Microcrystalline Cellulose Powder Research Articles

Real-time release testing of in vitro dissolution and blend uniformity in a continuous powder blending process by NIR spectroscopy and machine vision

Continuous manufacturing is gaining increasing interest in the pharmaceutical industry, also requiring real-time and non-destructive quality monitoring. Multiple studies have already addressed the possibility of surrogate in vitro dissolution testing, but the utilization has rarely been demonstrated in real-time. Therefore, in this work, the in-line applicability of an artificial intelligence-based dissolution surrogate model is developed the first time. NIR spectroscopy-based partial least squares regression and artificial neural networks were developed and tested in-line and at-line to assess the blend uniformity and dissolution of encapsulated acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) – microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) powder blends in a continuous blending process. The studied blend is related to a previously published end-to-end manufacturing line, where the varying size of the ASA crystals obtained from a continuous crystallization significantly affected the dissolution of the final product. The in-line monitoring was suitable for detecting the variations in the ASA content and dissolution caused by the feeding of ASA with different particle sizes, and the at-line predictions agreed well with the measured validation dissolution curves (f2 = 80.5). The results were further validated using machine vision-based particle size analysis. Consequently, this work could contribute to the advancement of RTRT in continuous end-to-end processes.

Bio-chemical Preparation of Microcrystalline Cellulose Powder from Cotton Linters for Utilization as Tablet Excipients

Aims: The present work is aimed to prepare microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) powder from cotton linters by an eco-friendly bio-chemical process and to evaluate the prepared MCC as tablet excipients. Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design. Place and Duration of Study: Ginning Training Center, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India during June to December, 2019. Methodology: The MCC was prepared from cotton linters by enzymatic and chemical methods and compared with commercial grade MCC (Avicel® PH101). The crude enzyme extract of Aspergillus sp. VM-1 was obtained by solid-state fermentation and used for hydrolysis of cotton linters at 60℃ for 60 min. In the chemical process, 10% alkali was used for hydrolysis at boiling temperature for 60 min. In both the processes, the hydrolyzed cotton linters were bleached with hydrogen peroxide. The MCC powders were characterized for physico-chemical and tableting properties based on Indian Pharmacopeia (IP) and Untied States Pharmacopeia (USP) specifications. Results: The α-cellulose content (%) in the synthesized MCC by enzymatic process was 98.1 while the commercial grade MCC, Avicel® PH101 had 98.5. The physico-chemical properties of synthesized MCC by enzymatic process were comparable with Avicel PH101 and meet the IP standards. The degree of polymerization (DP) of prepared MCC and Avicel PH101 were 215 and 157, respectively. The FT-IR spectrum of synthesized MCC had similarity to that of Avicel® PH101. The tableting properties of prepared MCC met USP standards. The MCC prepared from cotton linters by enzymatic was found to be superior to chemical process with respect to cellulose yield, degree of polymerization and tablet dissolution property. Conclusion: The results showed MCC synthesized from cotton linters through enzymatic route is a promising candidate for direct compressible excipient of tablet. The present study highlights that the enzymatic process significantly reduces the alkali usage and heating temperature and thus saves the chemicals and energy in the process.

Development of eco-friendly biofilms by utilizing microcrystalline cellulose extract from banana pseudo-stem

Banana pseudo-stem, often considered as an underutilized plant part was explored as a potential reinforced material to develop an eco-friendly biofilm for food packaging applications. In this study, Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was extracted from banana pseudo-stem by alkali and acid hydrolysis treatment. The extracted MCC was used as a reinforced material in different concentrated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix alone as well as both PVA and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) matrix to develop biofilm by solvent casting method. The synthesized MCC powder was characterized by scanning electron microscope to ensure its microcrystalline structure and to observe surface morphology. The biofilms composed of MCC, PVA, and CMC were assessed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), mechanical properties, water content, solubility, swelling degree, moisture barrier property (Water Vapor Permeability - WVP), and light barrier property (Light Transmission and Transparency). The FTIR analysis showed the rich bonding between the materials of the biofilms. The film incorporating a combination of PVA, CMC, and MCC (S6) exhibited the highest tensile strength at 26.67 ± 0.152 MPa, making it particularly noteworthy for applications in food packaging. MCC incorporation increased the tensile strength. The WVP content of the films was observed low among the MCC-induced films which is parallel to other findings. The lowest WVP content was showed by 1% concentrated PVA with MCC (S4) (0.223 ± 0.020 10−9 g/Pahm). The WVP content of S6 film was also considerably low. MCC-incorporated films also acted as a good UV barrier. Transmittance of the MCC induced films at UV range were observed on average 38% (S2), 36% (S4) and 6% (S6) which were almost 6% lower than the control films. The S6 film demonstrated the lowest swelling capacity (1.42%) and water content, indicating a significantly low solubility of the film. The film formulated with mixing of PVA, CMC and MCC (S6) was ahead in terms of food packaging characteristics than other films. Also, the outcomes of this study point out that MCC can be a great natural resource for packaging applications and in that regard, banana pseudo-stem proves to be an excellent source for waste utilization.

Comparative study on liquid versus gas phase hydrochloric acid hydrolysis for microcrystalline cellulose isolation from sugarcane bagasse

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was successfully synthesized from sugarcane bagasse using a rapid, low-temperature hydrochloric acid (HCl) gas treatment. The primary aim was to develop an energy-efficient “green” cellulose extraction process. Response surface methodology optimized the liquid-phase hydrolysis conditions to 3.3 % HCl at 117 °C for 127 min to obtain MCC with 350 degree of polymerization. An alternative gas-phase approach utilizing gaseous HCl diluted in hot 40 °C air was proposed to accelerate MCC production. The cellulose pulp was moistened to 15–18 % moisture content and then exposed to HCl gas, which was absorbed by the moisture in the cellulose fibers to generate a highly concentrated acidic solution that hydrolyzed the cellulose. The cellulose pulp was isolated from depithed bagasse through soda pulping, multistage bleaching and cold alkali purification. Hydrolysis was conducted by saturating the moist cellulose fibers with gaseous HCl mixed with hot air. Extensive analytical characterization using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TGA, DSC, particle size, and porosity analyses verified comparable physicochemical attributes between MCC samples prepared via liquid and gas phase methods. The gas-produced MCC revealed 85% crystallinity, 71 Å crystallite dimensions, and thermally stable rod-shaped morphology with an average diameter below 200 μm. The similar material properties validate the proposed gas-based technique as an equally effective yet more energy-efficient alternative to conventional aqueous acid hydrolysis for fabricating highly pure MCC powders from lignocellulose. This sustainable approach enables the value-addition of sugarcane bagasse agro-industrial residue into cellulosic nanomaterials for wide-ranging industrial applications. In summary, the key achievements of this work are rapid MCC production under mild temperatures using HCl gas, optimization of liquid phase hydrolysis, successful demonstration of gas phase method, and extensive characterization verifying equivalence between both protocols. The gas methodology offers a greener cellulose extraction process from biomass.

Enhanced mechanical properties of epoxy composites using cellulose micro‐ and nano‐crystals

AbstractEpoxy polymers are commonly utilized in structural applications due to their high bearing capacity and excellent chemical resistance. However, their inherent brittleness poses a significant challenge for their use in high shock and fracture strength products. To address this shortcoming, fillers can be incorporated into the polymer during preparation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of incorporating cellulose‐based fillers, namely cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), on the mechanical properties of epoxy polymer composites. The study evaluated the impact of various factors, including filler concentration, particle size, and moisture content, on the mechanical properties of the composites. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of CNC or MCC powders at concentrations below 5% could enhance the mechanical properties of the resulting epoxy composites without adversely affecting their surface and thermal properties. The maximum tensile strength and fracture toughness of the filler‐based epoxy composites were achieved at 2 and 4 wt% for CNCs and MCC, respectively. CNCs with a smaller particle size distribution were found to be much more effective than MCC in improving the mechanical properties of the epoxy composites. Furthermore, utilizing dried fillers resulted in a higher improvement in tensile strength, which was achieved at lower filler concentrations.

A feasible way to modify microcrystalline cellulose powder and its reinforcing effect for NBR composites

AbstractIt has attracted tremendous attention for replacing petroleum‐based carbon black or mineral fillers with renewable, biology‐based and low‐cost cellulose. However, the reinforcing effect of cellulose, especially at the microscale, is still a great challenge in the polymer industry. In this work, a feasible surface modification method for microcrystalline cellulose powder (MCC) in all solid states is proposed by using rubber accelerators N‐cyclohexyl benzothiazole‐2‐sulphenamidee (CBS) and 2,2′‐dibenzothiazoledisulfide (DM). These accelerators not only accelerate the sulfur crosslink of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), but also graft to rubber molecular chains and form hydrogen bonds with MCC, resulting in good interfacial interaction and good dispersion of MCC in the NBR matrix. As a consequence, the tensile strength and elongation at break of NBR/10MCC reach up to 20.12 MPa and 511%, respectively, which are the highest values of NBR/MCC or cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) composites we can find in the world and are comparable to those of carbon black or mineral fillers. This provides a more effective and environmentally friendly way of using MCC or CNCs in the polymer industry.Highlights Microcrystalline cellulose powder can reinforce NBR. Hydrogen bonds have been established between accelerators and MCC. The tensile strength of NBR/10MCC composite reaches 20 MPa. The reinforcing mechanism is ascribed to the immobilized rubber layer.

Extraction and Characterization of Cellulose and Microcrystalline Cellulose from Teff Straw and Evaluation of the Microcrystalline Cellulose as Tablet Excipient

ABSTRACT Teff (Eragrostis tef), a grass which belongs to the Family Poaceae, is widely cultivated for its starch-rich grains in Ethiopia, generating large amounts of agricultural byproduct, teff straw. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from teff straw and evaluate MCC as directly compressible tablet excipient. Cellulose was extracted from teff straw and partially depolymerized to obtain MCC. The physicochemical properties of cellulose and MCC powders were characterized. Yields of cellulose and MCC powder from the raw material were 35.2% and 27.2%, respectively. The samples exhibited type-I crystal lattice and similar infrared spectra with that of Avicel PH-101. The degree of polymerization (DP) and crystallinity index of cellulose were 594.51 and 72.26%, respectively. Whereas, MCC powders showed DP of 241.09–257.38 and crystallinity indexes of 76.45–84.52%. Spray dried MCC was found to be more porous and poorly flowable and had higher moisture content when compared with the oven-dried MCC powder. Tablets prepared from both MCC powders fulfil most of the pharmacopoeial requirements. The spray-dried MCC powder also showed superior compactibility to oven-dried MCC. Teff straw can, therefore, be considered to be an alternative source of cellulose and MCC.

Modification of Bulk Density, Flow Property and Crystallinity of Microcrystalline Cellulose Prepared from Waste Cotton.

The most affordable type of tablet is the immediately compressible tablet, which uses microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a popular pharmaceutical excipient, as a filler or binder. To make it compatible with different active drugs and excipients, we tried to change some physical properties of the MCC. In the current study, we used a chelating agent to pretreat the waste cotton before pulping, bleaching, and finally, hydrochloric acid degradation with a concentration of 2N at 100 °C temperature for 20 min to prepare MCC. The prepared MCC was treated with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide at room temperature or at -20 °C followed by precipitation with hydrochloric acid or ethanol with complete washing with distilled water till neutralization. Evaluation of the degree of polymerization (DP) and FT-IR spectrum confirm the identity of the microcrystalline cellulose. The DP was found to be 216. The bulk density of the unmodified MCC was 0.21 while that of modified MCC varied from 0.253 to 0.594. The modified MCC powder showed good flow properties compared to the unmodified MCC as evaluated by the Hausner index, Carr's index and the angle of repose. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the MCC revealed that the rod shape has been changed to an oval shape due to treatment with sodium hydroxide at -20 °C. The X-ray crystallographic (XRD) analysis indicated that the unmodified MCC and standard MCC showed the crystallinity index (CrI) value of 86.82% and 87.63%, respectively, while the value ranges from 80.18% to 60.7% among the modified MCC powder. The differences in properties of the MCC might be due to the variation of rearrangement of the cellulose chain among the MCC particles due to treatment with different concentrations of a base at different temperatures and precipitation environments. This has enabled us to prepare MCC with different properties which might be compatible with different drugs.

Changes in the quality of flaxseed oil powder produced by incorporating with microcrystalline cellulose and thyme

Flaxseed oil is a high nutrition oil, rich in ω-3 fatty acid, tocopherols and phenolic compounds. However, it is prone to oxidation due to its high unsaturation which needs pretreatments to be easily introduce to the market. In this study, flaxseed oil was converted to powder form by mixing with microcrystalline cellulose (MC) and thyme powder to produce flaxseed oil powder. For this purpose, 3 different levels of thyme powder (5%, 10% and 15% of oil) were mixed with oil, followed by mixing with different proportions of MC (50:50, 50:75, 50:100 (oil:MC)) and stored for 90 days at 25 °C and 4 °C. Results indicated that the total phenolic compounds (23.2–91.2 mg GAE/100 g), chlorophyll (9–63.6 mg/kg), and carotenoid (4.4–9.9 mg/kg) contents increased with the incorporation of thyme powder into the flaxseed oil on the first day in 25 °C and 4 °C. Also during 90 days storage, phenolic compound (21.8%), chlorophyll (32.5%) and carotenoid (24%) decreased in both 25 °C and 4 °C temperatures. The results confirmed that adding thyme powder to samples decreased acidity and peroxide value in compare with control. Using thyme as a natural antioxidant and also transforming the oil to powder form by MC increased the oxidative stability in compare with control. The produced high stable flaxseed oil powder has the potential to be used directly on food products like salads or to be used in different food formulations to fortify them with natural antioxidants and ω-3 essential fatty acids.

Moisture Behavior of Pharmaceutical Powder during the Tableting Process.

The moisture content of pharmaceutical powder is a key parameter contributing to tablet sticking during the tableting process. This study investigates powder moisture behavior during the compaction phase of the tableting process. Finite element analysis software COMSOL Multiphysics® 5.6 was used to simulate the compaction microcrystalline cellulose (VIVAPUR PH101) powder and predict temperature and moisture content distributions, as well as their evolution over time, during a single compaction. To validate the simulation, a near-infrared sensor and a thermal infrared camera were used to measure tablet surface temperature and surface moisture, respectively, just after ejection. The partial least squares regression (PLS) method was used to predict the surface moisture content of the ejected tablet. Thermal infrared camera images of the ejected tablet showed powder bed temperature increasing during compaction and a gradual rise in tablet temperature along with tableting runs. Simulation results showed that moisture evaporate from the compacted powder bed to the surrounding environment. The predicted surface moisture content of ejected tablets after compaction was higher compared to that of loose powder and decreased gradually as tableting runs increased. These observations suggest that the moisture evaporating from the powder bed accumulates at the interface between the punch and tablet surface. Evaporated water molecules can be physiosorbed on the punch surface and cause a capillary condensation locally at the punch and tablet interface during dwell time. Locally formed capillary bridge may induce a capillary force between tablet surface particles and the punch surface and cause the sticking.

THE ISOLATION OF α-CELLULOSE & THE PREPARATION OF MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE FROM SOURSOP LEAVES (Annona muricata L.)

Powder characteristics are very important to consider in the tablet manufacturing process because they can affect the characteristics of the resulting tablets. This study aims to determine the characteristics of microcrystalline cellulose powder isolated from soursop leaves. This research method includes preparation of soursop leaves raw material, isolation of α-cellulose using 17.5% NaOH solution with 3.5% nitric acid (containing 20 mg sodium nitrite), manufacture of microcrystalline cellulose using 1 M HCl solution, and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose including quality checks. powder (organoleptic, identification, solubility), and pH testing. The results showed that the yield of microcrystalline cellulose (MCCDSr) was 96.59% against α-cellulose. The results of the characterization of microcrystalline cellulose powder including organoleptic, identification, solubility, melting point, and pH showed similar characteristics with Avicel® PH 101 as a comparison. Based on the research that has been done, the characteristics of microcrystalline cellulose powder from soursop leaves are similar to Avicel® PH 101.

Rapid, simple, and cost-effective plaque assay for murine norovirus using microcrystalline cellulose

Murine norovirus (MNV) is used widely as a practical alternative to human norovirus (HuNoV). Plaque-forming assays for MNV are important for developing therapeutic agents against HuNoV infections. Although agarose-overlay MNV assays have been reported, recent improvements in cellulose derivatives suggest that they could be optimized further, particularly with respect to improving the overlay material. To determine which overlay material is optimal for the MNV plaque assay, we compared four typical cellulose derivatives [microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)] with conventional agarose. We found that 3.5% (w/v) MCC-containing medium provided clear round-shaped plaques on RAW 264.7 cells 1 day after inoculation; the visibility of plaques was comparable with that of the original agarose-overlay assay. Removing residual MCC powder from the MCC-overlay assay before fixing was important for obtaining distinct plaques that are clearly countable. Finally, after calculating the plaque diameter as a percentage of well diameter, we found that 12- and 24-well plates were better than other plates for accurate plaque counting. The MCC-based MNV plaque assay is cost-effective and rapid, and produces plaques that are easy to count. Accurate virus quantification using this optimized plaque assay will enable reliable estimation of norovirus titers.

Investigation of mass discharge rate, velocity, and segregation behaviour of microcrystalline cellulose powder from a Copley flow tester

Investigation of mass discharge rate, velocity, and segregation behaviour of microcrystalline cellulose powder from a Copley flow tester

In Ukrainian

Heterogeneous composite systems created on the basis of nanosized methylsilica AM1-200 and microcrystalline cellulose were investigated using the method of low-temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy. Thermodynamic parameters of bound water in hydrated microcrystalline cellulose (MSC) powders and AM1/MSC composites at different ratios of hydrophobic and hydrophilic components were measured. It was established that the hydrophobic component is able to stabilize the aqueous system in the MSS/AM1 composite powders even when the amount of water is twice the amount of the solid phase. From the distributions of the radii of adsorbed water clusters, it follows that in highly hydrated composites, a significant part of the water is in the form of nanodroplets with a radius of several tens of nm

Microcrystalline Cellulose of Oil Bean Pod: Extraction, Physico-chemical, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Flow-ability Analysis

Oil bean pods (OBPs) are a biomass that are indiscriminately dumped in eastern Nigeria, thus causes a lot of pollution. In this study, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was isolated from oil bean pods using acid hydrolysis, and several characterizations were performed using a variety of sophisticated techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis has indicated the removal of lignin and hemicellulose from MCC extracted from oil bean pods. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) revealed a rough surface and minor agglomeration of the MCC. Furthermore, the isolated MCC has slightly higher inorganic minerals than the raw oil bean pod on the basis of SEM-EDX and the ash content. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis reveals that the specific surface area of MCC is 331.94 m2/g, which is greater than that of OBP, with 164.728 m2/g. Other characteristics like pore volume, and average pore diameter or size demonstrate that MCC has a superior property than the raw OBP. This implies that MCC could serve as a better adsorbent than the raw OBP. As a result of the increased surface area and high percentage of MCC, which is associated to chemical treatment of raw OBP, MCC can be used in environmental remediation of heavy metals. The bulk density of MCC was recorded at 0.447, which is slightly above the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) specification of 0.32, and the tapped density was recorded at 0.532. The flow ability of MCC powder determines its suitability as a direct compression binder. Thus, the isolated MCC might be used as a reinforcing element for the production of green composites, binder, adsorbents, and plastic polymers.

4D study of liquid binder penetration dynamics in pharmaceutical powders using synchrotron X-ray micro computed tomography

The properties of pharmaceutical powders, and the liquid binder, directly influence the penetration behavior in the wet granulation process of the pharmaceutical industry. Conventional methods encounter challenges in understanding this fast process. In this work, an emerging synchrotron-based X-ray imaging technique (having fast imaging capability) was employed to investigate the internal process from 2D and 3D to real-time (in-situ with ms time intervals) 3D (also considered 4D) perspectives. Two commonly used excipients (lactose monohydrate (LMH) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)) were used to make binary mixtures with acetaminophen (APAP) as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Isopropanol and water were employed as liquid binders in the single droplet impact method. Results showed that for most of the mixtures, the porosity increased at higher fractions of APAP. MCC mixtures experienced less agglomeration and more uniform pore distribution than LMH ones, resulting in a faster droplet penetration with isopropanol. Moreover, the imbibition-spreading studies showed that isopropanol penetration in MCC powders followed more unidirectional vertical movement than horizontal spreading. Our results also demonstrated that simultaneous granulation of LMH with water resulted in much slower penetration. This study revealed that synchrotron X-ray imaging can investigate 3D internal pore structures and how they affect the quantitively real-time internal penetration dynamics.

Preparation of Spherical Cellulose Nanocrystals from Microcrystalline Cellulose by Mixed Acid Hydrolysis with Different Pretreatment Routes

Spherical cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), as a high value cellulose derivative, shows an excellent application potential in biomedicine, food packaging, energy storage, and many other fields due to its special structure. CNC is usually prepared by the mixed acid hydrolysis method from numerous cellulose raw materials. However, the pretreatment route in preparing spherical CNC from cellulose fiber is still used when choosing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as the raw material, which is not rigorous and economical. In this work, pretreatment effects on the properties of spherical CNC produced from MCC by mixed acid hydrolysis were systematically studied. Firstly, the necessity of the swelling process in pretreatment was examined. Secondly, the form effects of pretreated MCC (slurry or powder form) before acid hydrolysis in the preparation of spherical CNC were carefully investigated. The results show that the swelling process is not indispensable. Furthermore, the form of pretreated MCC also has a certain influence on the morphology, crystallinity, and thermal stability of spherical CNC. Thus, spherical CNC with different properties can be economically prepared from MCC by selecting different pretreatment routes through mixed acid hydrolysis.

Effect of Gum Arabic on plaque-induced gingivitis: A randomised controlled trial

New approaches to treating periodontal diseases aim to balance sustaining the natural oral microbiota and modifying the host immune response. Gum Arabic (GA) is a natural polysaccharide rich in prebiotics.The aim of this study was to assess the effect of GA on clinical (Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI)) and immunological (Gingival Crevicular Fluid Interleukin 1 Beta (GCF IL-1 β)) parameters in patients with plaque-induced gingivitis. Materials and methodsThis placebo-controlled, double-blinded randomised clinical trial was conducted at the Department of Periodontology at Khartoum Dental Teaching Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan, from July to October 2016. Patients diagnosed with plaque-induced gingivitis meeting the study eligibility criteria were enrolled. At baseline, PI, GI and GCF IL-1β were measured. Patients received full-mouth scaling and were randomly assigned to receive either GA powder (intervention group) or Microcrystalline cellulose powder (placebo group). The patients were instructed to apply the treatment twice a day throughout the study. The PI, GI and GCF IL-1β were reassessed after 30 and 60 days. ResultsA total of 60 patients were enrolled (30 in each group). Compared to the placebo group, the intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction in GI scores after 30 days and improved PI scores at 30 and 60 days. Between baseline and 60 days, patients who received GA exhibited a significant reduction in GCF IL-1β levels compared to the placebo group. ConclusionGA was found to be effective in controlling plaque and gingivitis.Clinical Trial Registration. ISRCTN registry ISRCTN14209449.

Application of Microcrystalline Cellulose Powders Obtained from Gossypiumherbaceum As Dry Binder in the Formulation of Diazepam Tablets

Background: Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a popular dry binder in tablet formulation. Differences in its processing methods can significantly affect its tableting properties. Aim: Assessment of the tableting and in-vitro release properties of diazepam tablets formulated with Gossypiumherbaceum (GH) derived MCC that was dried by two different methods. Methods: G.herbaceum bolls were de-lignified in sodium hydroxide solutions to obtain α-cellulose which was hydrolyzed with 2.0 N hydrochloric acid to obtain MCC. The neutralized damp MCC was separated into two portions. One portion was fluid bed dried (MCC-GossF) while the other portion was lyophilized (MCC-GossL). Diazepam tablets were prepared with 20, 30 and 40%w/w of MCC-GossF and MCC-GossL..Avicel PH 102 (AVH-102) served as comparing standard. The formulations were evaluated using standard methods. Results: The powders flowed well and the tablets met with British Pharmacopoiea specifications. Diazepam tablets containing MCC-GossL (DGL) were stronger than those of MCC-GossF (DCF) (p<0.05). The disintegration times were < 2 min and friability ≤ 1%. The strength of tablets containing AVH-102 (DAV) compared well with those of DGL tablets. More than 80% of diazepam was released from the tablets. Conclusion: The GH MCCs served as good dry binders in the formulation of diazepam tablets.

The Effect of Alkali Treatment and Addition of Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) on Physical and Tensile Properties of Ramie/Polyester Laminated Composites

The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of alkali treatment of ramie fibers and addition of MCC on the properties of ramie/polyester laminated composites. The alkali treatment was performed using NaOH solution at a room temperature. The laminated composites was manufactured using a vacuum infusion method for three layers of treated woven ramie fibers in the polyester matrix. The MCC (microcrystalline cellulose) powder 0.5 wt.% was added into the polyester resin and then mixed by a mechanical stirrer at a rotation speed of 350 rpm for 5 minutes. The physical characterization was evaluated using FTIR, XRD, and SEM methods. The tensile test of a single fiber and laminated composites was carried out according to the ASTM D3379 and ASTM D3039, respectively. The experimental results show that the XRD of treated fiber with 5 wt.% NaOH solution has the highest crystallinity index of 66.3%. It impacts the increase of tensile strength and elastic modulus of single ramie fiber by 18% and 55%, respectively. The addition of MCC into the polyester matrix of laminated composite can increase the tensile strength and elastic modulus by 18% and 21%, respectively, compared to the untreated laminated composite. In addition, the treated fibers laminated composite can improve the adhesion and chemical bonding between fibers and polyester as a matrix. The addition of MCC filler may prevent the initial propagation of cracks on interlaminar surfaces of laminated composite.