Preformulation, formulation and development of tablets based on some “multipurpose exicipients” and ibuprofen

Multipurpose excipients (MPE) simplify the development of formulations because usually only three components are required: active ingredient, MPE, and a lubrificant. To develop tablets based on MPE, we tested: Cellactose®, Isomalt®DC, Ludipress®, Starlac®. Starlac® is a spray-dried compound consisting of 85% alpha-lactose monohydrate and 15% maize starch dry matter. All these materials combine good flowability with excellent disintegration properties. Ibuprofen (IBU), a nonsteridal anti-inflammatory drug belonging to the group of propionic acid derivates, was used as model drug. DSC was used to evaluate for assessing the compatibility of ibuprofen with the selected MPE , together with hot-stage microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. To evaluate the effect of mechanical manipulation on the stability of the formulations, simple blending, cogrinding and kneading were used to prepare drug-excipient samples. Some technological characteristics, such as morphology, physicochemical properties, in vitro dissolution rate were examined. Moreover the Starlac ® formulation was modify (adding 1-2% Explotab®-sodium starch glycolate – a superdisintegrant) to compare our formulations with two different ones containing IBU, available on the Italian pharmaceutical market. 500 tablets contained IBU (40% w/w), direct compression excipient (58% w/w), lubricant (1% w/w) were prepared by direct compression, using a single-punch tabletting machine with plane punches of 11 mm of diameter

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRESSING MATERIAL .

To improve a process and apparatus for pressing materials. ; SOLUTION: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for pressing materials in which a material is compressed by a piston that vibrates lengthways at an ultrasonic frequency to reduce the compression resistance of the material and to augment the compression effect; in practice, "static" compression, whereby an element is moved under the effect of pressure applied to it, is replaced by a succession of high-frequency blows; the process can be used in particular for squeezing materials of vegetable or animal origin in order to extract the juices from them and for manufacturing processes involving materials subjected to plastic deformation