Characterization of tableting properties measured with a multi-functional compaction instrument for several pharmaceutical excipients and actual tablet formulations.

Here at Gamlen we are highlighting some of the fascinating and ground-breaking research that has been carried out by our customers in our Paper of the Month posts.

Users of our Dashboard analysis software will be familiar with the tensile fracture stress vs ejection stress graph we include in our standard reports. For this month’s paper of the month, we are spotlighting the paper which inspired this addition to our software. Here the authors demonstrate how this graph can be used as a tool to optimise formulations and how Gamlen data can be used to predict tableting behaviour.

Here the authors demonstrate how this graph can be used as a tool to optimise formulations and how Gamlen data can be used to predict tableting behaviour
  • The authors aimed to evaluate tableting properties using by using a bench-top single-punch tablet press (Gamlen).
  • To represent the results visually, they generated a plot, with tensile fracture stress on the x-axis and ejection stress on the y-axis. This plot was divided into four regions. Formulations in region I display high tensile strength but low ejection stress so are unlikely to result in tablet failures. Region II formulations will likely have issues with low tablets hardness, while region III blends are poorly lubricated (high ejection stress values). And finally region IV formulations are likely to display low tablet hardness and poor lubrication problems.
  • Using losartan potassium as an API, the authors investigated the tableting properties of a variety of formulations. They tracked the impact of these variations on tableting behaviour using the graph described.

CONCLUSION

Gamlen results were found to be predictive of tableting behaviour.The Gamlen can therefore be utilised to select excipient type, quantity, and manufacturing conditions.

This data will allow the user to “design tablets with fewer failures during manufacture”.