Formulation of ranitidine pellets by extrusion-spheronization with little or no microcrystalline cellulose

The present study was concerned with the feasibility of formulating ranitidine into pellets with a range of alternative excipients in place of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Eight ranitidine formulations employing two or more of the excipients lactose, barium sulfate, glyceryl monostearate, and MCC were processed by extrusion-spheronization, and characterized according to a series of physico-mechanical and dissolution criteria. Formulations containing lactose produced unsatisfactory pellets of wide size distribution and irregular shape, whereas formulations incorporating barium sulfate and glyceryl monostearate with or without MCC resulted in relatively spherical pellets of narrow size distribution and good mechanical properties. Ranitidine release was found to be rapid and virtually complete within 15 min, regardless of the pellet formulation. A direct relationship was observed between the concentration of MCC in the formulation and the properties of the pellets. In general, the higher the concentration of MCC, the rounder, stronger, and less friable the pellets. However, even pellets without MCC were also successfully prepared with a superior size distribution and shape over those with MCC. Overall, these results confirm that ranitidine can be formulated into pellet dosage forms with little or no MCC by the extrusion-spheronization process.