Silicified microcrystalline cellulose from renewable banana pseudostem: Physicochemical and functional analysis

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has been isolated from numerous sources through acid hydrolysis of mercerized cellulose. Due to the fibrous shape, its poor flow ability and lower compactibility, MCC is often co-processed with other excipients to improve its functional properties. Musa MCC was isolated from the pseudostem of Musa balbisiana and silicified with 2 % silicon dioxide (SMCC) through homogenization followed by filtration and oven drying. Both Musa MCC and SMCC were thoroughly characterized through FTIR, SEM- EDS, XRD, and TGA-DTG analysis. Detailed pharmaceutical functional properties including packing and rearrangement, consolidation, compressibility, compactibility and tabletability were also investigated and compared against the standard commercial grade MCC. While the percent crystallinity was reduced by silicification, there was enhanced resistance to thermal degradation. By reducing the internal friction, silicification was able to decrease the cohesiveness and improve the flow property of MCC. From Heckel plot and the yield pressure obtained, silicification reduces the extent of plastic deformation of MCC. However, silicification successfully improved the compactibity, tabletability and manufacturability of the Musa MCC. Results from these analyses show that the pseudostem of M balbisiana is a potential sustainable source of highly functional MCC and the silicification process improved the compactibility and tabletability of the MCC.