Ultra Cryo-Milling with Liquid Nitrogen and Dry Ice Beads: Characterization of Dry Ice as Milling Beads for Application to Various Drug Compounds

Abstract

Ultra cryo-milling using liquid nitrogen (LN2) and dry ice beads has been proposed as a contamination-free milling technique. The morphological change of dry ice beads was visually monitored in LN2 to clarify their production process and cryo-milling process. We found that dry ice pellets, which are starting material of beads and available on the market, immediately disintegrate in LN2, resulting in the spontaneous production of dry ice beads. In addition, the resultant beads maintain their size and shape even under vigorous agitation in LN2, demonstrating that they could play a role of milling media in the milling process. The driving conditions of this cryogenic milling process including beads size were optimized to enhance the milling efficiency. Dry ice beads provided superior milling efficiency compared to original pellets. The milling efficiency increased as the size of the dry ice beads decreased; furthermore, the larger the amount of beads used, the finer the milled particles. Any crystals of three drug compounds were effectively pulverized to the sub- or single-micron range. Cryo-milling with dry ice beads is valuable on pharmaceutical field because it does not contaminate the product with fractured and/or eroded beads.

Graphical Abstract