Fluidity and tableting characteristics of a powder solid dispersion of the low melting drugs ketoprofen and ibuprofen with crospovidone.

A powder solid dispersion system (SD) of ketoprofen (KP) or ibuprofen (IP), which possess low melting points, plus crospovidone (CrosPVP), have good fluidity characteristics and can be used to formulate tablets. Tablets of KP or IP in the SD of adequate hardness within a narrow weight range can be prepared by direct compression. Addition of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) resulted in greater hardness characteristics and less variation in tablet weight. Forces during the tableting process were measured with a tableting process analyzer (TabAll) equipped with a single-punch for determining capping and sticking properties during the tableting process. Pressure transmission ratio from the upper to the lower punch and die wall force were increased by adding 1% magnesium stearate (MS) to the SD. Ejection force decreased when MS was added to the SD. When tablets of the IP SD were prepared without excipient, scraper pressure (SP) was large, resulting in sticking. However, addition of 1% MS, lowered the SP value and eliminated sticking. Thus, an SD of compounds with a low melting point such as KP or IP is suitable for tablet manufacture by direct compression with the addition of 1% MS.