A study of the compaction process and the properties of tablets made of a new co-processed starch excipient

This article deals with the study of the energetic relationships during compaction and the properties of tablets produced from a co-processed excipient based on starch and called StarCap 1500®. This article compares it with the substance Starch1500®. The study also includes the mixtures of StarCap 1500® and the granulated directly compressible lactose Pharmatose DCL®15. The tablet properties tested included tensile strength and disintegration time, examined in dependence on compression force, and also a 0.4% addition of magnesium stearate. The results show a better compressibility of StarCap 1500 in comparison with Starch 1500 and a lower elastic component of energy. The tablets were stronger and disintegrated more rapidly, but the substance possessed a higher sensitivity to an addition of a lubricant than Starch 1500. Increasing portions of StarCap 1500 in the mixtures with Pharmatose DCL 15 increased the tensile strength of tablets, disintegration period as well as the sensitivity to an addition of a lubricant. From the energetic viewpoint, energy for friction was decreasing, while the energy accumulated by the tablet during compaction and the elastic component of energy were increased.