An alternative technology to form tablets

Abstract

The idea of a freeze casting process is introduced in order to convert heat and/or pressure sensitive pharmaceutical ingredients into a tablet form. The process line involves the freezing of a water-based suspension including a pharmaceutically active ingredient and a drying step (sublimation). The results of these procedures are highly porous solid tablet bodies. The tensile strength and dissolution behavior of the bodies are examined. It is shown that the hardness of the tablets depends on the composition of the suspension, which is not quite satisfactorily reached. The porosity, and therefore, the dissolution behavior depend on the process parameters and correlate with the tensile strength. Much better dissolution rates can be obtained with the new tablets than with commercial products. The proof of concept for tablet manufacturing by the route of freeze casting is successfully demonstrated. © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.