NOVEL TECHNIQUES OF GRANULATION: A REVIEW

Abstract

Granulation is an important unit process in the production of pharmaceutical dosage forms like tablets, capsules and other dosage forms. Granulation process increases flow, compressibility and content uniformity of the powders. It inhibits the separation of blend components and reduces excessive amount of fine particles. This process helps to achieve improved yields with less tablet manufacturing defects. Particle size of granules depends on the quantity and feeding rate of the granulating liquid. Selecting a method of granulation requires comprehensive study of each ingredient in the formula, the combination of ingredients and their compatibility with each other is checked after, which appropriate granulation process can be applied. The recent technologies used for granulation include steam granulation, moisture activated dry granulation (MADG), moist granulation technique (MGT), extrusion-spheronization granulation, fluidized bed granulation, thermal adhesion granulation process (TAGP) and foam granulation etc. have their own advantages and overcome the disadvantages of conventional granulation process such as dust generation or deteriorating effect of heat as drying step. The objective of present work is to focus on the novel granulation technologies.