Effect of colloidal silicon dioxide and moisture on powder flow properties: Predicting in-process performance using image-based analysis

Abstract

The effect of colloidal silicon dioxide (CSD) on powder flow properties of poor-flowing excipient lactose 200 M was investigated. Binary mixtures of different ratios of CSD as glidant were examined using a modern image-based flow measuring technique. Special attention was placed to subtle variations in powder flow from small changes in glidant concentration (0.025% w/w). Understanding the modes of interaction of particles and their effects on flowability using the method predicted the die filling performance during tablet manufacture. In addition, the importance of moisture content on powder flow properties was empirically underlined. A more efficient range of CSD was detected from 0.10 to 0.50% w/w in most of the tested conditions, which revealed a significant improvement in powder flow performance compared to higher amounts typically handled in the pharmaceutical industry.

Keywords: Cohesive powders; Colloidal silicon dioxide; Image analysis; Lactose; Moisture; Powder flow; Tablet manufacture.