Fast disintegrating pellets: Formulation and evaluation

<b>Abstract:</b>Background: Extrusion-spheronization is the most commonly used technology to produce pellets using microcrystalline cellulose as a pelletizing agent. However, it has the major drawbacks of lack of disintegration and prolonged drug release. This study aimed to develop rapidly disintegrating microcrystalline cellulose-based pellets.Methods: Several pellet formulations were prepared via extrusion spheronization using a combination of microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, polyethylene glycol 400, polyplasdone, and croscarmellose sodium. Subsequently, they were evaluated for their physical characteristics.Results: Process optimization indicated that 500 RPM is the ideal extrusion speed. Furthermore, the best spheronization speed was to start with a speed of 3000 RPM speed to cut off the extrudate at a shorter length and then lower the speed to 1000 RPM to reduce fine production and allow for spherical pellet formation. Increasing the polyethylene glycol (PEG[P1] ) content to 20%[P2] and maintaining the percentages of croscarmellose sodium (CCS)[P3] (15%), 15%), and polyplasdone xl (PPXL)[P4] (5%), respectively, demonstrated a significant improvement in disintegration time.Conclusions: MCC-based pellets with fast-disintegrating characteristics were obtained by extrusion and spheronization. Incorporating the soluble filler mannitol, hydrophilic polymer PEG 400 with super-disintegrant CCS, and PPXL 400 resulted in a more porous matrix that facilitated water entry and rapid swelling of the pellets to explode and disintegrate quickly (2 min).<b>Conventions: </b>Abbreviations are usually defined at the first use in the abstract. Check whether 'PEG' should be defined here.<b>Consistency: </b>The usage of a space before the "%" symbol is inconsistent.<br>No space [63 times]<br>Single space [2 times]<br>Please pick one style and apply it consistently throughout the text.<b>Conventions: </b>Abbreviations are usually defined at the first use in the abstract. Check whether 'CCS' should be defined here.<b>Conventions: </b>Abbreviations are usually defined at the first use in the abstract. Check whether 'PPXL' should be defined here.