Design and characterization of aceclofenac and paracetamol spherical crystals and their tableting properties

• This study compared spherical crystallization with conventional wet granulation method.
• Tableting properties were nearly similar for both methods.
• Paracetamol formulation showed improvement in flowability and compressibility.
• Aceclofenac showed improvement in flowability, compressibility, and solubility.

The objectives of the present research were to prepare directly compressible paracetamol (DCP) by nontypical spherical crystallization technique and spherical crystals of aceclofenac (SCA) by typical spherical crystallization technique. Both spherical crystals were combined and compressed into tablets by direct compression technique. FT-IR and DSC study exhibited no interaction between the drug and the excipients used in the formulation. The Kawakita analysis showed that spherical crystals were less cohesive due to dense nature of particles. Both DCP and SCA showed plastic deformation suggesting improved compressibility. Lower elastic recovery was observed with higher compaction pressure. The Leuenberger analysis showed that maximum crushing strength is reached faster at lower pressures of compression. In vitro dissolution study showed that more than 90% paracetamol and aceclofenac were released within 45 and 180 min, respectively. Hence, the combined formulation of SCA and DCP can be used for preparing tablet by direct compression method.

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