Preliminary report of the discovery of a new pharmaceutical granulation process using foamed aqueous binders.

Spray granulation is commonly used to improve the flow of drug formulation powders by adding liquid binders. We have discovered a new granulation process whereby liquid binders are added as aqueous foam. Initial experiments indicate that foam granulations require less binder than spray granulations, less water is added to the powder mass, rates of addition of foam can be greater than rates of addition of sprayed liquids, and foam can be added in a single batch to the surface of the powder mass for incorporation at some later stage in the process.

Wet film dimensions of capsule walls during dip coating.

The objective of the present study was to improve our understanding of the relationships between wet film dimensions, dip sequences, and the physicochemical properties of the dip solutions as they pertain to the dip-coating process for the manufacture of hard-shell capsules. To achieve this objective, it was necessary to develop a technique to quantify wet film dimensions. A further objective was to develop a predictive model for dip coating with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) solutions.