For over two decades, the value of ‘‘Hot Melt Extrusion’’ in the pharmaceutical industry has been recognized. The potential of automation, reduction of capital investment, and the reduction in labor costs has given hot-melt extrusion an importance for consideration.
5.1 General Application
Extrusion technology is extensively applied in the plastic and rubber industries, where it is one of the most important fabrication processes. Examples of products made from extruded polymers include pipes, hoses, insulated wires and cables, plastic and rubber sheeting, and polystyrene tiles. Plastics that are commonly processed by extrusion include acrylics (polymethacrylates, polyacrylates) and cellulosics (cellulose acetate, propionate, and acetate butyrate), polyethylene (low and high density), poly propylene, polystyrene, vinyl plastics, polycarbonates, and nylons. In the food industry extrusion has been utilized since 1930 for pasta production. A widely used versatile technique combines cooking and extrusion in a so-called extrusion cooker.
5.2 Applications in the Pharmaceutical Industry
HME is considered to be an efficient technique in developing solid molecular dispersions and has been demonstrated to provide sustained, modified and targeted drug delivery resulting in improved bioavailability. Hot Melt extrusion process is currently applied in the pharmaceutical field for the manufacture of a variety of dosage forms and formulations such as granules, pellets, tablets, suppositories, implants, stents, transdermal systems and ophthalmic inserts, as well as other routes of admnistration.
5.1 General Application
Extrusion technology is extensively applied in the plastic and rubber industries, where it is one of the most important fabrication processes. Examples of products made from extruded polymers include pipes, hoses, insulated wires and cables, plastic and rubber sheeting, and polystyrene tiles. Plastics that are commonly processed by extrusion include acrylics (polymethacrylates, polyacrylates) and cellulosics (cellulose acetate, propionate, and acetate butyrate), polyethylene (low and high density), poly propylene, polystyrene, vinyl plastics, polycarbonates, and nylons. In the food industry extrusion has been utilized since 1930 for pasta production. A widely used versatile technique combines cooking and extrusion in a so-called extrusion cooker.
5.2 Applications in the Pharmaceutical Industry
HME is considered to be an efficient technique in developing solid molecular dispersions and has been demonstrated to provide sustained, modified and targeted drug delivery resulting in improved bioavailability. Hot Melt extrusion process is currently applied in the pharmaceutical field for the manufacture of a variety of dosage forms and formulations such as granules, pellets, tablets, suppositories, implants, stents, transdermal systems and ophthalmic inserts, as well as other routes of admnistration.