Effect of geometric factors on hydration kinetics of theophylline anhydrate tablets

The effect of tablet thickness on the hydration kinetics of types I and II theophylline anhydrate tablets at 95% relative humidity and 35 degrees C was studied with various kinetic equations. Samples of 1- and 2-cm-diameter tablets (1 g) were compressed at 1000 kg/cm2. Types I and II tablets expanded by 11-17% in volume during hydration to the monohydrate. The thickness expansion of all tablets exceeded the diameter expansion. After the hygroscopicity test, the final expansion ratio of type I tablets was more than that of type II tablets. The hydration kinetics analysis suggested that the hydration of theophylline anhydrate tablets proceeds as follows: Hydration of the 1-cm-diameter type I tablet followed the two-dimensional phase boundary equation, and that of the 1-cm-diameter type II tablet followed the three-dimensional phase boundary equation, but those of the 2-cm-diameter types I and II tablets followed the equation for two-dimensional growth of nuclei. The hydration kinetics of tablets does not depend on the nature of bulk powder but on geometrical factors (tablet thickness and porosity).