Co-processed excipients-A step towards better drug product performance

Aim: The aim of the study is to focus on the significance of co-processed excipients in drug delivery and product performance. Methodology: In current study comparative evaluation of drug performance was performed to show the importance of co-processed excipients for the betterment of the product performance and transforming development of health care products for consumer concern.Cellulose is used as filler, binder and disintegrant. It also has good compaction property because of plastic deformation and less elastic recovery but it has poor flow ability which can result in variation in content uniformity of drug product. On the other hand, mannitol has good solubility, better wetting properties but low compressibility. Freeze-thawed co-processed mannitol-cellulose (60:40) was used in directly compressible dispersible tablets. Physical properties of powder blend were evaluated. Tablets were prepared and evaluated for friability, tensile strength, water absorption ratio and disintegration time. Lubricant sensitivity was also performed.Result: Co-processed excipients successfully employed in directly compressible tableting thereby causing less time consumption as well as cost reduction. Current study showed more promising results as compared to other regular excipients which required a greater number of excipients and strength of excipients to fulfill the desirable requirements. Powder blend with co-processed excipients showed better flow ability, compact ability. The product demonstrated promising results of friability, tensile strength, water absorption ratio, disintegration and also less lubricant sensitivity.Discussion/Conclusion: Co-processed excipients successfully employed in directly compressible tableting thereby causing less time consumption as well as cost reduction. Current study showed favorable results as compared to other regular excipients that need a greater number of excipients and their strength to fulfill the desirable requirements. Most commonly these excipients have useful application in directly compressible tablet formulations, but they can also be successfully employed in orally disintegrating tablets, dispersible tablets and controlled release formulations due to their enhanced functionality, hence resulting in improved performance of these formulations. These excipients overcome the undesirable characteristics of individual excipients and present many advantages such as better flow ability, compressibility, better dilution potential, low lubricant sensitivity and many others.