Conversion of PLGA nanoparticle suspensions into solid dosage forms via fluid bed granulation and tableting

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Polymeric nanoparticles enhance the performance of poorly soluble drugs.
• Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles are suitable for oral delivery of porphyrin derivatives for photodynamical therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate fluid bed granulation and tableting for converting PLGA nanoparticle suspensions into solid dosage forms.
• To assess nanoparticle recovery and properties after processing and redispersion.

Main Methods:

• Fluid bed granulation and tableting of PLGA nanoparticle suspensions.
• Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) for nanoparticle characterization.
• Design of Experiments (DoE) to optimize formulation and process parameters.

Main Results:

• Fluid bed granulation efficiently dries nanoparticle suspensions into granules.
• Critical parameters for granulation include suspension concentration and spray rate/atomization pressure ratio.
• Tableting with sufficient filler and low compression forces maintained nanoparticle size and recovery.

Conclusions:

• Conventional granulation and tableting are viable for creating solid dosage forms from PLGA nanoparticles.
• Optimized process parameters ensure nanoparticle integrity and redispersibility.
• This approach facilitates the development of oral drug delivery systems for poorly soluble compounds.