Flowability, binding and release property of “self-lubricating” microcrystalline cellulose

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has been widely used as an excipient in tablets. Silicified microcrystalline cellulose (SMCC) has more application than MCC by using silicon dioxide (SiO₂) as a lubricant. However, findings show that the silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanoparticle component is a physiological hazard. In our research, “self-lubricating” microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was developed by a ball-milling treatment. Commercial MCC and undried MCC with 60% or 80% moisture content were ball-milled for 12 or 24 h. After ball milling, ellipsoid-like particles, with wrinkled surfaces, and a broader particle size distribution resulted in a balance between the flowability and tabletability of the treated MCC.

FTIR and XRD analysis showed that cellulose Ⅱ was formed in the undried 60% moisture content MCC after ball milling for 12 or 24 h, which improved the burst disintegration ability of the tablets. In addition, the controlled-released MCC has also been developed. AFM patterns and the angle of repose showed a cohesion phenomenon and some bridges formed between particles of undried 80% moisture content MCC ball-milled for 12 h. Without adding SiO₂, our MCC gained improved binding properties, a balance between flowability and tabletability, and a more useful controlled-released ability compared with commercial MCC and SMCC.

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Materials

Two kinds of MCC samples (pharmaceutical grade, DP ≤ 320) were provided by Anhui Sunhere Pharmaceutical Excipients Co., Ltd, the one (named S1) was commercial product SH-102 with 6.07% intrinsic moisture content, the other one (named S2) was undried SH-102 with 54.60% intrinsic moisture content. MCC (named S3) was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. Avicel® PH-101 (named S4) was purchased from FMC Corporation. MCC SH-103 (named S5) and SMCC were also provided by Anhui Sunhere Pharmaceutical

Jiawen Chen, Jun Ye, Tao Song, Zhimin Lu, Jian Xiong, Flowability, binding and release property of “self-lubricating” microcrystalline cellulose, Industrial Crops and Products, Volume 196, 2023, 116501, ISSN 0926-6690, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.116501.