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Decoupling the Contribution of Surface Energy and Surface Area on the Cohesion of Pharmaceutical Powders

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ABSTRACT

Purpose

Surface area and surface energy of pharmaceutical powders are affected by milling and may influence formulation, performance and handling. This study aims to decouple the contribution of surface area and surface energy, and to quantify each of these factors, on cohesion.

Methods

Mefenamic acid was processed by cryogenic milling. Surface energy heterogeneity was determined using a Surface Energy Analyser (SEA) and cohesion measured using a uniaxial compression test. To decouple the surface area and surface energy contributions, milled mefenamic acid was “normalised” by silanisation with methyl groups, confirmed using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

Results

Both dispersive and acid–base surface energies were found to increase with increasing milling time. Cohesion was also found to increase with increasing milling time. Silanised mefenamic acid possessed a homogenous surface with a surface energy of 33.1 ± 1.4 mJ/m2 , for all milled samples. The cohesion for silanised mefenamic acid was greatly reduced, and the difference in the cohesion can be attributed solely to the increase in surface area. For mefenamic acid, the contribution from surface energy and surface area on cohesion was quantified to be 57% and 43%, respectively.

Conclusions

Here, we report an approach for decoupling and quantifying the contribution from surface area and surface energy on powder cohesion.

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Abbreviations

BET:

Brunauer Emmett, Teller model for calculating surface area from gas adsorption isotherms

iGC:

Inverse gas chromatography

RH:

Relative humidity

SEA:

Surface area analyser

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

vOCG:

van Oss Chaudhury, Good method for calculation of acid–base surface energy

XPS:

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND DISCLOSURES

We would like to thank Mr. John Gamble for his help with particle size and shape analysis using Morphologi G3s.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surfaces and Particle Engineering Laboratory (SPEL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    Umang V. Shah & Jerry Y. Y. Heng

  2. Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals, 1 Squibb Drive, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, United States of America

    Dolapo Olusanmi, Ajit S. Narang & Munir A. Hussain

  3. Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals, Reeds Lane, Moreton, Wirral, CH46 1QW, UK

    Michael J. Tobyn

  4. The Surface Analysis Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK

    Steve J. Hinder

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  1. Umang V. Shah
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  2. Dolapo Olusanmi
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Correspondence to Jerry Y. Y. Heng.

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Shah, U.V., Olusanmi, D., Narang, A.S. et al. Decoupling the Contribution of Surface Energy and Surface Area on the Cohesion of Pharmaceutical Powders. Pharm Res 32, 248–259 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-014-1459-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-014-1459-3

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