What is pharmaceutical granulation?
Pharmaceutical granulation is a process by which granulated active ingredients (drugs) are combined with excipient substances (additional inert powders). The union of these powders creates medicines in the form of tablets. No tablet can consist solely of one active ingredient, so extensive testing is carried out to find the perfect excipient to mix. Just a small variation in the type or amount of the excipient can have a significant impact on how the drug works, along with the ability to dispense a tablet that is always exactly the same. Although the significant amount of trials that go into testing the excipient within each pill can be very expensive and time consuming, finding the right one is essential. Once the perfect excipient is found, it will help the active ingredient adhere and spread evenly throughout the body. It can also be flavored to make the tablet more user-friendly. Coatings can also be used to enhance the taste of the tablet; these often contain sugar to create a sweet taste. The coating can also be designed to control where in the digestive system the active ingredient is released, this will ensure the most beneficial release of the drug.
The pharmaceutical granulation process is not the same for all tablets. There can be different issues based on density or particle size within the tablets, along with other compatibility issues. Here, the active ingredient may not mix with the excipient and segregation may occur. Tablets can cause problems when consumed or simply do not work effectively where this has happened. Therefore, testing is necessary to fully ensure that the particles are properly bound and distributed with the ability to do so in large-scale production. Sometimes segregation can be resolved by granulating the active ingredient alone in the first instance and then granulating it together with the excipient to form the tablet.
Why is pharmaceutical granulation used?
The most widespread form of medication used throughout the world is tablets; Therefore, the pharmaceutical granulation process is used very frequently and is incredibly important. The tablets are used in the treatment of a large number of diseases and ailments. They are very convenient to carry and can be easily consumed without the need for additional devices, possibly just a liquid to aid in swallowing. This is a great advantage over other medications that may require at least a measuring spoon or syringe. People who must take a number of pills each day can take the tablets out of their original packaging and place them in portion boxes for each day, allowing them to better manage and organize them. Pharmaceutical granulation helps to create hard, strong tablets that will not disintegrate into a fine powder and therefore can be easily handled and manipulated. The pill’s ability to keep it from falling apart also ensures that no active ingredient is lost. This is very important as it ensures that the consumer receives not only the same dose each time, but also the correct dose throughout the treatment. Also, the hard and strong tablets can be split without crumbling to allow people who may prefer to swallow smaller parts at a time to break the tablets in half.
Machinery used for pharmaceutical granulation
The purchase of machinery for pharmaceutical granulation can be extremely expensive, especially in the trial stage. Spheronization and extrusion equipment will be needed to carry out the process, which can be bulky and difficult to store. Fortunately, there are some options for new or smaller pharmaceutical companies conducting trials to reduce both cost and need for storage space. Some manufacturers offer the option of purchasing the equipment, allowing pharmaceutical companies to pay a lower fee and return the product after use. Alternatively, small-scale versions of the machines can be purchased that are easier to store and cheaper to obtain. One of the leading suppliers of small-scale esperonization equipment is Caleva, their Spheronizer 380 is specifically designed for small-scale testing and production. They also offer machine rentals for those who only need the machinery for shorter periods of time or for those who are not ready to commit to large-scale production.