Crystallo – Co - Agglomeration: An Innovative Technique for Size Enlargement and Improved Flow Properties of Powders

Abstract

Direct compression is the preferred method for tablet manufacturing due to the simplicity in processing and its cost effectiveness. However, for applying direct compression in tablet manufacturing, the drug used should have good flow properties and compaction characteristics. Many drugs are lacking these properties and so it is not possible to compress them directly into tablets. Crystallo co agglomeration (CCA) is an innovative technique developed with intends to provide the drugs with good micromeritic and mechanical characteristics. The process of CCA involves crystallisation followed by simultaneous agglomeration of the drug with the aid of a good solvent and /or a bridging liquid and a bad solvent. It is also possible to incorporate other drugs (to get a combination tablet), excipients (e.g. disintegrants for fast dissolving tablets) and different polymer combinations (to modify the drug release properties). In the recent years,attempts were made to produce Crystallo co agglomerates of various drugs, whichwere briefly discussed in this article. Even though large scale applications of CCA is not yet made possible, this technique gives a new line of opportunities to the tablet manufacturing process, ensuring low cost, single stepped production of particles with good micromeritic and mechanical characters which can be directly compressed