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Powder Strength Distributions for Understanding De-agglomeration of Lactose Powders

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose was to calculate distributions of powder strength of a cohesive bed to explain the de-agglomeration of lactose.

Methods

De-agglomeration profiles of Lactohale 300® (L300) and micronized lactose (ML) were constructed by particle sizing aerosolised plumes dispersed at air flow rates of 30–180 l/min. The work of cohesion distribution was determined by inverse gas chromatography. The primary particle size and tapped density distributions were determined. Powder strength distributions were calculated by Monte Carlo simulations from distributions of particle size, work of cohesion and tapped density measurements.

Results

The powder strength distribution of L300 was broader than that of ML. Up to 85th percentile, powder strength of L300 was lower than ML which was consistent with the better de-agglomeration of L300 at low flow rates. However, ~15% of L300 particles had higher powder strength than ML which likely to cause lower de-agglomeration for L300 at high air flow rates.

Conclusion

Cohesive lactose powders formed matrices of non-homogenous powder strength. De-agglomeration of cohesive powders has been shown to be related to powder strength. This study provided new insights into powder de-agglomeration by a new approach for calculating powder strength distributions to better understand complex de-agglomeration behaviour.

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Acknowledgments AND DISCLOSURES

Srinivas Ravindra Babu Behara (SRBB) is a recipient of Monash International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and Monash Research Graduate Scholarship. The authors would like to thank BorculoIngredientsDomo for providing lactohale 300 powder.

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Author notes

  1. Srinivas Ravindra Babu Behara

    Present address: Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia

    Shyamal C. Das, Srinivas Ravindra Babu Behara, David A. V. Morton, Ian Larson & Peter J. Stewart

  2. Centre for Medicine Use and Safety Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville campus), Parkville, Australia

    Jurgen B. Bulitta

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  1. Shyamal C. Das
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  4. David A. V. Morton
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Correspondence to Shyamal C. Das.

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Das, S.C., Behara, S.R.B., Bulitta, J.B. et al. Powder Strength Distributions for Understanding De-agglomeration of Lactose Powders. Pharm Res 29, 2926–2935 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-012-0799-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-012-0799-0

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