title: Pectinic acid, a novel excipient for production of pellets by extrusion/spheronisation: preliminary studies.
abstract: A very low soluble pectin-derivative (pectinic acid, degree of methoxylation 4%) was found to be well suited as an excipient for pelletisation by extrusion/spheronisation. Formulations containing pectinic acid and lactose in the following ratios were evaluated: 99/1, 80/20, 50/50 and 20/80. The capacity as an extrusion aid was found to be high; even formulations containing only 20% pectinic acid resulted in nearly spherical pellets. All pectinic acid pellets were mechanically stable, had an aspect ratio of approximately 1.15-1.20 and released 30-60% of a low solubility model drug within 15 min both in simulated gastric acid (0.1M HCl) and intestinal fluid (phosphate buffer pH 6.8).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, PO Box 1068, Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway. ingunn.tho@farmasi.uio.no
authors.forename: Ingunn
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tho
authors.forename: Sverre Arne
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sande
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kleinebudde
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry*; D008863:Microspheres; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005079:Excipients; D010368:Pectins