Optimization of spheroid production by centrifugal rotary processing

Abstract

The reproducibility in the preparation of spheroids from powder mixture by centrifugal rotary processing based on a large number of production runs was investigated. Optimization of the process conditions by varying the amount of moistening liquid and spray rate was carried out. The quality of the spheroids produced was evaluated using three criteria, namely the percent yield between 0.85 and 1.18 mm, the geometric weight mean diameter and the geometric standard deviation of the spheroids. From the response surfaces and contour plots, it is apparent that the optimized region of percent yield of spheroids was at an amount of moistening liquid between 38-42% and spray rate between 35-43 ml/min. The release kinetics of the spheroids containing a highly water-soluble drug, chlorpheniramine maleate or a less water-soluble drug, paracetamol, fitted the square-root of time equation, thereby following an inert matrix release mechanism.