Tableting of coated ketoprofen pellets

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Materials Science

Background:

• Designing oral dosage forms with controlled release is crucial for therapeutic efficacy.
• Ketoprofen pellets require robust formulation strategies to ensure integrity and predictable drug release.
• Challenges exist in formulating multi-particulate systems into tablets without compromising core integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop rapidly disintegrating tablets containing ketoprofen pellets or microcapsules.
• To optimize tablet formulation for rapid disintegration and intact pellet release.
• To evaluate the protective role of membrane coating during tablet compression.

Main Methods:

• Ketoprofen pellets prepared via extrusion-spheronization and coated with guar gum/Eudragit NE.
• Tablets formulated using Avicel PH101, lactose DT, and magnesium stearate with coated pellets or microcapsules.
• Placebo spheres (Avicel PH101, lactose DT) produced for improved blending and content uniformity.
• Compression force optimization and evaluation of excipient effects on tablet properties and drug release.

Main Results:

• Placebo spheres enhanced tablet content uniformity and reduced disintegration time.
• Excluding magnesium stearate improved tensile strength without sticking issues.
• Placebo pellets caused significant damage to drug microcapsules due to hardness.
• Membrane coating's protective role during compression was evaluated.

Conclusions:

• Placebo spheres are effective in improving the quality of ketoprofen-loaded tablets.
• Formulation strategies involving placebo spheres can enhance drug content uniformity and disintegration.
• Careful selection of excipients and understanding compression mechanics are vital for multi-particulate tablet design.