Pelletization

In present times, the pelletization technologies are giving much attention as they represent an efficient pathway for manufacture of new drug delivery system .It has good advantage over the conventional dosage form. Pelletization technique help in the formation of spherical beads or pellets having a diameter 0.5 -1.5 mm which can be eventually coated for preparation of modified release dosage form . It leads to an improvement in flow ability, appearance and mixing properties thus avoiding for generation of excessive dust and reduces segregation and remove the undesirable properties and improve the physical and chemical properties of fine powder. The aim of this study is to provide detailed and different techniques of pelletization such as powder layering, suspension /solution layering, extrusion and spheronization, cryopelletization, etc. It also gives a brief idea about the evaluation of pellets and application of pelletization technique.

  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.