Gasil Mesoporous Silica as a Glidant for Powder Flow and Tableting

Gasil mesoporous silica grades HP33CP and HP54CP improve flow performance in microcrystalline cellulose formulations and reduced tablet weight variability in paracetamol-based systems, according to a case study summary from PQ Corporation.

Manufacturing oral solid dosage forms for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications often involves significant powder-handling challenges, PQ Corporation states in a case study summary, particularly where a formulation contains hygroscopic, cohesive, or poorly flowing excipients. The company positions its Gasil mesoporous silica grades HP33CP and HP54CP as glidants for improving powder flow, reducing agglomeration, and enhancing process consistency. The summary reports on lactose powders, microcrystalline cellulose formulations, and direct compression tablet full formulations.

The challenge

Powder handling in oral solid dosage forms: PQ Corporation states that manufacturing these forms for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications often involves significant powder-handling challenges.
Difficult excipients: the summary attaches those challenges particularly to formulations containing hygroscopic, cohesive, or poorly flowing excipients.
Moisture-induced agglomerates: the summary addresses the particle size of moisture-induced agglomerates in lactose powders.
Cohesion under shear: in microcrystalline cellulose formulations, it reports a lower cohesive index under high-shear conditions.

Strategic response

Use two mesoporous silica grades, Gasil HP33CP and Gasil HP54CP, as glidants.
In lactose powders, compare HP33CP against fumed silica.
In microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) formulations, compare both grades against fumed silica and competitive mesoporous silica, using Hausner ratio, cylinder flow, and cohesive index.
Extend the comparison to direct compression tablet full formulations.

The solution

The two grades are Gasil HP33CP and Gasil HP54CP, which PQ Corporation presents as glidants for improving powder flow, reducing agglomeration, and enhancing process consistency. The summary lists typical values for both grades and does not set out the mechanism behind the reported results. PharmaExcipients.com has previously covered the Gasil mesoporous silica range.

Results

In lactose powders, PQ Corporation reports that Gasil HP33CP is more effective than fumed silica at reducing the particle size of moisture-induced agglomerates. In MCC formulations, the company reports that both HP33CP and HP54CP improve flow performance. The evidence it gives is a reduced Hausner ratio, better cylinder flow, and a lower cohesive index under high-shear conditions, with both grades outperforming fumed silica and competitive mesoporous silica.

The summary links those flow results to manufacturing output: in direct compression tablet full formulations, incorporating the Gasil silicas reduced tablet weight variability in paracetamol-based systems, which PQ Corporation describes as better manufacturing performance.

Typical values

Product	D(50) (microns)	Oil Absorption (ml/100g)	Pore Volume (ml/g)	Surface Area (m²/g)	APD (Angstrom)
Gasil HP33CP	3.3	270	1.7	300	225
Gasil HP54CP	5.4	260	1.6	290	200

particle size distribution of damp lactose with Gasil HP33CP additions

cohesive index versus rotating speed for MCC with silica additions

Key takeaways

In lactose powders, Gasil HP33CP is more effective than fumed silica at reducing the particle size of moisture-induced agglomerates, PQ Corporation reports.
In MCC formulations, both HP33CP and HP54CP improve flow performance and outperform fumed silica and competitive mesoporous silica, according to the company.
Incorporating the Gasil silicas reduced tablet weight variability in paracetamol-based systems in direct compression tablet full formulations, according to the summary.
PQ Corporation concludes that Gasil mesoporous silicas are effective multifunctional excipients for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations, supporting improved manufacturability, dosage consistency, and product quality.

PQ Corporation states that the full case study, which covers the benefits of Gasil mesoporous silica in powder flow and tableting in deeper technical detail, is available on request.

Source: PQ Corporation, case study summary “Case Study Summary – Great Flow, Perfect Dosage! Gasil® Mesoporous Silica as Pharma Glidants.”

Sources

PQ Corporation, Case Study Summary – Great Flow, Perfect Dosage! Gasil® Mesoporous Silica as Pharma Glidants., case study summary supplied to PharmaExcipients.com. Not published as a downloadable document; the full case study is available from PQ Corporation on request.

This article is for informational purposes for pharmaceutical industry professionals and does not constitute regulatory advice. Always refer to the current pharmacopoeial monograph, the supplier’s current technical data sheet, and applicable regulatory guidance for your dosage form, route of administration, and market. Pharma Excipients International AG is not a manufacturer of the excipients discussed.

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