title: Investigation of the pellet-distribution in single tablets via image analysis.
abstract: The influence of five different microcrystalline cellulose filler-binders on the pellet-distribution in tablets was investigated under production-scale conditions. Coloured coated pellets were tableted on an instrumented high speed rotary tablet press at four machine speed levels. The pellet-distribution on the upper and the lower tablet surfaces was detected via image analysis and correlated with the disintegration time and the crushing strength of the tablets. Filler-binders with a large surface area and a fibrous texture, like Avicel PH 101, enable the production of disintegrating tablets with an approximately homogeneous pellet-distribution within a large range of machine speeds, while pellet-containing tablets prepared with coarse microcrystalline cellulose granules showed an inhomogeneous pellet-distribution, depending on machine speed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krumme
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D019245:Compressive Strength; D003460:Crystallization; D004343:Drug Implants; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D013607:Tablets