title: Effect of microcrystalline cellulose grade and process variables on pellets prepared by extrusion-spheronization.
abstract: This study evaluated the effects of spheronizer load and speed on the size, circularity, microporosity, compressibility, and friability of pellets prepared by extrusion-spheronization of wet microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) masses with a water content shown by mixer torque rheometry to ensure maximum consistency. Two MCC grades with different mean particle size were used. Both gave pellets with good particle size, sphericity, and compressibility, under a wide range of spheronization conditions. Modification of pellet properties of interest (including size and porosity) was possible by adjustment of spheronization conditions and MCC grade; in particular, pellet porosity was greater with MCC of larger particle size.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Concheiro
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gómez-Amoza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez-Pacheco
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000737:chemistry*; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D012212:Rheology; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical; D019415:Torque
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005079:Excipients; D002482:Cellulose; C109691:microcrystalline cellulose