Take you to the high shear granulation method

High-shear granulation is a process that uses powder agglomeration technology to increase the particle size. It is an important operating unit in the preparation process (such as most tablets and capsules). In this granulation process, fine powders are called granules after agglomerating. Generally, the granulation process begins with the preliminary mixing of the excipients with the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Thus, the API is distributed evenly in the powder mixture. Although the particle size range used in the pharmaceutical industry is in the range of 0.2-4.0mm, their main particle size ranges from 0.2-0.5mm.

Take you to the high shear granulation method

Granulation is the process of transforming powder granules. After granulation, it is based on the particle size, type, dosage, type of shear granulator, drying rate, and other factors to obtain particles of different properties. The main methods of particle formation include solid bridge method, sintering method, chemical reaction method, crystallization method, and colloidal particle deposition method. Also, the bonding method can be granulated by utilizing the cohesive effect and cohesive force of a highly viscous adhesive. A series of mechanisms for forming particles from powders include wetting, nucleation, consolidation or growth, curing, abrasion, or cracking.

The mixed powder of raw materials and auxiliary materials can be directly compressed or granulated by agglomeration or granulation technology. High-shear granulation technology can be roughly divided into two types, which include dry granulation and wet granulation. Dry granulation promotes agglomeration of dry powder particles by mechanical compression (hitting) or compaction (rolling). In wet granulation, the granulation solution initiates the adhesion of raw materials and auxiliary materials. It promotes the adhesion of wet and soft materials into agglomerates. Of these two technologies, wet granulation is the most widely used granulation technology. It involves multiple operating units, such as soft material making, drying, sieving, etc. These operations are complex and time-consuming, requiring larger production sites and more equipment.

When selecting the type of high-shear granulation process, you need to understand the physical and chemical properties of the drug, the types of excipients, the fluidity and release characteristics of the required granules, and so on. For decades, granulation technology, such as rolling method, spray drying method, supercritical fluid method, low/high shear mixed granulation method, have been successfully used in the preparation of various dosage forms. Pelletizing technology is constantly developing all parties.

The improvement and perfection of the surface and the development of new technologies and processes have further promoted the development of granulation technology. The purpose of this article is to familiarize readers with high-shear granulation technologies and processes.

Final Words

Dry granulation can be completed by rolling or beating. Compared with the continuous progress of wet granulation technology, there is no obvious development of dry granulation technology except for an important pneumatic dry granulation technology. The inventor of the pneumatic dry granulation belongs to Finland. There are diverse advantages of dry granulation. It is preferred by the developers instead of the other one. The wet granulation also has its pros and cons, but the dry one is far better.