 10 min to investigate the influence of gastric juice on the breakdown behaviour of EWG cubes. The breakdown behaviour of the disintegrated samples was characterized by fitting the cumulative distributions of particle surface areas to a mixed Weibull function (R² > 0.99). The weight of fine particles (α) showed that regardless of gastric juice diffusion, the pH 5 EWG (α = 0.22 ± 0.03) disintegrated into more fine particles than those resulting from pH 9 EWG disintegration (α = 0.07 ± 0.02). As expected, the diffusion of gastric juice enhanced erosion of the EWG particles into fine particles. Result obtained from the particle surface area distribution is in good agreement with the softening kinetics of EWGs during simulated in vitro gastric phase.

Quantification of swelling characteristics of pharmaceutical particles

Particle swelling is a crucial component in the disintegration of a pharmaceutical tablet. The swelling of particles in a tablet creates stress inside the tablet and thereby pushes apart adjoining particles, eventually causing the tablet to break-up. This work focused on quantifying the swelling of single particles to identify the swelling-limited mechanisms in a particle, i.e. diffusion- or absorption capacity-limited. This was studied for three different disintegrants (sodium starch glycolate/SSG, croscarmellose sodium/CCS, and low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose/L-HPC) and five grades of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) using an optical microscope coupled with a bespoke flow cell and utilising a single particle swelling model. Fundamental swelling characteristics, such as diffusion coefficient, maximum liquid absorption ratio and swelling capacity (maximum swelling of a particle) were determined for each material. The results clearly highlighted the different swelling behaviour for the various materials, where CCS has the highest diffusion coefficient with 739.70 μm²/s and SSG has the highest maximum absorption ratio of 10.04 g/g. For the disintegrants, the swelling performance of SSG is diffusion-limited, whereas it is absorption capacity-limited for CCS. L-HPC is both diffusion- and absorption capacity-limited. This work also reveals an anisotropic, particle facet dependant, swelling behaviour, which is particularly strong for the liquid uptake ability of two MCC grades (PH101 and PH102) and for the absorption capacity of CCS. Having a better understanding of swelling characteristics of single particles will contribute to improving the rational design of a formulation for oral solid dosage forms.

Optimization and evaluation of venlafaxine hydrochloride fast dissolving oral films

Three factors, three levels (3³) full factorial design was used to develop venlafaxine HCl fast dissolving oral films (FDOFs) to optimize the concentrations of the film forming polymer; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC (X1), superdisintegrant; sodium starch glycolate SSG, (X2) and glycerol as the film plasticizer (X3). Effects of the three factors on the disintegration time (Y1), swelling index (Y2), and dissolution efficiency at 15 min; DE%15 (Y3) of the prepared FDOFs were evaluated by using statistical models. The optimized film formula was characterized in term of x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and morphological characteristics.

Disintegration time was found to increase with the increase in HPMC (X1) concentration, and the shortest disintegration time (21.67 ± 2.08 s) was observed in case of F2 formula (lowest HPMC level and highest glycerol level in absence of SSG). The highest swelling index (3.64 ± 0.59) was observed in case of film formula F1 (medium concentrations of both HPMC and glycerol and highest SSG concentration. The results also indicated that as the concentration of HPMC increased the DE%15 decreased. SSG (X2), with highest value (72.33 ± 1.71%) was recorded for in case of F12 (using 2% HPMC, 5%SSG and 1.5% glycerol). The optimized FDOF formula derived by the statistical models suggested 2% HPMC, 5% SSG, and 1% glycerol.

The data obtained from DSC and XRPD revealed no interaction between drug and FDOT excipients. In addition, XRPD studies proved that the venlafaxine HCl was homogeneously dispersed in the film matrix.

Application of percolation threshold to disintegration and dissolution of ibuprofen tablets with different microcrystalline cellulose grades

The study presented was conducted to determine whether a percolation threshold value, previously determined for ibuprofen/microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) blends using percolation theory and compression data (Queiroz et al., 2019), could translate to tablet disintegration and dissolution data. The influence of MCC grade (air stream dried versus spray dried) on tablet disintegration and dissolution was also investigated. Complementary to conventional disintegration and dissolution testing, Raman imaging determined drug distribution within tablets, and in-line particle video microscopy (PVM) and focused-beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) monitored tablet disintegration. Tablets were prepared containing 0-30% w/w ibuprofen. Raman imaging confirmed the percolation threshold by quantifying the number and equivalent circular diameters of ibuprofen domains on tablet surfaces. Across the percolation threshold, a step change in dissolution behaviour occurred, and tablets containing air stream dried MCC showed slower disintegration rates compared to tablets containing spray dried MCC. Dissolution measurements confirmed experimentally a percolation threshold in agreement with that determined using percolation theory and compression data. An increase in drug domains, due to cluster formation, and less efficient tablet disintegration contributed to slower ibuprofen dissolution above the percolation threshold. Slower dissolution was measured for tablets containing air stream dried compared to spray dried MCC.

Effect of thickener on disintegration, dissolution and permeability of common drug products for elderly patients

Dysphagia is a very common problem suffered by elderly patients. The use of thickeners during administration in these patients helps to prevent difficulties with swallowing larger solid dosage forms. However, there are several indications when the thickeners may influence disintegration and dissolution processes of solid dosage forms, potentially affecting therapeutic efficacy. In this paper the effects of a commonly used thickener on tablet disintegration, dissolution and subsequent absorption of 6 formulated drugs frequently used in elderly patients (Aspirin, Atenolol, Acenocumarol, Candesartan, Ramipril and Valsartan) in two different administration conditions (intact tablet and crushed tablet) are reported. Disintegration times were determined using a modified disintegration test device. The presence of thickener leads to a pseudoplastic behavior with clearly increased viscosity values. The thickener was also shown to significantly affect the release processes (dissolution and disintegration), but not the permeability of the studied drugs. When tablets are crushed the effect of the thickener on drug dissolution is avoided. Consequently, crushing the tablets would be a recommendation for these drugs if the use of a thickener is necessary in patients with dysphagia.

Influence of the surface tension of wet massing liquid on the functionality of microcrystalline cellulose as pelletization aid

This study designed to investigate the impact of surface tension of moistening liquid on the functionality of MCC as pelletization aid. For this purpose, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), poloxamer 188 (PL), di-potassium hydrogen phosphate (K₂HPO₄) and combinations thereof were incorporated into the powder blend comprised of MCC and dicalcium phosphate (DCP) at different levels. Physical mixture (PM) and co-processed composite (Cop) of MCC and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC) replaced MCC as pelletization aids. The pellets prepared were characterized for their median diameter (D₅₀), particle size distribution (PSD), sphericity, porosity, tensile strength and disintegration. SDS induced a drop in the surface tension of water from 68.7 to 23.7 mN/m at 0.1% (w/w). In contrast, the surface tension values of PL and K₂HPO₄ solutions were 2.08- and 3.07-fold higher than that of SDS solutions, respectively. MCC based pellets obtained with SDS showed wider PSD and lower sphericity than those made with PL, K₂HPO₄ and their combinations. In addition, the PSD and porosity increased with rise of SDS concentration from 0.05 to 0.25% (w/w). It was thus inferred that a critical surface tension of moistening liquid was essential for functionality of MCC as pelletization aid but not for PM and Cop.

Characterization of Orodispersible Films: An Overview of Methods and Introduction to a New Disintegration Test Apparatus Using LDR - LED Sensors

Orodispersible Film (ODF) is a promising and progressive dosage form that offers exceptional drug delivery benefits to patients. Indeed, they are the most transformational alternatives to traditional/conventional dosage forms such as tablets and capsules. ODFs are portable and highly comfortable for self-administration by patients with swallowing problems. The key to gain end-user acceptance is to have an ODF with outstanding quality. Poor quality may lead to choking or spitting, accordingly leading to a lack of compliance. It is vital to employ suitable experimental methodologies that facilitate characterization or determination of the quality of ODF. Nonetheless, there are no standard techniques prescribed in official compendia of any country. But, there is a consensus in the thin-film research community about the characterization techniques that one relies on deciding the quality of an ODF. We review various experimental techniques and highlight its importance in determining the performance and quality of an ODF. We provide a relatively novel and inventive disintegration test apparatus, which works using 'Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) sensors' for clear and accurate determination of start and end disintegration time of an ODF.

Multinucleated giant cells within the in vivo implantation bed of a collagen-based biomaterial determine its degradation pattern

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to characterize the cellular reaction to a xenogeneic resorbable collagen membrane of porcine origin using a subcutaneous implantation model in Wistar rats over 30 days.

Materials and methods

Ex vivo, liquid platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), a leukocyte and platelet-rich cell suspension, was used to evaluate the blood cell membrane interaction. The material was implanted subcutaneously in rats. Sham-operated rats without biomaterial displayed physiological wound healing (control group). Histological, immunohistological, and histomorphometric analyses were focused on the inflammatory pattern, vascularization rate, and degradation pattern.

Results

The membrane induced a large number of mononuclear cells over the observation period, including lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts. After 15 days, multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs) were observed on the biomaterial surface. Their number increased significantly, and they proceeded to the center of the biomaterial on day 30. These cells highly expressed CD-68, calcitonin receptor, and MMP-9, but not TRAP or integrin-ß3. Thus, the membrane lost its integrity and underwent disintegration as a consequence of the induction of MNGCs. The significant increase in MNGC number correlated with a high rate of vascularization, which was significantly higher than the control group. Physiological wound healing in the control group did not induce any MNGCs at any time point. Ex vivo blood cells from liquid-PRF did not penetrate the membrane.

Conclusion

The present study suggests a potential role for MNGCs in biomaterial degradation and questions whether it is beneficial to accept them in clinically approved biomaterials or focus on biomaterials that induce only mononuclear cells. Thus, further studies are necessary to identify the function of biomaterial-induced MNGCs.

Clinical relevance

Understanding the cellular reaction to biomaterials is essential to assess their suitability for specific clinical indications and outline the potential benefit of specific group of biomaterials in the respective clinical indications.

Impact of additive application on the establishment of fast and stable aerobic granulation

Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is a microbial biofilm self-aggregation, which is effective for nutrient and pollutant removal, through the development of dense microbial layers bound together with extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). However, long start-up times and granule disintegration are still challenges ahead. An array of external additives, including ion chelating agents, sludge-based enhancers, and magnetic influence have been tested to overcome these barriers. The application of such additives may promote enhanced EPS production, neutralization of charges on the bacterial surface, acts as a core-induced agent, or as a bridge to connect EPSs and cell surfaces. Although additives may improve the granule formation without reducing treatment efficiencies, there are still environmental concerns due to the fate and toxicity of discharged excess sludge. This mini-review identifies an array of external additives and their mechanisms to improve granulation properties, and proposes discussion about the technical and economic viability of these additives. KEY POINTS: • Additives reduce granulation time and repair granule disintegration. • Biopolymer-based additives fulfill technical and environmental requirements. • Sludge-based additives are cheap and in line with the resource recovery concept. • The need for environmental-friendly additives for aerobic granular sludge process. • External additives affect granular biomass size distribution.

Simultaneous investigation of the liquid transport and swelling performance during tablet disintegration

Fast disintegrating tablets have commonly been used for fast oral drug delivery to patients with swallowing difficulties. The different characteristics of the pore structure of such formulations influence the liquid transport through the tablet and hence affect the disintegration time and the release of the drug in the body. In this work, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and terahertz pulsed imaging were used as promising analytical techniques to quantitatively analyse the impact of the structural properties on the liquid uptake and swelling rates upon contact with the dissolution medium. Both the impact of porosity and formulation were investigated for theophylline and paracetamol based tablets. The drug substances were either formulated with functionalised calcium carbonate (FCC) with porosities of 45% and 60% or with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with porosities of 10% and 25%. The terahertz results reveal that the rate of liquid uptake is clearly influenced by the porosity of the tablets with a faster liquid transport observed for tablets with higher porosity, indicating that the samples exhibit structural similarity in respect to pore connectivity and pore size distribution characteristics in respect to permeability. The swelling of the FCC based tablets is fully controlled by the amount of disintegrant, whereas the liquid uptake is driven by the FCC material and the interparticle pores created during compaction. The MCC based formulations are more complex as the MCC significantly contributes to the overall tablet swelling. An increase in swelling with increasing porosity is observed in these tablets, which indicates that such formulations are performance-limited by their ability to take up liquid. Investigating the effect of the microstructure characteristics on the liquid transport and swelling kinetics is of great importance for reaching the next level of understanding of the drug delivery, and, depending on the surface nature of the pore carrier function, in turn controlling the performance of the drug mainly in respect to dissolution in the body.

Enhanced hydrogen production from food waste dark fermentation by potassium ferrate pretreatment

Hydrogen generation from food waste anaerobic dark fermentation is identified as a promising strategy for resource recovery. In this work, an innovative strategy of using potassium ferrate (PF), a strong oxidant, to promote anaerobic dark fermentation of food waste to produce hydrogen has been reported. The experimental results revealed that PF enhanced the hydrogen production from food waste, the maximal hydrogen yield was 173.5 mL/g, and the optimal PF dosage was 0.4 g/g total suspended solids. PF shortened the lag phase for hydrogen generation from 120 to 96 h. Mechanisms investigation revealed that PF accelerated the disintegration of organic compounds and increased the soluble organic matter in the liquid phase. The strong oxidation of PF inhibited the processes of hydrolysis, acidification, acetogenesis, homoacetogenesis, and methanogenesis by using synthetic wastewater in the fermentation process. The inhibition of PF on these processes was further verified by the enzyme activity analysis. Economic analysis indicated that 0.1 g/g PF was the optimal dosage. PF treatment is a promising strategy to enhance the production of hydrogen from food waste dark fermentation.