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Published on: August 9, 2022
Crystal morphology engineering of pharmaceutical solids: tabletting performance enhancement
Sabiruddin Mirza1, Inna Miroshnyk, Jyrki Heinämäki
1Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. sabir.mirza@helsinki.fi
Abstract:
Crystal morphology engineering of a macrolide antibiotic, erythromycin A dihydrate, was investigated as a tool for tailoring tabletting performance of pharmaceutical solids. Crystal habit modification was induced by using a common pharmaceutical excipient, hydroxypropyl cellulose, as an additive during crystallization from solution. Observed morphology of the crystals was compared with the predicted Bravais-Friedel-Donnay-Harker morphology. An analysis of the molecular arrangements along the three dominant crystal faces [(002), (011), and (101)] was carried out using molecular simulation and thus the nature of the host-additive interactions was deduced. The crystals with modified habit showed improved compaction properties as compared with those of unmodified crystals. Overall, the results of this study proved that crystal morphology engineering is a valuable tool for enhancing tabletting properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients and thus of utmost practical value.
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