Evaluation of the physical properties of dry surface-modified ibuprofen using a powder rheometer (FT4) and analysis of the influence of pharmaceutical additives on improvement of the powder flowability

In this study, we examined the characteristics of glidant that affect the improvement of the flowability of APIs by using the dry surface modification of ibuprofen. In addition, the screening method of glidant suitable for improving flowability of APIs was examined. As a result of evaluation of mixed powder with surface modification using various inorganic fine particles with different physical properties, it became clear that the packing fraction had the most influence regardless of the component. This was thought to able to coat the surface with small quantities because the smaller the packing fraction, the more it was able to dispersed from the less contacts between the glidant particles. The packing fraction of glidant was correlated with the (SE/CBD)(-1) which was calculated value from the results measured with powder rheometer. From this results, when using any excipient as a glidant for dry surface modification, it is now possible to estimate the effect of improving flowability simply by measuring with a powder rheometer. Based on this study, it is possible to select excipients suitable for improving APIs flowability and to estimate the improvement effect, and therefore, it is expected to improve the efficiency of prescription design work.