Abstract

EXTRUSION- SPHERONIZATION TECHNOLOGY USED IN PELLET FORMULATION

Phoke S. V.*, Etther D. S., Ramteke C. R., Jaybhaye S. S. and Hatkar A. D.

ABSTRACT

Pellets have been used in pharmaceutical industry for more than four decades with beginning of controlled release technology that full impact of inherent advantages of pellets over single dosage form has been realized. Now day’s pelletization technology represents an efficient pathway for manufacture of drug delivery system. There is different pelletization and granulation techniques available to prepare drug loaded spherical particles or granules. Extrusion spheronization is one of pelletization techniques and utilized in formulation of beads and pellets. Limitations related to bioavailability and site specific drug delivery can be overcome by this technique. Today this technology has gained attention because of its simple and fast processing. Compared to single-unit dosage forms, oral multiparticulate drug-delivery systems (e.g. pellets) offer biopharmaceutical advantages in terms of a more even and predictable distribution and transportation in the gastro-intestinal tract. Extrusion spheronization is widely utilized in formulation of sustained release controlled release delivery system or modified release delivery systems. Present reviews outline manufacturing and evaluation of pellets. Manufacturing techniques includes extrusion-spheronization have been discussed. Characterization of pellets is discussed with reference to the particle size distribution, surface area, porosity, density, hardness, friability and tensile strength of pellets.

Keywords: Pellets, Extrusion, Spheronization.