Abstract
Purpose: Alpha-cellulose obtained as pulp from fibrous plant materials has found use in the pharmaceutical industry as a disintegrant and direct compression diluent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of α-cellulose obtained from waste paper as a direct compression excipient. Method: The flow and compaction characteristics of α-cellulose (ACP) obtained from waste paper, in comparison with Avicel PH 101, using the Kawakita and Heckel models were evaluated. Result: The results indicate that the flow properties of these materials could not be predicted accurately using the Kawakita model. A comparison of compression behaviour and compactibility of the two powders showed Avicel PH 101 to be a slightly better binder. Conclusion: It was concluded that ACP material could find use as a potential dry binder and direct compression diluent in tableting as the binding properties were comparable to those of Avicel PH 101. . Keywords: Alpha-cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, flow and compaction characteristics, direct compression diluent. > Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 645-651
Highlights
Cellulose, which is the name generally given to a group of very closely allied substances, is a major constituent of cell wall of most plants and, provides the backbone structure of plant materials
The cell walls of cotton, pappi on certain fruits and other sources contain some of the purest forms of cellulose; because they are cell walls, they enclose varying amounts of other substances that are proteinaceous, waxy and/or fatty
Alpha cellulose has been identified in various studies 2-5 as a potential pharmaceutical excipient which functions as an excellent disintegrant and direct compression diluent in tablet formulations
Summary
Cellulose, which is the name generally given to a group of very closely allied substances, is a major constituent of cell wall of most plants and, provides the backbone structure of plant materials. Cellulose in the cell wall of most plants exists together with encrusting substances, such as lignin, hemicelluloses and pectins These can be removed by steam under pressure, weak acid or alkali solutions, and sodium sulphite and sulphurous acid[1]. Direct compression of powders requires materials exhibiting good flowability, compactibility and compressibility[7] These properties were evaluated for ACP powder, in comparison with the well-known commercial microcrystalline cellulose, Avicel PH 101, with a view to providing insight into how it will perform in manufacturing a robust tablet form. We have studied these properties using Kawakita[8, 9] and Heckel[10, 11] models
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