Abstract
In the medicine preparation field, the development of dry powder inhaler (DPI) attracts attention recently. DPI is fine powder (0.5 to 7 µm) type medicine, which can be taken up directly to the lung cells through the DPI device. Since the handling of the fine powder is very difficult due to the very strong cohesive force, the granulation techniques are usually applied for the better handling in the medicine preparation. However, DPI is also required a moderate granule weakness which can be broken into initial particle size to be reached to the lung. Therefore, because of the high granule strength, the conventional binder type granulation techniques can not be applied for the DPI application.
In this study, the new binderless granulation technique for DPI was developed by using a spouted fluidized bed granulator. This experiment was carried out in the different granulation conditions and the quality of produced granule was evaluated. The granulation condition was changed in velocity of fluidization gas, size of raw material and type of powder material. As a result, it was found that obtained granule by the new granulation method had a moderate strength for DPI.
