pelletization

The aim of the present study is to put a overview on the oral multiparticulate enteric coated delayed release system. Pharmaceutical development, invention and research increasingly focusing on the delivery systems which enhances therapeutic activity and minimizes side effects. Nowadays recent trend shows that oral multiparticulate drug delivery systems (Pellets) are suitable to formulate delayed release dosage forms with minimum side effects and low risk of dose dumping. The multiparticulate governs the predictable, transportation and even distribution in gastrointestinal tract. The pelletization is novel advanced drug delivery system where fine powders are converted into pellets and this technology is most reliable, prominent and efficient for the formulation of the delayed release dosage forms as well. The proton pump inhibitors are most susceptible for the degradation when coming into the contact with acid. Therefore they need to be protected from such environment. The various enteric coated polymers such as HPMC P, PVAP, Eudragit L-30 D-55, and Eudragit S100 can be coated on to the surface of the drug coated pellets which ensures the protection of the drug from gastric environment and produces stabilized dosage form.  

Oral pelletized drug delivery system gives more advantageous biopharmaceutical result in compared to single-unit dosage forms, like better distribution and transportation in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In the pharmaceutical industries many techniques are available for pelletization such as solution layering, suspension layering or powder layering, cryopelletization, freeze pelletization, spray congealing, extrusion-spheronization (ES), hot-melt extrusion process. ES technique is very acceptable and it has gained more attention because of its simplicity and fast processing. This technique is widely applied for the production of oral sustained release, controlled release drug delivery system and it also overcome the problems related to bioavailability and site specific drug delivery system. This review article discuss about the aspects of ES technique with their different steps involved in the process of pellets production. We also discussed about the factors which can influence the pellet quality and methods for evaluation of the quality of pellets.