ADVANCES OF CO-PROCESSED EXCIPIENTS: APPLICABILITY AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTIC IMPROVEMENTS

Abstract

The formulation of drug dosage forms is hindered by the scarcity of ideal single-component excipients essential for achieving excellent performance. This necessity requires modification of excipients to improve its functionality and applicability, thereby supporting the manufacturing of dosage forms. One of the effective strategies to develop the excipient is through co-processing two or more excipients, which is classified as physical modification to improve excipients functionality properties with complex interaction that does not occur at simple physical mixture. The physical interaction between those excipients occurs at the sub-particle level, promoting the alteration of bulk properties without significant chemical changes. Co-processed excipients result in superior or multifunctional qualities that provide advantages in drug development phase proven by recent scientific studies. Therefore, advancements of co-processed excipients with better pricing are considered valuable to fulfil the increasing demand for low-cost excipients for generics and the growth of novel dosage forms in the future. Consequently, the prospect of co-processed excipients will still be focal point of research in academics and application in industries since the use of these excipients reduce formulation complexity in the drug development and manufacturing phase.