Pharmaceutical science researchers at Monash University in Australia are using the FT4 universal powder tester from Freeman Technology to investigate novel techniques for improving the flow properties of excipients for inhaled product formulation.
The team, led by Dr David Morton, has recently published work describing the use of optimised dry coating techniques to enhance the flow of fine lactose particles. Their results showed that measuring the dynamic properties of the lactose with the FT4 quantifies flow behaviour more sensitively than using conventional techniques.
With dry powder inhalers lactose is often used as a carrier for the very fine APIs in inhaled formulations to improve delivery. One way to improve the flow properties is by applying a very thin magnesium stearate coating using mechanofusion. Using the FT4 to compare the influence on the powder behaviour of this technique with a conventional blending approach, the Monash team showed mechanofusion to be much the more effective.
The aim now is to use the FT4 to define parameters that enable the prediction of both in-process flow behaviour and aerosolisation.
Freeman Technology says the FT4 delivers dynamic, shear and bulk measurements that combine to give the fullest insight into powder behaviour.