Polymeric nanocapsules as a binder system for fluidized bed granules: Influence on particle growth behavior, flow, compaction properties, and drug release

The use of polymeric nanocapsules as a binder system to produce fluidized bed granules with improved in vivo bioavailability has recently been reported. This study evaluated how the nanocapsules influence the growth behavior of the fluidized bed granules. Phenytoin-loaded nanocapsules were sprayed top-down sprayed onto a substrate.

Highlights

The volume of nanocapsules sprayed to the powder bed influences the growth behavior.

A controlled agglomeration of the particles is provided by the nanocapsules.

Nanocapsules improve the compaction and resistance properties of the granules.

Nanocapsules in the granule structure act as a diffusion barrier of the drug.

A linear correlation (r = 0.9863) between the volume of the sprayed suspension and the mean particle size was found. Well-defined solid bridges were observed in the granule structure by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The surface area coverage of the granules was 0.145%, suggesting arrangement of the nanocapsules on the surface and in the solid bridges, corroborating the Raman images.

The granules had a cohesive nature without powder segregation. The use of nanocapsules promotes the controlled release of phenytoin, and these data contribute to the understanding of the role of polymeric nanocapsules as a binder in fluid bed granulation to produce granules for posterior tableting or capsule filling processes.

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Article information: Edilene Gadelha de Oliveira, Rafaela Santos de Oliveira, Martina Ventura Konrad, Nathalie Jung, Maike Windbergs, Adriana Raffin Pohlmann, Silvia Stanisçuaski Guterres, Ruy Carlos Ruver Beck. Polymeric nanocapsules as a binder system for fluidized bed granules: Influence on particle growth behavior, flow, compaction properties, and drug release, Powder Technology, Volume 385, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2021.03.004.