Browsing by Author "Petäjäsuvanto, Piia"

Microcrystalline cellulose is a compactable, versatile, and popular excipient in tableting. Microcrystalline cellulose is produced using acid hydrolysis where most of the amorphous areas are removed and the crystalline part is left. Particle size affects most on the functionality of microcrystalline cellulose and that can be altered by changing the duration of acid hydrolysis or the drying method. The aim of this Master’s thesis was to compare new microcrystalline materials produced using energy efficient methods, to commercial Avicel-powders. The used formulation consisted of microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate and dried colloidal silicon dioxide. Due to the small particle size of AaltoCell™ samples it was not possible to use it for direct compaction, but with wet granulation this was successful. The tablets were tested by the standards of European pharmacopoeia and the tablets from wet granulated Avicel PH-101, AaltoCell™ sample B and C passed all the tests. Probably the problem with the rejected formulations was poor flowability, which caused poor reproducibility in the experiments with direct compressed tablets. The wet granulated Avicel PH-101 produced the best tablets with the used formulation.