Measurement of the percentage volume particle size distribution of powdered microcrystalline cellulose using reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy

This is the first reported method for determining the percentage volume particle size distribution of a powder (microcrystalline cellulose) by near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy. A total of 113 samples of powdered microcrystalline cellulose were used from six different commercially available grades, with different moisture contents (range: 0.9-4.8% m/m). NIR reflectance measurements of these samples were made in narrow soda glass vials. Reference particle size data for the samples were acquired by laser diffraction. The NIR data were then calibrated to measure particle size by partial least squares regression. The effects of a range of different NIR data pre-treatments on calibration and prediction precision were investigated. Overall, simple absorbance data were found to produce regression models with the best predictive ability (root mean square error of prediction = 0.90%). The method was also found to be insensitive to moisture content.     

Measurement of the cumulative particle size distribution of microcrystalline cellulose using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

The cumulative particle size distribution of microcrystalline cellulose, a widely used pharmaceutical excipient, was determined using near infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy. Forward angle laser light scattering measurements were used to provide reference particle size values corresponding to different quantiles and then used to calibrate the NIR data. Two different chemometric methods, three wavelength multiple linear regression and principal components regression (three components), were compared. For each method, calibration equations were produced at each of eleven quantiles (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95%). NIR predicted cumulative frequency particle-size distributions were calculated for each of the calibration samples (n = 34) and for an independent test set (n = 23). The NIR procedure was able to predict those obtained via forward angle laser light scattering.     

Influence of tabletting speed on compactibility and compressibility of two direct compressible powders under high speed compression

To examine the influence of tabletting speed on compactibility and compressibility under high speed compression, two direct compressible powders, alpha-lactose monohydrate and microcrystalline cellulose of different particle size ranges were compressed using an instrumented rotary press with varying tabletting speed and compression force. The maximum applied force and total time during compression (contact time) were determined from a time-force profile, and the relation between these parameters and properties of compacts was examined. For all lactose tablets, the porosity and tensile strength of compacts were less affected by compression rate though they depended on the applied force. However, the properties of microcrystalline cellulose tablets were varied depending on the tabletting speed in addition to the applied force. In an attempt to quantitatively evaluate the effect of compression rate on the compactibility, an empirical equation was derived from the numerical analysis of the experimental data. The compactibility parameters deduced from the equation well elucidated the effect of tabletting speed on the properties of microcrystalline cellulose tablets and lactose tablets made of various particle size powders.     

中药口服固体制剂原辅料近红外光谱数据库的构建及应用

建立了中药口服固体制剂原辅料近红外(NIR)光谱数据库,采用模式识别方法研究了NIR光谱数据在物料分类和物性预测中的应用。使用便携式近红外光谱仪快速测量149批原辅料粉末的NIR漫反射光谱数据,并录入iTCM数据库。利用主成分分析(PCA)法探究NIR光谱数据对已知结构物料的分类能力,采用偏最小二乘(PLS)法研究了NIR光谱对原辅料物性参数和直接压片片剂性能的预测能力。经标准正态变量变换(SNV)+Savitzky-Golay(SG)平滑+一阶导数处理后的NIR光谱数据对微晶纤维素、乳糖、乙基纤维素、交联聚维酮和羟丙基甲基纤维素这5类辅料的区分能力较好。NIR光谱数据与原辅料粉末粒径、密度和吸湿性的相关性较强。NIR光谱信息作为物料物理性质的补充,可提高粉末直接压片片剂性能预测模型的性能。NIR光谱数据是iTCM数据库物性参数数据的补充,物性参数与NIR光谱数据的结合能更全面地表征原辅料的性质。     

Preparation of rapidly disintegrating tablet using new types of microcrystalline cellulose (PH-M series) and low substituted-hydroxypropylcellulose or spherical sugar granules by direct compression method

To decrease the sensation of roughness when a tablet, which is rapidly disintegrated by saliva (rapidly disintegrating tablet), is orally taken, we prepared rapidly disintegrating tablets using microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH-M series), a new type of pharmaceutical excipient that is spherical and has a very small particle size (particle size, 7-32 microm), instead of conventional microcrystalline cellulose (PH-102) used in the formulation of tablets containing acetaminophen or ascorbic acid as model drugs for tableting study. Tablets (200 mg) prepared using spherical microcrystalline cellulose, PH-M-06, with the smallest particle size (mean value, 7 microm) had sufficient crushing tolerance (approximately, 8 kg) and were very rapidly, disintegrated (within 15 s) when the mixing ratio of PH-M-06 to low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose (L-HPC) was 9:1. Sensory evaluation by volunteers showed that PH-M-06 was superior to PH-102 in terms of the feeling of roughness in the mouth. Consequently, it was found that particle size is an important factor for tablet preparation using microcrystalline cellulose. It is possible to prepare drugs such as acetaminophen and ascorbic acid (concentration of approximately 50%) in the tablet form using PH-NM-06 in combination with L-HPC as a good disintegrant at a low compression force (1-6 kN). To solve the problem of poor fluidity in the preparation of these tablets, we investigated the use of spherical sugar granules (Nonpareil, NP-101 (sucrose and starch, composition ratio of 7:3), NP-103 (purified sucrose), NP-107 (purified lactose) and NP-108 (purified D-mannitol)). Rapidly disintegrating tablets can be prepared by the direct compression method when suitable excipients such as fine microcrystalline cellulose (PH-M-06) and spherical sugar granules (NP) are used.     

Near-infrared mass median particle size determination of lactose monohydrate, evaluating several chemometric approaches

The influence of particle size on near-infra red (NIR) spectra is typically considered a 'nuisance factor' which many scatter correction methods attempt to eliminate, e.g., multiplicative scatter correction. However, particle size is a key issue in the formulation of many pharmaceutical products and has a profound effect on the behaviour of both raw materials and drug substances during formulation. NIR has already been demonstrated as a potential alternative particle sizing technique to current accepted methodology. This investigation assessed several chemometric approaches that model this information, using lactose monohydrate as the raw material. A variety of modelling techniques were applied to both zero order and second derivative spectra namely multiple linear regression, partial least squares, principal component regression and artificial neural networks. One further data transformation evaluated was polar coordinates, although no statistical data were generated. Typically, cross-validation root mean square errors of calibration and cross-validation root mean square errors of prediction of approximately 5 microns were calculated for all of the modelling techniques. These values are comparable to those associated with the reference technique (laser diffractometry). Correlation coefficients of approximately 0.98 for all techniques were also calculated. The predictive abilities for models generated using second derivative spectra were found to be comparable to those obtained using zero order spectra.     

Validity of particle size analysis techniques for measurement of the attrition that occurs during vacuum agitated powder drying of needle-shaped particles

Analysis of needle-shaped particles of cellobiose octaacetate (COA) obtained from vacuum agitated drying experiments was performed using three particle size analysis techniques: laser diffraction (LD), focused beam reflectance measurements (FBRM) and dynamic image analysis. Comparative measurements were also made for various size fractions of granular particles of microcrystalline cellulose. The study demonstrated that the light scattering particle size methods (LD and FBRM) can be used qualitatively to study the attrition that occurs during drying of needle-shaped particles, however, for full quantitative analysis, image analysis is required. The algorithm used in analysis of LD data assumes the scattering particles are spherical regardless of the actual shape of the particles under evaluation. FBRM measures a chord length distribution (CLD) rather than the particle size distribution (PSD), which in the case of needles is weighted towards the needle width rather than their length. Dynamic image analysis allowed evaluation of the particles based on attributes of the needles such as length (e.g. the maximum Feret diameter) or width (e.g. the minimum Feret diameter) and as such, was the most informative of the techniques for the analysis of attrition that occurred during drying.     

Computer simulation of agglomeration in the Wurster process.

A simplified model for computer simulation of agglomeration in the Wurster coating process was constructed using droplet size distribution and the relation between the size of agglomerates and the number of primary particles composing them experimentally determined. Computer simulations were applied to the cases where a 2.5% aqueous solution of hydroxypropyl cellulose (containing sodium carboxymethyl cellulose of 10% on a dry basis) was sprayed on four kinds of sharply fractionized lactose powders between 32 and 75 microns. With cores larger than 53 microns, the agitation exerted on particles strongly suppressed the growth of agglomerates, but the fraction of produced agglomerates reached about 50%. The smallest droplet size that was contributable to agglomeration (critical droplet size) was estimated to be 37.1-49.0 microns, increasing with core size, and the weight fraction of droplets larger than this critical size was only 0.5-2.7%, decreasing with increase in core size. The production of even such a minor amount of coarse droplets could be responsible for significant agglomeration.     

Sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate

In the present work, the thermal decomposition of sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate (SBT) (an appetite suppressant agent) was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG). Solid-state characterization was carried out by diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). Isothermal and non-isothermal methods were employed to determine the kinetic data of decomposition process. From isothermal experiments, activation energy (Ea) can be obtained from slope of ln t versus 1/T, and the value obtained was 96.06 and 101.43 kJ mol⁻¹ in N₂ and air atmospheres, respectively. For non-isothermal method Ea can be obtained from plot of logarithms of heating rates, as a function of inverse of temperature, resulting in a value of 96.56 and 98.22 kJ mol⁻¹ in N₂ and air atmospheres, respectively. The compatibilities of several commonly used pharmaceutical excipients (microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, colloidal silicon dioxide, lactose monohydrate) and empty hard-gelatin capsules with SBT were evaluated using DSC. The 1:1 physical mixtures of these excipients with SBT showed physical interaction of the drug with magnesium stearate. On the other hand, DRIFT results did not evidence any chemical modifications.     

Risperidone/Randomly Methylated β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex—Compatibility Study with Pharmaceutical Excipients

Risperidone (RSP) is an atypical antipsychotic drug used in treating schizophrenia, behavioral, and psychological symptoms of dementia and irritability associated with autism. The drug substance is practically insoluble in water and exhibits high lipophilicity. It also presents incompatibilities with pharmaceutical excipients such as magnesium stearate, lactose, and cellulose microcrystalline. RSP encapsulation by randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RM-β-CD) was performed in order to enhance drug solubility and stability and improve its biopharmaceutical profile. The inclusion complex formation was evaluated using thermal methods, powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), universal-attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (UATR-FTIR), UV spectroscopy, and saturation solubility studies. The 1:1 stoichiometry ratio and the apparent stability constant of the inclusion complex were determined by means of the phase solubility method. The compatibility between the supramolecular adduct and pharmaceutical excipients starch, anhydrous lactose, magnesium stearate, and cellulose microcrystalline was studied employing thermoanalytical tools (TG-thermogravimetry/DTG-derivative thermogravimetry/HF-heat flow) and spectroscopic techniques (UATR-FTIR, PXRD). The compatibility study reveals that there are no interactions between the supramolecular adduct with starch, magnesium stearate, and cellulose microcrystalline, while incompatibility with anhydrous lactose is observed even under ambient conditions. The supramolecular adduct of RSP with RM-β-CD represents a valuable candidate for further research in developing new formulations with enhanced bioavailability and stability, and the results of this study allow a pertinent selection of three excipients that can be incorporated in solid dosage forms.     

Real-time monitoring of powder mixing in a convective blender using non-invasive reflectance NIR spectrometry

A convective blender based on a scaled down version of a high shear mixer-granulator was used to produce binary mixtures of microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) and aspirin, citric acid, aspartame or povidone. Spectra of stationary Avicel or aspirin powder provided an indication of the information depth achieved with the NIR spectrometer used in the study, and confirmed previously reported effects of particle size and wavenumber. However, it was demonstrated that for 10% w/w aspirin in Avicel, the information depth at the C-H second overtone of aspirin (about 2.4 mm) was unaffected by changes in the particle size of aspirin and was determined by the major component. By making non-invasive NIR measurements as powders were mixed, it was possible to illustrate differences in the mixing characteristics of aspirin, citric acid, aspartame or povidone with Avicel, which were related to differences in the cohesive properties of the particles. Mixing profiles based on second overtone signals were better for quantitative analysis than those derived from first overtone measurements. It was also demonstrated that the peak-to-peak noise of the mixing profile obtained from the second overtone of aspirin changed linearly with the particle size of aspirin added to Avicel. Hence, measurement of the mixing profile in real time with NIR spectrometry provided simultaneously the opportunity to study the dynamics of powder mixing, make quantitative measurements and monitor possible changes in particle size during blending.     

Coupled acid and enzyme mediated production of microcrystalline cellulose from corn cob and cotton gin waste

Microcrystalline cellulose has applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and other industries. Most microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is produced from dissolving pulp using concentrated acids. We investigated steam explosion treatment of corn cobs and cotton gin waste for the production of microcrystalline cellulose. The corn cob was converted into a coarse brown powder after steam explosion and the lignin and residual hemicellulose fractions were extracted respectively with sodium hydroxide solution and water. The residual cellulose was readily bleached with hydrogen peroxide and converted to microcrystalline cellulose using hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and cellulase enzyme preparation. The resulting microcrystalline cellulose samples had properties that were similar to commercial microcrystalline cellulose. Similarly, cotton gin waste was steam exploded and converted into microcrystalline cellulose, but this material was more difficult to bleach using hydrogen peroxide. The degree of polymerization for the MCC samples ranged from 188.6 to 549.8 compared to 427.4 for Avicel PH101 MCC.     

Compatibility study between chitosan and pharmaceutical excipients used in solid dosage forms

Microcrystalline cellulose is an excipient widely used in solid dosage forms as adsorbent, suspending agent, diluent, and disintegrant, depending on the percentage employed in the formulation. The structural similarity between cellulose and chitosan and the ecological advantage in the manufacturing process of chitosan have justified and reinforced the study of this polysaccharide as a novel pharmaceutical excipient. Nevertheless, it still does not appear to be present as constituent in any marketed medicine due to the absence of regulatory hurdles to standardize its physicochemical and functional specifications as well as its compatibility with other formulation ingredients. The physical compatibilities between chitosan and the most excipients used in solid dosage forms, such as diluents (microcrystalline cellulose, starch, lactose monohydrate, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, and calcium carbonate), disintegrants (sodium starch glycolate, and croscarmellose sodium), and glidants (magnesium stearate, talc, sodium lauryl sulfate, and colloidal silicon dioxide), were studied by thermal analysis and FT-IR. In order to facilitate the IR spectra interpretations, an ad hoc algorithm was used to generate theoretical spectra to be compared with the respective experimental ones. Chitosan proved to be physically compatible with microcrystalline cellulose, starch, lactose, sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose sodium, talc, colloidal silicon dioxide, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Moreover, chitosan raises the thermal stability of cellulose from 310 to 330 °C. Once the amino groups of chitosan were able to form coordination complexes with divalent cations of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, calcium carbonate, and magnesium stearate, they were considered incompatible with chitosan.     

Effect of Physicochemical Characteristics of Cellulosic Substrates on Enzymatic Hydrolysis by Means of a Multi-Stage Process for Cellobiose Production

The effect of two types of cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and paper pulp, on enzymatic hydrolysis for cellobiose production was investigated. The particle size, the relative crystallinity index and the water retention value were determined for both celluloses. A previously studied multistage hydrolysis process that proved to enhance the cellobiose production was studied with both types of celluloses. The cellobiose yield exhibited a significant improvement (120% for the microcrystalline cellulose and 75% for the paper pulp) with the multistage hydrolysis process compared to continuous hydrolysis. The conversion of cellulose to cellobiose was greater for the microcrystalline cellulose than for the paper pulp. Even with high crystallinity, microcrystalline cellulose achieved the highest cellobiose yield probably due to its highest specific surface area accessible to enzymes and quantity of adsorbed protein.     

Using near-infrared overtone regions to determine biodiesel content and adulteration of diesel/biodiesel blends with vegetable oils

This work evaluates the use of near-infrared (NIR) overtone regions to determine biodiesel content, as well potential adulteration with vegetable oil, in diesel/biodiesel blends. For this purpose, NIR spectra (12,000–6300 cm⁻¹) were obtained using three different optical path lengths: 10 mm, 20 mm and 50 mm. Two strategies of regression with variable selection were evaluated: partial least squares (PLS) with significant regression coefficients selected by Jack-Knife algorithm (PLS/JK) and multiple linear regression (MLR) with wavenumber selection by successive projections algorithm (MLR/SPA). For comparison, the results obtained by using PLS full-spectrum models are also presented. In addition, the performance of models using NIR (1.0 mm optical path length, 9000–4000 cm⁻¹) and MIR (UATR – universal attenuated total reflectance, 4000–650 cm⁻¹) spectral regions was also investigated. The results demonstrated the potential of overtone regions with MLR/SPA regression strategy to determine biodiesel content in diesel/biodiesel blends, considering the possible presence of raw oil as a contaminant. This strategy is simple, fast and uses a fewer number of spectral variables. Considering this, the overtone regions can be useful to develop low cost instruments for quality control of diesel/biodiesel blends, considering the lower cost of optical components for this spectral region.     

Characterization of dehydration behavior of untreated and pulverized creatine monohydrate powders

Creatine, which is well known as an important substance for muscular activity, is synthesized from amino acids such as glycine, arginine and ornithine in liver and kidney. It then accumulates in skeletal muscle as creatine phosphoric acid. The aim of this study was to understand the dehydration behavior of untreated and pulverized creatine monohydrate at various temperatures. The removal of crystal water was investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The X-ray diffraction pattern of untreated and pulverized creatine monohydrate agreed with reported data for creatine monohydrate. However, the diffraction peaks of the (1 0 0), (2 0 0) and (3 0 0) planes of pulverized creatine monohydrate were much stronger than those of untreated creatine monohydrate. On the other hand, the diffraction peaks of the (0 1 2) and (0 1 3) planes of untreated creatine monohydrate were much stronger than those of pulverized creatine monohydrate. The dehydration of untreated and pulverized creatine monohydrate was investigated at various storage temperatures, and the results indicated that untreated and pulverized creatine monohydrate were transformed into the anhydrate at more than 30 °C. After dehydration, the particles of untreated and pulverized creatine anhydrate had many cracks. The dehydration kinetics of untreated and pulverized creatine monohydrate were analyzed by the Hancock–Sharp equation on the basis of the isothermal DSC data. The dehydrations of untreated and pulverized creatine monohydrate both followed a zero-order mechanism (Polany–Winger equation). However, the transition rate constant, calculated from the slope of the straight line, was about 2.2–7.7 times higher for pulverized creatine monohydrate than for untreated creatine monohydrate. The Arrhenius plots (natural logarithm of the dehydration rate constant versus the reciprocal of absolute temperature) of the isothermal DSC data for untreated and pulverized creatine monohydrate were linear. The activation energies of dehydration in the 40–60 °C range for untreated and pulverized creatine monohydrate were 15.02 and 10.1 kJ/mol, respectively. Dehydration of untreated creatine monohydrate had a pronounced effect on the particle size of the powder. Compared with pulverized creatine monohydrate, the particle size of untreated creatine monohydrate was significantly decreased by dehydration.     

Quality control of pharmaceuticals with NIR: From lab to process line

This work describes a general framework for assessing the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and excipient concentrations simultaneously in pharmaceutical dosage forms based on laboratory-scale measurements. The work explores the comprehensive development of a near infrared (NIR) analytical protocol for the quantification of the API and excipients of a pharmaceutical formulation. The samples were based on a paracetamol (API) formulation with three excipients: microcrystalline cellulose, talc, and magnesium stearate. The developed method was based on laboratory-scale samples as calibration samples and pilot-scale samples (powders and tablets) as model test samples. Both types of samples were produced according to an experimental design. The samples were measured in reflectance mode in a Fourier-transform NIR spectrometer. Additionally, a new method for determining the minimum number of calibration samples was proposed. It was concluded that the use of laboratory-scale samples to construct the calibration set is an effective way to ensure the concentration variability in the development of calibration models for industrial applications. With this method, both API and excipients can be determined in high-throughput applications in the pharmaceutical industry.     

Scanning white-light interferometry as a novel technique to quantify the surface roughness of micron-sized particles for inhalation

A novel approach of measuring the surface roughness of spherical and flat micron-sized drug particles using scanning white-light interferometry was applied to investigate the surface morphology of micron-sized active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipient particles used for inhalation aerosols. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and alpha-lactose monohydrate particles were chosen as model API and excipient particles, respectively. Both BSA and lactose particles were prepared with different degrees of surface corrugation using either controlled spray drying (four samples of BSA) or decantation (two samples of lactose). Particle size distributions were characterized by laser diffraction, and particles were imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Surface roughness of the BSA and lactose particles was quantified by white-light optical profilometry using vertical scanning interferometry (VSI) at full resolution using a 50x objective lens with 2.0x and 0.5x fields of view for BSA and lactose, respectively. Data were analyzed using Vision software (version 32, WYKO), and surface roughness values are expressed as root-mean-square roughness ( Rrms). Furthermore, data were compared to topographical measurements made using conventional atomic force microscopy. Analysis of the optical profilometry data showed significant variation in BSA roughness ranging from 18.58 +/- 3.80 nm to 110.90 +/- 13.16 nm for the smoothest and roughest BSA particles, respectively, and from 81.20 +/- 15.90 nm to 229.20 +/- 68.20 nm for decanted and normal lactose, respectively. The Rrms values were in good agreement with the AFM-derived values. The particle morphology was similar to SEM and AFM images. In conclusion, scanning white-light interferometry provides a useful complementary tool for rapid evaluation of surface morphology and roughness in particles used for dry powder inhalation formulation.     

Drying cellulose nanofibrils: in search of a suitable method

Increasing research activity on cellulose nanofibril-based materials provides great opportunities for novel, scalable manufacturing approaches. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are typically processed as aqueous suspensions because of their hydrophilic nature. One of the major manufacturing challenges is to obtain dry CNFs while maintaining their nano-scale dimensions. Four methods were examined to dry cellulose nanocrystal and nanofibrillated cellulose suspensions: (1) oven drying, (2) freeze drying (FD), (3) supercritical drying (SCD), and (4) spray-drying (SD). The particle size and morphology of the CNFs were determined via dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and morphological analysis. SCD preserved the nano-scale dimensions of the cellulose nanofibrils. FD formed ribbon-like structures of the CNFs with nano-scale thicknesses. Width and length were observed in tens to hundreds of microns. SD formed particles with a size distribution ranging from nanometer to several microns. Spray-drying is proposed as a technically suitable manufacturing process to dry CNF suspensions.