This document provides an overview of preformulation factors affecting dosage forms. It discusses properties like flow, density, compressibility, and others that influence the development of safe and effective drug dosage forms. The goal of preformulation is to design dosage forms with good bioavailability. Various methods for characterizing properties are described, along with their importance in determining the suitable dosage form for a drug.

1. SEMINAR
ON
PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORS
AFFECTING DOSAGE FORM
(PREFORMULATION)
GUIDED BY: PRESENTED BY:
Dr. VAISHALI THAKKAR RUSHIKESH AGRAWAL
M. Pharm. SEM-I
(2010-11)
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 1

2. INTRODUCTION
DEFINITION:
Characterization of physical, chemical and mechanical properties of new drug
molecule in order to develop safe, effective, and stable dosage form.
GOAL OF PREFORMULATION:
To formulate an elegant, safe, efficacious dosage form with good
bioavailability.
To formulate new dosage form of already existing drug.
Determination of all the properties of drug and the best suitable dosage form
for the drug molecule.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 2

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORS
AFFECTING DOSAGE FORMS
Pharmaceutical factor mainly include those parameters of drug which affect the
final dosage form manufacturing process like…..
Flow property
Density
Compressibility
Hygroscopicity
Electrostatic charge
Osmolarity
Rheology
Wettability
Syringabilty
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 3

4. 1) FLOW PROPERTY
(A) Introduction
 Flow property is an important factor that determines the fate of drug
molecule.
 Sufficient flow is required for uniformity of dosage form. So it is necessary
to judge the flow of material in preformulation stage of the dosage form.
 However extreme increase in flow may improve weight uniformity but
may reduce content uniformity through increased segregation.
(B) Method of determination
 By Angle of repose
 By hopper flow rate
 By bulk density
 By angle of spatula
 By vibrational capillary method
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 4

5. LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO DETERMINE FLOW
PROPERTY
 REPOSOGRAPH:
 It is a stable instrument which at best can only indicate comparative flow
properties.
 The formation of sharp cone would mean poor flow property while a good
spread would indicate a superior flow property.
 FT (FREEMAN TECHNOLOGY) RHEOMETER:
 An instrument for measuring flow property.
 It can discriminate between the samples that differ by 1% Moisture.
 Important for optimizing granulation because moisture variation have
significant impact on final product quality.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 5

6. NEW MEASUREMENT SYSTEM TO EVALUATE
POWDER FLOWABILITY BASED ON VIBRATIONAL
CAPILLARY METHOD:
 Evaluates flow ability of micrometer sizes particles under actual flow
condition.
 The amplitude and frequency of vibration is controlled by computer
and mass of powder discharged from vibrating capillary tube is
measured by digital balance.
 The mass flow rate is measured by digital processing.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 6

7. Angle of Repose
 Indirect method of quantifying powder flowability, because of their relationship
with inter particle cohesion.
 It is a maximum angle between the surface of a pile of powder & horizontal plane.
 Angle of repose is measured by the equation:
tanθ=h /r
here, h=height of conical heap &
r=radius of horizontal plane of powder
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 7

8. DETERMINATION OF
ANGLE OF REPOSE
Static angle of repose Fixed height cone,
Fixed base cone,
Tilting table
Dynamic angle of repose Rotating cylinder
Rotating Drum
Drained angle of repose Ledge type,
Crater type
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 8

9. RELATION BETWEEN ANGLE OF REPOSE & TYPE
OF FLOW & TYPE OF POWDER
Angle of repose Type of flow Type of powder
<25 Excellent Non cohesive
25-30 Good Non cohesive
30-40 Passable Cohesive
>40 Very poor Very Cohesive
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 9

10. HAUSNER’S RATIO
 This is a simplex index that can be determined on small quantities of
powder.
Hausner-ratio= Tapped densityβ max)
poured density(Pβ min)
Hausner ratio Type of Flow
<1.25 Good flow
1.25-1.5 Moderate
>1.5 Poor flow
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 10

11. (C) FACTOR AFFECTING FLOW PROPERTY
 Particle size and Particle size distribution
 Particle shape and Surface roughness
 Density and Porosity
 Hygroscopicity
 Electrostatic charge
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 11

12. (D) IMPROVEMENT OF FLOWABILITY
 By addition of glidant
 By addition of fine or by size reduction
 By wet granulation
 By removing static charge
 By densification with the help of slugging
 Using auger feed equipment
 By addition of flow activator. Eg. MgO
 By use silicon treated powder for Hygroscopic & moist powder. e.g.
silicon coated talc or Na-bicarbonate
 By altering process condition like vibration assisted hopper or forced
feeder
 By use of spray drying : Advantose 100 maltose powder has improved
flow property than MCC by using this process.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 12

13. 2. DENSITY
(A) INTRODUCTION :
The ratio of mass to volume is known as density.
Density = Mass (gms.)/ Volume (ml.)
 TYPES OF DENSITY :
(a) Bulk density
(b)Tapped density
(c)True density
(d)Granule density :- may affect compressibility, tablet porosity,
disintegration, dissolution
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 13

14. (B) Method of Determination
Parameter Method
1. Bulk density Measuring cylinder
2. Tapped Density Mechanical Device
Mercury Displacement
3. True Density Helium densitometer
(Helium Pycnometer)
Mercury Instrution Porosimetry
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 14

15. Bulk density measurement :
 It is determined by pouring presieved (40-
mesh) bulk drug into a graduate cylinder via-a
large funnel and measuring the volume and
weight.
Tapped density measurement:
 It is determined by placing a graduated
cylinder containing an known mass of drug or
formulation on a mechanical taper apparatus,
which is operated for a fixed numbers of
taps(about-1000)untill the powder bed volume
has reached a minimum.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 15

16. Measurement of True Density:
 True density can be determined using three
methods:
 displacement of a liquid,
 displacement of a gas (pycnometry), or
 floatation in a liquid.
 The liquid displacement is tedious and tends to
underestimate the true density.
 Displacement of a gas is more accurate, but
needs relatively expensive instrumentation. Gas
pycnometers rely on the measurement of
pressure changes, as a reference volume of gas,
typically helium, added to, or deleted from, the
test cell.
 As an alternative, the floatation method is
simple to use and inexpensive.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 16

17. An improved method for fast online measuring of density of
solid substances:
A densitometer for measuring of bulk density of solid & liquid consists of
one vibrator means, to support pre-weighed samples to be tested in
container with predefined shapes on this vibrator & atleast one
ultrasonic sensor operatively connected to control unit such that sensor
is adapted to transmit and receive reflected ultrasonic pulses to
ascertain density of samples utilizing the said values of the fill levels
of samples in containers.
(chemical abstract ,October 2007)
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 17

18. (C) CORRELATION WITH FLOWABILITY
Carr’s index = Tapped density- Bulk density/ Tapped density
Hausner ratio = Tapped density / Bulk density
(D) IMPORTANCE
 In case of combination therapy or physical mixture ,if both drug or drug &
excipients have different density then creates problem of segregation
(demixing).
 Important in decide size & type of processing equipment. E.g. decide size of
capsule formulation, Suppositories.
 Devereux et.al. compared GI transit time of multiple unit formulation of
densities 2.8g/cm3 & 1.5g/cm3 & found significantly delayed gastric emptying
of heavier pdt.
(Review article, IJPS, sept-oct,2008)
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 18

19. 3. COMPRESSIBILITY
(A) INTRODUCTION
 Compressibility is the ability of powder to decrease in volume under
pressure.
%compressibility = Tapped density – bulk density * 100
Tapped density
 Neumann and Carr developed a simple test to evaluate flowability of a
powder by comparing the poured (fluff) density (Pβmin)and tapped density
(Pβmax) of a powder and the rate at which it packed down.
 Useful empirical guide is given by the Carr's compressibility index. here
compressibility is misnomer since compression is not involved.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 19

20. Relationship between powder flowability and %
compressibility
SR. NO % COMPRESSIBILTY RANGE FLOW DESCRIPTIONS
1 5-15 Excellent (free flowing granules)
2 12-16 Good ( free flowing powder
granules)
3 18-21 Fair to passable ( powder granules
4 23-28 Poor ( very fluid powder)
5 28-35 Poor ( fluid cohesive powder)
6 35-38 Very poor ( fluid cohesive powder)
7 >40 Extremely poor ( cohesive powder)
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 20

21. (B) The characteristics Of material may be :-
1. PLASTICITY
 Plastic material are capable of permanent deformation, also exhibit a
degree of brittleness (fragmentability)
 But plastic material will get bonding after Viscoelastic deformation.
2. FRAGMENTABILITY
 If material is fragmentable, neither lubricant mixing time nor dwell time
affecting the tablet strength.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 21

22. 3. ELASTICITY
E.g. paracetamol, acetyl salicylic acid
 If material is elastic, it rebound when compression force is released.
 Elastic material may lead to capping & lamination
 They require wet massing to induce plasticity or plastic tableting material.
4. PUNCH FILMING [STICKING]:
 This may lead to chipping of tablet.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 22

23. (C) METHOD OF IMPROVEMENT
 If plastic material add fragmentable excipient
e.g.. Lactose .
 If Elastic material By plastic tableting material
Wet granulation ,
Pre compression.
 If sticky material By change in salt form,
By using high excipient ratio,
By wet massing,
By addition of Mg-stearate.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 23

24. NPTAB Technology:
 Innovative technology combining pellet coating with direct compression.
 Active drug is sprayed on carrier containing sugar sphere & these layered
spheres are directly compressed.
“ Multifunctional co-processesed excepients with improved compression
properties are used for improved tabletting performance.”
(CHEMICAL ABSTRACT, July 20,2009,151, No.3: 63288g)
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 24

25. 4. HYGROSCOPICITY
(A) INTRODUCTION
 Hygroscopicity: - It is the tendency of material to absorb moisture from
atmosphere & be dynamic equilibrium with water in the atmosphere.
 Deliquescent: - It is the hygroscopic substance which absorb moisture
from air and they can be liquefied by partially or wholly forming
solution.
 Efflorescent: - a substance which loses water to form a lower hydrate or
become anhydrous is term as efflorescent.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 25

26. List of examples:
Hygroscopic & Deliquescent Efflorescent
 Ephedrine atropine
 Hyoscymine cocaine
 Phenobarbital codeine
 Pilocarpine scopolamine
 Physostigmine caffeine
Glycerinated gelatin & PEG base of suppository are hygroscopic in nature.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 26

27. (B) METHOD OF DETERMINATION
 To carry out study, sample of compound are accurately weighed into
container and placed at various humid condition for period of upto 2
weeks.
 If Weight gain – Deliquescent or Hygroscopic
 If Weight loss – Efflorescent
 Also determined by TGA, GC, & KF titration
 Versaperm has deviced a WVTR meter that can measure the
permeability of package to moisture in as little as
30 min.so that humidity can be accurately controlled.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 27

28. (C) IMPORTANCE:
 It affects the flow property.
 It affects compression characteristic , granulation & hardness of final
tablet.
 It also affects compaction.
 Important in aerosol.
 Affects chemical stability of hydrolysable drug.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 28

29. (E) METHODS OF IMPROVEMENT
 For granulation of hygroscopic material use non-aqueous solvent.
 For efflorescent material , use anhydrous salt.
 Add finely powdered adsorbents like MgO or Mg carbonate.
 Perform the entire tableting operation under controlled humidity
condition.
 Store in desiccant, foil, blister, glass bottle.
 Use of Ion-exchange resins.
Eg. Complexation of Ranitidine with Indion234.
( Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, vol.8.No.2, Apr
2009:112-115)
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 29

30.  Examples:
 Starch is hygroscopic ,but on pregelatinization it exhibits lower propensity
for moisture, thus providing excellent stabilization for moisture sensitive
active drugs.
 A new multifunctional excipient, Galen IQ.
Problem associated with Hygroscopic material:
Stick- slip mechanism of powder flow:
It is pulsatile flow of granular material. It causes problem in die filling for
tableting.
“ The length of stick slip event increases with moisture content, increasing
load, etc .”
(Chemical Abstract vol.146:9803)
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 30

31. 5. ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE
B) INTRODUCTION:
Electrostatic charges are the consequence of classic attraction &
repulsion effect between the charges.
Electrostatic charge is produced:
 By separation of positive & negative charge
 By mechanical impact
 By friction between two surface
 By rupturing of particle
 By separation of solid & liquid surface
Pharmaceutical processing procedure such as mixing,micronizing,
milling, sieving, rubbing, compressing, spray drying & congealing,
pan coating & packaging can induce static charge.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 31

32. (B) METHOD OF DETERMINATION:
 INOSTAT, measures negative charge on the surface in volts/cm, when
material is flowing from hopper.
 ELPI(13-stage Electrical Low Pressure Impactor), gives detailed
charge profile of MDI aerosol particles. This has practical application
on lung deposition of MDI aerosol.
 Electrostatic testers which consists of electrostatic voltage sensing
probes.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 32

33. C) FACTORS AFFECTING STATIC CHARGE
 Effect of particle shape. e.g.- PCM
Fine crystalline form >Crystalline form > Granules with EC > Granules
with starch.
 Effect of tablet excipient. e.g.- Acetaminophen with
mannitol(+++) > SDL(++) > Mg stearate(+)
 Effect of Particle size.
 Effect of moisture.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 33

34. (D) IMPORTANCE
 In preformulation of suspension .
 Affects flow property of powder.
 Affects mixing process.
 For thermal stability of emulsions.
 It may damage tablet machine.
 It may affect compression coating.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 34

35. E) METHOD OF REMOVAL OF STATIC CHARGE
 Addition of diluents or lubricant.
 Surface coating of particle with amphiphilic substance of o/w type. Eg
Aerosol.
 Use crystallization method using more polar solvent.
 By granulation.
 Store under influence of air with sufficient humidity.
 Super critical fluid technology.
Example: Poloxamer reduce electrostatic charge on the surface of
polystyrene.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 35

36. 6. OSMOLARITY
A) INTRODUCTION
 It is a colligative property
DEFINITIONS:
 Osmoles : No. of osmotically active particles in solution.
 Osmolarity : osmoles or milliosmoles per liter of solution.
 Osmolality :osmoles or milliosmoles per kg of solvent.
 Isoosmotic: when two different solutions are separated by semipermiable
membrane have same osmotic pressure so called as isoosmotic.
 Isotonic: when two different solutions are separated by biological
membrane have same osmotic pressure so called as isotonic.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 36

37. (B) Method of Determination
 Osmolality should be measured carefully with a vapour pressure or
freezing point osmometer or cryoscopic osmometer.
 Vapour pressure osmometer: Measures concentration of osmotically
active particles that reduce V.P of solution.
 Membrane osmometer: This invention is directed to a membrane
osmometer for direct measurement of osmotic pressures.
( United States Patent 4455864 )
 Clifton nanolitre osmometer
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 37

38. (C) IMPORTANCE
 Normal serum osmolality to be 285 mosmol/kg.
 Maintain osmolarity by 1%variation.
 It should be proper maintained in
 Oral nutrition fluid
 Peripheral infusion
 Parenteral product
 Ophthalmic preparation
 Administration of Paratonic solution can lead to crenulation or lysis of
RBC.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 38

39. 7. RHEOLOGY
(A) DEFINITION
It describes flow of liquid and/or deformation of solid under stress.
(B) TYPE OF FLOW:
 Newtonian flow
 Non Newtonian flow
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 39

40.  NEWTONIAN FLOW
It is a flow in which a direct proportionality exists between shear stress and shear
rate. E.g. water, simple organic liquid & dilute suspension , Glycerin.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 40

41.  NON NEWTONIAN FLOW
 Where there no direct relation between shear stress and shear rate.
There are three type;
(1) PLASTIC FLOW
It is the Newtonian system at shear stress above yield value. Eg.
Flocculated suspension.
(2) PSEUDOPLASTIC FLOW
Here yield value not associated .As applies shear stress increasing, viscosity
decreases and disarranged molecules begin to align their long axes inline
of molecules.
Eg. Aq. Dispersion of tragacanth, Na-CMC, PVP.
(3) DILATANT FLOW
Opposite to pseudoplastic flow
Increase in the shear rate, increasing in resistance to flow as viscosity
increases.
E.g. deflocculated suspension of Mg magma
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 41

42. RHEOGRAM
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43. (C) DETERMINATION OF VISCOSITY
 Capillary viscometer
 Falling sphere viscometer
 Cup and bob viscometer
 Cone and plate viscometer
 Brook field viscometer
 Ultrasonic Shear Rheometer :- For analysing protein solution rheology.
 Instron Capillary Rheometer :- Measures viscosity as a function of rate of
shear & temp at a high rate of shear.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 43

44. D)IMPORTANCE
[1] FLUID
 For mixing
 For particle size reduction of disperse system
 Passing though orifice, pouring, packaging in bottle,
passing though hypodermic needle.
 Flow though pipe
 Physical stability of disperse system
[2] QUASISOLIDS
 Spreading and adherence to skin
 Removal from jar
 Capacity of solids to mix with liquid
 Release of drug from base COLLEGE, ANAND
ANAND PHARMACY 44

45. [3] SOLID
 Flow of powder from hopper and into a die cavity in tableting or in
encapsulation
 Packagability of powder or granules solids.
[4] PROCESSING
 Production capacity of the equipment
 Processing efficiency
THIXOTROPHY:
 In thixotropy apply shear stress convert gel – sol & remove shear stress convert
sol – gel, means gel to sol to gel.
 Application :- for stability of suspension
 e.g. conc. Parental suspension containing 40-70% w/v of procaine penicillin G
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 45

46. 8. WETTABILITY
(A) INTRODUCTION
 Wettability of a solid is an important property with regards to
formulation of solid dosage form.
 Adsorption at solid surface is involved in wetting & detergency.
 It may influence granulation of solid, penetration of dissolution
fluid into tablet and granules & adhesion of coating material to
tablet.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 46

47. (B) METHOD OF DETERMINATION :
 By contact angle:
The contact angle is the angle between a liquid droplet and the surface
over which it spreads.
Contact angle – 00 – complete wetting.
Contact angle – 1800 – No wetting .
 By Draves test:
(C) IMPORTANCE:
 Crystal structure can influence the contact angle.
 Problems associated with Wettability of powder are poor dissolution rate &
low adhesion of film coating.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 47

48. (C) IMPROVEMENT
 Mixing with hydrophilic excipient like Na CMC (water soluble) and
bentonite, Al Mg silicate & colloidal silica (water insoluble).
 Use of wetting agent (HLB value 6-9) which acts by lowering contact
angle. It displaces air & replace it with liquid phase.
 Wetting of powder by non aqueous solvent can be enhanced by certain
lanolin derivative.
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 48

49. 9. SYRINGABILTY
 It is more mechanical property rather than pharmaceutical property.
 This phenomenon happens when a liquid dosage form passes through
a syringe.
 The flow of material is dependant on size & shape of crystals of
material.
 Plates can easily move one over another .so, no friction observed &
can easily pass through the syringe.
 While in case of needles or cubes or prisms , they can’t pass through
the syringe easily.
 So, we can arrange the degree of syringabilty in following way:
Plates > Needles > Cubes > Prisms
ANAND PHARMACY COLLEGE, ANAND 49

50. REFERENCES
 Alfred Martin, physical Pharmacy, 4thedition, 1999, B.I. Waverly, New Delhi.
 Leon Lachman ,H.A. Lieberman , J.L.Kanig , the theory and practice of
industrial pharmacy ,2nd edition
 Leon Lachman, H, A. Lieberman, Pharmaceutical dosage form –tablet volume
1
 Leon Lachman, H, A. Lieberman, Pharmaceutical dosage form-parental
Dosage form volume 1
 Michael E. Aulton, Pharmaceutics: The science of dosage form design ELBS
publication
 Remington, the science and practice of pharmacy, 21st Edition
 Encyclopedia of pharmaceutical technology vol. 14 Marcel Decker
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