Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy Measurements as a Process Monitoring Approach for Blending with Magnesium Stearate
(2023) KLGM15 20231Food Technology and Nutrition (M.Sc.)
- Abstract
- In tablet manufacturing, the addition of lubricant to the formulation is of high importance as it ensures smooth compression and ejection of tablets and thereby tablet quality. This study focused on lubrication of tablet formulation using magnesium stearate (MgSt) as a lubricant and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as bulk material. Powder blends were analysed to investigate whether an effect of varying MgSt concentration and blending time during lubrication could be detected.
Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was used to analyse the powder blends of MCC and MgSt. It was found that an increase in MgSt concentration and blending time resulted in an increased refractive index and absorption coefficient. With the well-known... (More) - In tablet manufacturing, the addition of lubricant to the formulation is of high importance as it ensures smooth compression and ejection of tablets and thereby tablet quality. This study focused on lubrication of tablet formulation using magnesium stearate (MgSt) as a lubricant and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as bulk material. Powder blends were analysed to investigate whether an effect of varying MgSt concentration and blending time during lubrication could be detected.
Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was used to analyse the powder blends of MCC and MgSt. It was found that an increase in MgSt concentration and blending time resulted in an increased refractive index and absorption coefficient. With the well-known close to linear relation between refractive index and density/porosity, the changes seen upon increased MgSt and blending time could be correlated to a density increase. This was further confirmed by bulk and tapped density analysis. The change in density was attributed to the reduced friction and adhesion between tablet formulation particles with increased lubrication allowing the particles to flow more easily resulting in a more dense powder.
The mechanical strength of the tablets decreased with increased MgSt concentration and blending time of the formulation. Disintegration of the tablets was mainly correlated to the mechanical strength with the weaker tablets disintegrating faster. The two higher concentrations behaved slightly different form the lowest concentration, having more pronounced over-lubrication effects, and a similar disintegration behaviour. The 0.7 and 1.0 % MgSt tablets seemed to have reached a threshold where the hydrophobic influence of MgSt did no longer affect the disintegration, only the mechanical strength, whereas the 0.3 % MgSt tablets disintegrated faster due to a less hydrophobic character.
In conclusion, THz-TDS was found sensitive to the density changes occurring during lubrication with MgSt and suitable as a process analytical technology (PAT) approach to monitor the lubrication state of the formulation and in turn the resulting tablet quality. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9124839
- author
- Nilsson, Thea LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- KLGM15 20231
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- pharmaceutical engineering, chemical engineering, läkemedelsteknologi, pharmaceutical tablets, process analytical technology, PAT, Magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, MCC, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, THz
- language
- English
- id
- 9124839
- date added to LUP
- 2023-06-14 14:10:35
- date last changed
- 2023-06-14 14:10:35
@misc{9124839,
abstract = {{In tablet manufacturing, the addition of lubricant to the formulation is of high importance as it ensures smooth compression and ejection of tablets and thereby tablet quality. This study focused on lubrication of tablet formulation using magnesium stearate (MgSt) as a lubricant and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as bulk material. Powder blends were analysed to investigate whether an effect of varying MgSt concentration and blending time during lubrication could be detected.
Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was used to analyse the powder blends of MCC and MgSt. It was found that an increase in MgSt concentration and blending time resulted in an increased refractive index and absorption coefficient. With the well-known close to linear relation between refractive index and density/porosity, the changes seen upon increased MgSt and blending time could be correlated to a density increase. This was further confirmed by bulk and tapped density analysis. The change in density was attributed to the reduced friction and adhesion between tablet formulation particles with increased lubrication allowing the particles to flow more easily resulting in a more dense powder.
The mechanical strength of the tablets decreased with increased MgSt concentration and blending time of the formulation. Disintegration of the tablets was mainly correlated to the mechanical strength with the weaker tablets disintegrating faster. The two higher concentrations behaved slightly different form the lowest concentration, having more pronounced over-lubrication effects, and a similar disintegration behaviour. The 0.7 and 1.0 % MgSt tablets seemed to have reached a threshold where the hydrophobic influence of MgSt did no longer affect the disintegration, only the mechanical strength, whereas the 0.3 % MgSt tablets disintegrated faster due to a less hydrophobic character.
In conclusion, THz-TDS was found sensitive to the density changes occurring during lubrication with MgSt and suitable as a process analytical technology (PAT) approach to monitor the lubrication state of the formulation and in turn the resulting tablet quality.}},
author = {{Nilsson, Thea}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy Measurements as a Process Monitoring Approach for Blending with Magnesium Stearate}},
year = {{2023}},
}