MULTIPARTICULATE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: PELLETIZATION

  Pelletization is a novel drug delivery system; a technique which converts fine powder particles into pellets. These oral multiparticulate drug-delivery systems offer biopharmaceutical advantages with respect to predictable and even distribution and transportation in the gastro-intestinal tract. It has many advantages compared to single-unit dosage forms for ease of filling, better flow properties of spherical pellets, sustained, controlled or site-specific drug delivery, even distribution in the GI tract, less GI irritation, good bioavailability, ease of coating and uniform packing. Pelletization is easier and simple technique compared to granulation in order to develop a site-specific drug delivery system. There are different techniques in the preparation of pellets for a drug which includes hot-melt extrusion, extrusion spheronization, spray drying, spray congealing, roto granulation and drug layering. This article is divided into introduction containing the definition of Pelletization and its need, second part includes the preparation of pellets and the two most widely used methods; extrusion-spheronization and hot-melt techniques, third part includes advantages, problems faced during pelletization and the final part consists of the importance of pelletization over granulation. This multiparticulate drug delivery system can be used in formulations requiring immediate as well as prolonged release. Hence they can be formulated for chewable and disintegrating tablets1. Key words: Pelletization, Multiparticulate drug delivery system, Novel drug delivery system, Pellets, Granulation.