INFLUENCE OF DISINTEGRANT TYPE AND PROPORTION ON THE PROPERTIES OF TABLETS PRODUCED FROM MIXTURES OF PELLETS

The influence of the composition and properties of pellets on the prop erties of the tablets prepared from their mixtures has been evaluated. Three types of pellets were prepared, (a) those containing a model dr ug readily identifiable by colour, to evaluate tablet consistency; (b) those containing a deformable material, glyceryl monostearate, to pro vide pressure absorbing and binding properties, and (c) those containi ng an inorganic disintegrating agent. Tablets from various mixtures of these pellets, in a statistical designed manner, were prepared at a k nown compression force and their weight uniformity, friability, diamet ral breaking load and disintegration times were measured. The uniformi ty of composition of selected tablets was also determined. Analysis of variance established that the disintegrant type, the proportion of dr ug pellets and the proportion of disintegrant pellets influenced the b reaking load and the disintegration time of the tablets. The proportio n of drug and disintegrant pellets influenced the tablet friability wh ereas the type of disintegrant did not. Canonical analysis failed to e stablish an exact relationship between pellet properties and tablet pr operties. However some conclusions can be drawn from this analysis. Fi rst, an increase in either the amount of drug pellets or disintegrant pellets decreases the tablet breaking load, and the disintegration tim es are reduced. Secondly, disintegration times are increased with disi ntegrants of a high density. Thirdly, larger amounts of drug and disin tegrant pellets increase the tablet friability. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce B.V.