Drug-Excipient Interactions Resulting from Powder Mixing IV: Role of Lubricants and Their Effect on In Vitro Dissolution

Abstract

Two lubricants, magnesium stearate and sodium stearyl fumarate, were compared under identical mixing conditions to study their roles in drug-excipient interactions. After prolonged mixing, sodium stearyl fumarate did not interact with the drug or excipients; as a result, the disintegration time and drug dissolution rate from hand-filled, uncompacted capsules were not adversely affected. In contrast, magnesium stearate did exhibit drug-excipient interactions which resulted in lamination and subsequent adhesion of the lubricant to the drug-crospovidone agglomerates. These interactions adversely affected the disintegration time and drug dissolution rate from hand-filled, uncompacted capsules. Although the initial specific surface area of magnesium stearate was higher than that of sodium stearyl fumarate, flaking of magnesium stearate due to particulate–particulate interactions caused a large increase in the surface area. The adhesion of the magnesium stearate flakes to the drug-crospovidone agglomerates resulted in a decrease in the drug dissolution rate.