Development of Co-processed Paracetamol with Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) and Maltodextrin by Wet Granulation Process

The purpose of this work is to improve one of the important physicochemical properties of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), as is the water solubility of paracetamol. To improve the physicochemical properties of this API, two pharmaceutical excipients such as the HPMC and maltodextrin were used, which help to improve the solubility, and this helps to the manufacturing process of a pharmaceutical product. Different granule formulations were manufactured by applying a matrix design of experiment where the wet granulation process was performed, combining Paracetamol with the excipients to obtain a uniform particle size and subsequently evaluate the properties of interest. The solubility was evaluated using a method (Mexican pharmacopoeia - FEUM) based on UV / VIS method, performing the calibration curve only for the API to evaluate the granule and calculate the percentage of solubility of these. Favorable results were obtained for two of the seven granule formulations manufactured, the mixture of granule F and G: 25 g of paracetamol, 1.5; 1.75 g of HPMC and 23.5 g; 23.25 of the maltodextrin has a solubility of 104.17% and 101.48% of the G, which shows that the process by wet granulation can improve its solubility. This type of co-processed granule also fulfills the function of masking the bitter taste of paracetamol in one oral pharmaceutical form, as in the case of a syrup and it could be an advantage in the market. The flavor was evaluated by a panel of 20 people and the taste of the syrups that were prepared with the granule with better solubility was compared with the syrups containing only the API dissolved. It is shown that the granules F have improvement in the solubility of paracetamol and can mask the unpleasant (bitter) taste of the active ingredient.