68f Practical Methods for Improving Flow Properties of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Kalyana Pingali, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, Kostas Saranteas, Chemical Process Research and Development, Sepracor Inc., 84 Waterford Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752, and Fernando J. Muzzio, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854.

The essential aim of this paper is to develop effective methods for improving the flow properties of APIs without requiring particle size or shape modification. The ‘formulation' approach used here focuses on enhancing flow properties of three chemically different drug powders (micronized acetaminophen, levalbuterol and didesmethylsibutramine) by using small amounts of lubricants, glidants, and other additives, both individually and in combination. Additives are intimately mixed using a laboratory-scale V-blender with an intensifier bar. Flow index, dilation and electrical impedance were measured for a total of 24 blends blend. The flow behavior of all three APIs improved with the addition of these additives. Relative effectiveness of different additive combinations displayed remarkable consistency for all three APIs. Simultaneous presence of SiO2, MgSt and talc led to substantial decreases in cohesiveness, causing major improvements in flowability of powder. All three properties showed a very tight correlation. Drug powders with improved flow were found to exhibit low dilation and low impedance values. A common linear correlation between flow index and impedance and also between dilation and impedance was observed for all three APIxs, indicating that electric properties play a substantial role in the cohesivity of all three APIs, and suggesting the presence of a common mechanism for the emergence (and mitigation) of cohesive phenomena.