Formation, Processing and Characterisation of Pharmaceutical Powders
Principal Investigator: Prof. M. Ghadiri
Co-Investigator(s): Mr P.A. Arteaga and Dr A.C. Bentham
Sponsor(s): Pfizer Ltd., Roche Products Ltd., SmithKline Beecham Ltd. EPSRC (GR/J 72233)
Status: Completed (1994 -1997)
Abstract
For many pharmaceutical products the solid state properties are important factors in determining product performance and optimum manufacturing conditions. These properties are influenced by solids processing operations such as crystallisation, milling and compaction into tablets. The overall aim of this project is to analyse the effect of processing history during particle formation (crystallisation and milling) on the pharmaceutical properties of the solid material. In the current part of the programme issues relating to size reduction are investigated using two crystalline pharmaceutical materials; lactose and paracetamol. In particular, the inter-relations between the following areas are explored:
Mechanical properties (hardness, Young's modulus and fracture toughness) measured by nanoindentation of individual particlesImpact breakage of single particlesParticle breakage in a fluidised bed with a single air jet
The effects of crystallisation conditions on the mechanical properties and breakage behaviour of lactose and paracetamol are studied in collaboration with Professor Sherwood's group at Strathclyde University. The effects of milling and breakage on the solid state pharmaceutical properties are studied in collaboration with Professor York's group at Bradford University.
Publications
Bentham, A.C., Arteaga, P.A., and Ghadiri, M. (1996) "Measurement of the Mechanical Properties and Fragmentation of Pharmaceutical Powders". IChemE Research Event 2, 1039-1041. Leeds, UK, 2-3 April.
Bentham, A.C., Arteaga, P.A., and Ghadiri, M. (1997), "Impact Breakage of Pharmaceutical Powders". First European Congress on Chemical Engineering, Florence, Italy, 4-7 May.
Bentham, A.C., Ghadiri, M., Grimsey, I.M., Trowbridge, L., and York, P. (1996), "Influence of Size Reduction Processes on the Properties of Lactose". 5th World Congress of Chemical Engineering 5, 255-260. San Diego, USA, 14-18 July.
Fagan, P.G., Harding, V.D., Norman, G.T., Arteaga, P.A., and Ghadiri, M. (1996), "Comparative Study of the Mechanical Behaviour of Alpha-Lactose from Measurements on Compacted Beam Specimens, Controlled Powder Compression and Single Crystals". 5, 590-595. San Diego, USA, 14-18 July.