Tablet characteristics and pharmacokinetics of orally disintegrating tablets containing coenzyme Q10 granules prepared by different methods.

This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics and pharmacokinetics of orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) containing coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) granules prepared by spray drying, hot-melting, and wet granulation. The hardness and disintegration times of CoQ10-ODTs containing 5 % crospovidone were 61.6-81.8 N and < 30 s, respectively; these values indicate that the as-prepared ODTs were adequate for clinical use. The hardness and disintegration times of all ODTs did not change significantly after a 28-day storage period at 30 °C/10 % relative humidity (RH), but storage under high temperature and humidity affected their characteristics. The dissolution and pharmacokinetics of CoQ10-ODTs showed that ODTs prepared using the spray-drying method had the highest dissolution and absorbability among the CoQ10-ODTs tested. These results provide useful information for the preparation of ODTs using CoQ10.

Preparation and evaluation of orally disintegrating tablets containing vitamin E as a model fat-soluble drug.

The purpose of the present study was to develop orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) containing fat-soluble drugs that disintegrate rapidly while having appropriate tablet strength. We chose vitamin E (VE) as a model drug; d-α-tocopheryl acetate, as the oily VE (VE-OI), and d-α-tocopheryl acid succinate, as the powder VE (VE-PO), were used. The oily VE was added directly to ODTs (VE-OI ODTs) and also used for the preparation of two types of VE granule, i.e., granules prepared using adsorption to calcium silicate (VE-FL granules) and granules prepared using spray-drying with gelatin (VE-SD granules); each type of granule was added to ODTs (VE-FL ODTs and VE-SD ODTs). Powder VE was added directly to ODTs (VE-PO ODTs). Various VE ODTs were prepared using these four additional methods with varying amounts of VE per tablet and were evaluated with respect to their manufacturability, physicochemical characteristics, and stability. It was demonstrated that a tablet porosity of 30% to 35% and tensile strength of 7 kg/cm(2) or greater are required to provide VE ODTs with rapid disintegration and appropriate tablet strength, and that VE-SD granules and powder VE are suitable forms of VE to be added. When stability tests of VE-SD ODTs and VE-PO ODTs were performed, VE-PO ODTs exhibited prolongation of disintegration time and increased tensile strength, whereas VE-SD ODTs showed none of these changes. These changes were thought to be attributable to a decrease in the pore size of VE-PO ODTs resulting from the softening and migration of powder VE under hot storage conditions.

A novel approach to a fine particle coating using porous spherical silica as core particles.

Abstract The applicability of porous spherical silica (PSS) was evaluated as core particles for pharmaceutical products by comparing it with commercial core particles such as mannitol (NP-108), sucrose and microcrystalline cellulose spheres. We investigated the physical properties of core particles, such as particle size distribution, flow properties, crushing strength, plastic limit, drying rate, hygroscopic property and aggregation degree. It was found that PSS was a core particle of small particle size, low friability, high water adsorption capacity, rapid drying rate and lower occurrence of particle aggregation, although wettability is a factor to be carefully considered. The aggregation and taste-masking ability using PSS and NP-108 as core particles were evaluated at a fluidized-bed coating process. The functional coating under the excess spray rate shows different aggregation trends and dissolution profiles between PSS and NP-108; thereby, exhibiting the formation of uniform coating under the excess spray rate in the case of PSS. This expands the range of the acceptable spray feed rates to coat fine particles, and indicates the possibility of decreasing the coating time. The results obtained in this study suggested that the core particle, which has a property like that of PSS, was useful in overcoming such disadvantages as large particle size, which feels gritty in oral cavity; particle aggregation; and the long coating time of the particle coating process. These results will enable the practical fine particle coating method by increasing the range of optimum coating conditions and decreasing the coating time in fluidized bed technology.