The Twin Screw Wet Granulation (TSWG) is a manufacturing process gaining increased attention in the pharmaceutical industry due to its versatility, scalable nature, and seamless integration into continuous manufacturing lines. Especially advantageous in early pharmaceutical development, where API quantity is limited, TSWG accommodates small batch sizes, facilitating later large-scale campaigns using the same equipment.
A DoE study was conducted in order to assess the influence of the main process parameters on the characteristics of granules and tablets. A leading formulation containing a soluble drug, namely Niacin, was used, and the factors evaluated in the DoE were the screw design, the screw speed, the Liquid/Solid ratio (L/S), the feed rate and the screen type.
The responses evaluated were referring to the process (e.g. torque), the granules (e.g. particle size distribution (PSD), density and flowability) and the tablets (e.g. tensile strength, friability and disintegration time). This study provides critical insights into optimizing TSWG processes, ensuring efficient granule and tablet outcomes.
Download the poster, which was presented at AAPS PharmSci360 2023, for comprehensive details on the influential process parameters and their impact on granulation and tablet characteristics in TSWG.