Study of the influence of cellulose derivatives on physical and analytical attributes of a drug product belonging to BCS class II.

Background: Cellulose microcrystalline (MCC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and croscarmellose sodium are cellulose derivatives which are widely used in pharmaceutical technology. Although they are inert pharmaceutical ingredients, they can influence the release profile of an active substance from the dosage form depending on their distribution, type and quantity used in the formulation.

Objectives: The aim of the present investigation was to examine the effect of chosen cellulose derivatives on the physical and analytical attributes of a drug product containing an active substance of Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class II.

Material and methods: The tablets were prepared using the wet granulation technology. The batches differed in the amount and grade of HPMC, the type of MCC and the distribution of croscarmellose sodium. The granule properties as well as physical (tablet hardness, disintegration time, friability) and analytical (dissolution profile in different media) attributes of the tablets were examined.

Results: The flow characteristics were satisfying in the case of all prepared batches. However, the differences in flow properties were visible, especially in the cases where MCC of coarser particles was replaced with MCC of finer particles. The type of MCC used in the product formula also had a significant influence on the drug product dissolution profile. The batches in which MCC of finer particles was used had substantially better results, regardless of HPMC viscosity type and the distribution of croscarmellose sodium between the inner and outer phase. What is more, the differences in the results between batches of different MCC types were especially visible in dissolution conditions, i.e., 0.1N hydrochloric acid (HCl).

Conclusions: By choosing the right type, quantity and distribution of cellulose derivatives, it was possible to obtain the optimal formula of the drug product similar to in-vitro conditions to the reference drug. Out of all the tested excipients, the type of cellulose microcrystalline was found to have the most critical influence on both physical and analytical properties of the pharmaceutical formulation.