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Multifractal Characterization of Pharmaceutical Hot-Melt Extrudates

Pharmaceutical Research volume 34, pages 321–332 (2017)Cite this article

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Multifractal geometry has become a powerful tool to describe complex structures in many fields. Our first aim was to combine imaging and multifractal analysis to better understand the microstructure of pharmaceutical extrudates. A second objective was to study erosion/dispersion behavior of the formulations because it would condition release of any drug.

Methods

Different formulations containing a lipid, a polymer and different silica based inorganic carriers were produced by hot-melt extrusion at various screw speeds. Multifractal analysis was based on scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy images. This microstructural analysis was complemented with dynamic optical imaging of formulation erosion/dispersion behavior.

Results

Multifractal analysis indicated that inorganic carrier type and concentration as well as the screw speed affected the microstructure of the extrudates. The aqueous erosion/dispersion study showed that only the type and concentration of inorganic carrier were important.

Conclusions

The use of microstructural and dispersion analysis appeared to be complementary to better characterize and understand complex formulations obtained by hot-melt extrusion.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

EDS:

Electron dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy

HME:

Hot-melt extrusion

PVPVA:

Polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

Si:

Silicon

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Gründenstrasse 40, 4132, Muttenz, Switzerland

    Camille Adler & Martin Kuentz

  2. Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056, Basel, Switzerland

    Camille Adler

  3. DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., R&D Center Formulation & Application, P.O. Box 2676, 4002, Basel, Switzerland

    Alexandra Teleki

Authors
  1. Camille Adler
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  2. Alexandra Teleki
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  3. Martin Kuentz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin Kuentz.

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX A

SEM pictures of the used adsorbent powders are presented in this Appendix A to illustrate their physical variety.

Fig. 10
figure 10

SEM pictures of fumed Aerosil 300 (a), and Aerosil R 972 (b). Aerosil fumed silicates are very fine powders composed of aggregated and agglomerated primary particles. Primary particles could not be identified due to their very small size (< 50 nm) (30).

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Fig. 11
figure 11

SEM pictures of Aeroperl 300 (a, d), Florite R (b, e), and Neusilin US2 (c, f). Aeroperl 300 spherical granules have a rather smooth surface. Florite R particles exhibit irregular shape while the pore structure can be viewed as petaloid. Finally, the spherical Neusilin US2 particles display some porosity on their surface compared to Aeroperl 300.

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Adler, C., Teleki, A. & Kuentz, M. Multifractal Characterization of Pharmaceutical Hot-Melt Extrudates. Pharm Res 34, 321–332 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-016-2064-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-016-2064-4

KEY WORDS

  • dispersion
  • hot-melt extrusion
  • inorganic carrier
  • multifractal
  • scanning electron microscopy