Tablet formulation granulation

Tablet Formulations (Immediate Release). Two papers in the mid-1990s reported the earliest studies on immediate release tablets. In the first, tablet formulations of hydrochlorothiazide [33] were modeled in an attempt to maximize tablet strength and select the best lubricant. In the other, a tablet formulation of caffeine was modeled [34] to relate both formulation and processing variables with granule and tablet properties.

Kesavan JG, Peck GE. Pharmaceutical granulation and tablet formulation using neural networks. Pharm Dev Technol 1996 1 391-404. 

White, Effect of certain tablet formulation factors on 38. dissolution rate of the active ingredients. II. Granule... 

Zentner and coworkers [24,26] utilized this information in their development of a system that releases this drug over a 24 hr period. The use of NaCl to modulate the release of diltiazem presents an interesting problem in that the concentration of the solubility modifier must be maintained within certain limits and below its saturation solubility within the device. To solve this problem, core formulations were developed that contained both free and encapsulated NaCl. The encapsulated NaCl was prepared by placing a microporous coating of cellulose acetate butyrate containing 20 wt% sorbitol onto sieved NaCl crystals. The coated granules released NaCl over 12-14 hr period via an osmotic mechanism into either water or the core tablet formulation. The in vitro release profile for tablets (core I devices) containing 360 mg of diltiazem HC1 and 100 mg of NaCl equally divided between the immediate release and controlled release fractions... 

Sheskey P, Sackett G, Maher L, Lentz K, Tolle S, Polli J. Roll Compaction Granulation of a Controlled-Release Matrix Tablet Formulation Containing HPMC, Pharmaceutical Technology Tableting and Granulation Year book. Advanstar Communications, Pittsfield Mass. 1999 6-21. 

Sheskey P, Pacholke K, Sackett G, Maher L, Polli J. Roll compaction granulation of a controlled-release matrix tablet formulation containing HPMC. Pharm Technol 2000 24(ll) 30-52. 

In summary, when tested, the grades of calcium phosphate dibasic discussed above exhibited mechanical properties that were very appropriate for tablet compaction and thus for formulation processing by direct compression, dry granulation, or wet granulation. With this in mind, it is easy to understand the popularity of DCP in pharmaceutical tablet formulations. 

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