title: Advanced surface chemical analysis of continuously manufactured drug loaded composite pellets.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to develop and characterise polymeric composite pellets by means of continuous melt extrusion techniques. Powder blends of a steroid hormone (SH) as a model drug and either ethyl cellulose (EC N10 and EC P7 grades) or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC AS grade) as polymeric carrier were extruded using a Pharma 11mm twin screw extruder in a continuous mode of operation to manufacture extruded composite pellets of 1mm length. Molecular modelling study using commercial Gaussian 09 software outlined a possible drug-polymer interaction in the molecular level to develop solid dispersions of the drug in the pellets. Solid-state analysis conducted via a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hot stage microscopy (HSM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analyses revealed the amorphous state of the drug in the polymer matrices. Surface analysis using SEM/energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) of the produced pellets arguably showed a homogenous distribution of the C and O atoms in the pellet matrices. Moreover, advanced chemical surface analysis conducted via atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed a homogenous phase system having the drug molecule dispersed onto the amorphous matrices while Raman mapping confirmed the homogenous single-phase drug distribution in the manufactured composite pellets. Such composite pellets are expected to deliver multidisciplinary applications in drug delivery and medical sciences by e.g. modifying drug solubility/dissolutions or stabilizing the unstable drug (e.g. hormone, protein) in the composite network.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, UK.
authors.forename: Akter
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB, UK.
authors.forename: Uttom
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutics Department, H.K. College of Pharmacy, Relief Road, Oshiwara, Jogeshwari West, Mumbai 400102, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Ritesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fule
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy (Chemistry), School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QJ, UK; Drug Applied Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: A.Nokhodchi@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nokhodchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy (Chemistry), School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QJ, UK. Electronic address: M.Maniruzzaman@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maniruzzaman
mesh_terms: D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000737:chemistry; D065546:Drug Liberation; D006728:Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008958:Models, Molecular; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013256:Steroids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013499:Surface Properties; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D004343:Drug Implants; D006728:Hormones; D013256:Steroids; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Amorphous; Composite; Continuous manufacturing; Ethyl cellulose; Steroid hormone; Surface analysis