The goal of tablet compression is to produce dosage forms that achieve the
desired bioavailability and clinical effect. Traditional rotary tablet presses
do not measure tablets’ tensile strength, yet this characteristic strongly
influences tablet quality.The author describes a compression technique
that accounts for tensile strength and produces tablets with consistent weight
and disintegration time. This technique ensures tablets that are
effective and readily used by the body.
Controlling tablets’ individual weight is critical to tablet pressing. Two
factors that are difficult to control, yet are fundamental to a tablet’s
bioavailability and clinical effect, are tensile strength and disintegration
rate. This article will examine a recent development in tablet compression that
enables consistent tablet production. The article will explain how the
development’s flexibility can
take into account the critical factors in
tablet production and improve tablet quality.
Traditional tablet presses measure a tablet’s weight either by measuring its
variation in tablet height at precompression or the force at main compression.
These techniques, however, overlook one fundamental characteristic: tensile
strength. A tablet’s tensile strength influences its bioavailability and
clinical effect, which are crucial characteristics for any dosage form.
Author: Johan Van Evelghem is a product and compression technology
manager at
Courtoy, 9165 Rumsey Rd., Columbia, MD 21045, tel.,
410.997.6692,
johan.vanevelghem@geacourtoy.com<
/A>.
Published in Pharmaceutical Technology, May
2008.