Influence of Loading Volume of Mefenamic Acid on Granules and Tablet Characteristics Using a Compaction Simulator

Abstract

Mefenamic acid (MA), a poorly water-soluble drug, was used as a model substance to investigate granules and tablet characteristics to be optimized for the loading volume of MA (0–74.1% v/v) in the formulation including lactose monohydrate/maize starch (7/3) as excipients. The compactibility of granules increased with loading volume of MA. This was related to the brittle behavior of MA during compression and the increase of intragranular pore volume of granules. The minimum disintegration time (266 ± 8.3 s) was found in the tablet that was composed of 55.1% v/v MA and 13.6% v/v maize starch. The determination of the critical concentration of disintegrant (% v/v) required for a minimum disintegration time is suggested to be useful for solid dosage form design.

Keywords:

• mefenamic acid
• excipients
• disintegration
• critical disintegrant concentration
• solid dosage form design