Impact of colloidal silicon dioxide, talc, and synthetic amorphous silica on flow properties of direct compressed riboflavin tablets / Renusha Anne A/P S. John Peter

Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology

Final Year Report (Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Pharmaceuticals) with Hons ) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah - 2025

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This study investigates the effects of Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Talc, Synthetic Amorphous Silica-on the flow characteristics and quality of directly compressed riboflavin tablets. Poor flowability and weight uniformity during direct compression usually compromise the quality of the tablets, and the existing solutions have been found to be insufficient in solving these problems. The following glidants were chosen due to their potential in providing a positive effect on the improvement of flow and overcoming challenges at direct compression because of poor uniformity of the powder. The objective of this study is to optimize glidant formulations for improved powder flow and tablet uniformity to meet USP standards. The pre-compression characteristics of the powder blends, such as angle of repose, tapped density, bulk density, and compressibility index, were determined. In this study, glidant compositions were systematically optimised using DOE software using a simple lattice design in order to achieve better flow properties. This optimized formulation had shown remarkably improved flowability where the highest angle of repose has recorded to be 33.77° characterized as "Good". Simple lattice design from Design of Experiments software was employed for determining optimal compositions of the tested glidants. Parameters of tablets after compression, including hardness, friability, weight variation, and appearances of tablets, were subjected to tests done in accordance with USP. The test evaluations of the tablets, therefore, demonstrated that the tablets met USP requirements since weight variation was within ±5%, and the appearances of the tablet have uniformity in shape, color, and size. Among the glidants tested, each glidant has a specific role to play in enhancing flow characteristics, and as a result, its efficacy varies based on the quantity used. Future studies should investigate combining the investigated glidants with other excipients to further enhance flowability, compressibility, and overall tablet quality.