Preparation and evaluation of talc agglomerates obtained by wet spherical agglomeration as a substrate for coating

Abstract

The present research was aimed at the preparation of spherical agglomerates of talc (SAT) by wet spherical agglomeration (WSA) and evaluation as inert core/substrate for coating. Talc being an inert and inexpensive excipient was used in the design of spherical agglomerates. To evaluate agglomerate performance, comparison was made with sugar spheres (SS), having a size 1200 μm, for surface morphology, micromeritics, mechanical, compressional and drug release properties. Surface morphology studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical profilometry have shown smooth surface of SAT compared to SS. Shape and sphericity analysis of both showed aspect ratio close to 1. Flowability of SAT was similar to SS. Although, crushing force of SAT was significantly less than SS (p = 0.05), friability studies revealed that it was satisfactory. Compressibility studies showed plastic deformation of SAT unlike SS. Both SAT and SS had comparable drug and polymer layering efficiency, with better surface smoothness in SAT than SS, as confirmed from optical profilometry. Thus, SAT, similar to SS, can be used as a substrate for coating due to its comparable surface topography, micromeritics, adequate crushing resistance and satisfactory drug and polymer layering efficiency.

Keywords::

• Wet spherical agglomeration
• spherical talc agglomerates
• sugar spheres
• coating substrates

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Colorcon Asia Pvt. Ltd for the kind gift of HPMC 50 cps and acryl-EZE®. We are extremely thankful to Dr Adrian Kelly, Interdisciplinary Research Center (Polymer Engineering), University of Bradford, Bradford, UK, for optical profilometry (non-contact type) data.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.