Filling of lactose-based formulations in a tamping-pin capsule filler

Abstract

We studied three lactose-based formulations in terms of bulk powder properties and capsule-filling behavior in a tamping-pin capsule filling system, to which several mechanical adaptions were made for process optimization in light of future continuous production. The model formulations were thoroughly characterized and filled into size 1 capsules according a well-defined design of experiments (DoE). Overall, the three entirely different formulations were successfully filled within the selected design space. The fill weight and fill weight variability can be adjusted by fine-tuning the process settings, like the pin immersion depth and the maximum compaction pressure (pneumatic or spring-controlled), and by using the appropriate powder bed height and mechanical adaptions. This study demonstrated that selection of process parameters and mechanical adaptions could enhance the filling performance, especially in continuous production, since they reduce the powder volume in the process. Moreover, we showed that a tamping-pin system is capable of successfully filling a broad range of powders with various material characteristics and can potentially be used in a continuous production mode.

Keywords:

• Tamping-pin capsule filling
• lactose-based formulations
• material characterization
• process optimization
• continuous manufacturing

Acknowledgments

The authors thank BOSCH Packaging, for their financial and scientific support and CAPSUGEL for capsule supply. Furthermore, the authors want to thank Daniel Kaiser, Michael Piller and Thomas Wutscher for providing their technical support in the lab and pilot plant.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work has been funded by the Austrian COMET Program under the auspices of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit), the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth (bmwfj) and by the State of Styria (Styrian Funding Agency SFG). COMET is managed by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG.