Enteric coating of micron-size drug particles through a Würster fluid-bed process

• Published in: Powder technology Vol. 317; pp. 247 - 252
• Main Authors: Leung, Cheuk-Yui, Trementozzi, Andrea N., Lin, Yiqing, Xu, Jin, Irdam, Erwin, MacPhee, J. Michael, He, Min, Karki, Shyam B., Boulas, Pierre, Zawaneh, Peter N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.07.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aspect ratio; Coated particles; Control release; Dissolution; Drug delivery systems; Electron microscopy; Enteric-coated particles; Fluidized bed reactors; Fluidized bed scale up; Formulations; Intestinal targeted delivery; Intestine; Particle coating; Particle physics; Particle size; Protective coatings; Scanning electron microscopy; Studies; Wet milling; Würster fluid bed coating; Enteric-coated particles; Particle coating; Würster fluid bed coating; Fluidized bed scale up; Control release; Intestinal targeted delivery
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2017.04.046

Enteric coated active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) particles can provide advantages in clinical and pre-clinical formulation development targeting intestinal drug release over traditional tablet and capsule formulations. The challenge with this approach is developing a robust coating process to achieve sufficient gastric protection and efficient intestinal release on micron sized particles. A Würster coating fluid bed process to directly produce enteric coated API particles was developed at a 650g scale and was scaled up to 20kg. Generating API with low 3-dimensional aspect ratio structure was critical for this process and was achieved through a wet milling process. The starting particle size had D50~90μm, and the D50 of the resulting coated particles could be as small as 180μm. Scanning electron microscopy imaging and dissolution testing were used to characterize the properties of the enteric layer on the API particles as a function of coating thickness. Coated API particles achieved up to 8h enteric protection in the gastric environment and rapid release in the intestinal environment. [Display omitted] •A Würster coating fluid bed process to directly produce enteric coated API particles was developed at lab and pilot scale.•Generating API with a 3-dimensional structure was critical and was achieved through a wet milling process.•The starting particle size had D50 ~90μm, and the D50 of the resulting coated particles could be as small as 180μm.•Coated API particles achieved up to 8h enteric protection in the gastric environment.