Comparison of Compression and Material Properties of Differently Shaped and Sized Paracetamols

Abstract

Paracetamol is well-known API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) for its bad flow and compression abilities. To improve the compressibility, a high amount of excipient is commonly mixed with paracetamol to create better compressible material. Conversely, we used modified crystallization procedures to prepare plate, irregular and spherical particles from original raw paracetamol to prepare directly compressible API. To expand our screening, several sizes of each shape were prepared and material properties analyzed, mainly the flow and compression abilities, and significant variation of the properties presented; from very poor properties of raw paracetamol to excellent properties of spherical crystals which exhibited ability to be directly compressed without excipient. The analysis also showed very small effect of the size modification on tablet compression and material behavior as the main contribution had the shape alteration and compression force.