Particle development for drug delivery

Abstract

Particle development is an important first-stage process in the development of a drug delivery system. Common industrial processes are known to affect the morphological characteristics of particles produced. This project was directed to the study of the effects of starting materials and process variables of milling and particle classification, on the morphological characteristics of particles produced. The fluidised bed hammer mill (50 ZPS, Hosokawa Micron Corporation) and fluidised bed opposed jet mill (100 AFG, Hosokawa Micron Corporation) were employed for milling, whereas an air classifying system (50 ATP, Hosokawa Alpine AG) was investigated for particle classification. Correlations between the characteristics of starting materials and process variables to the size and shape of the particles produced were found. The two milling processes were subsequently used to produce drug of varying sizes for the formulation of interactive mixtures and solid dispersions, with a soluble carrier, for dissolution enhancement of a practically insoluble drug. Particle development facilitated the understanding of the dissolution mechanisms of interactive mixtures and solid dispersions.