Critical analysis of algino-carbopol multiparticulate system for the improvement of flowability, compressibility and tableting properties of a poor flow drug Madhusmruti Khandai a, ⁎, Santanu Chakraborty b , Ashoke Kumar Ghosh c a P.G. Department of Pharmaceutics, Royal College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Berhampur, 760002 Odisha, India b Formulation Development Research Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, Dr. B.C.Roy College of Pharmacy and AHS, Durgapur, West Bengal, India c School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IFTM University, Moradabad, 244102 Uttar Pradesh, India abstract article info Article history: Received 13 January 2013 Received in revised form 11 November 2013 Accepted 17 November 2013 Available online 25 November 2013 Keywords: Microspheres SEM study Compaction behavior Kawakita analysis Heckel analysis Prolonged release The objective behind this study is to ameliorate the flowability, compressibility and tableting properties of aceclofenac by developing a prolonged release microparticulate system using an algino-carbopol polymeric blend. Prepared microspheres were subjected to various physico-chemical studies along with in vitro drug re- lease studies to optimize the concentration of the polymeric blend required to sustain the drug release for 12 h. Optimize formulation was further subjected to different flowability and compressibility studies to observe the impact of microspheres on improvements of flow properties. All the microsphere formulations exhibited good entrapment efficiency and showed prolonged drug release. SEM study revealed that the microspheres were almost spherical in shape with rough outer surface containing small pores. The findings of micromeritic studies suggested that the flowability and compressibility properties of the pure drug were significantly im- proved by the microsphere formulation. Heckel analysis also suggested that the microspheres exhibited better plasticity and die filling behavior as compared to pure drug. The tablets containing optimized microspheric for- mulation showed better handling properties than pure drug and no significant difference in drug release when compared with the marketed product. So the present study concluded that encapsulation of aceclofenac into microparticulate system not only enhanced its flowability, compressibility and tableting properties but also si- multaneously helped to improve the patient compliance by sustaining the drug release for a prolonged period of time to manage pain and its symptoms. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Oral route of drug administration is the most preferred and con- venient way for treatment of any diseased condition. In this context, tablets are the most preferred and suitable dosage form. This dosage form drags the attention of different researchers due to their chemical and physical stability, accurate dosage, and easy way of controlling the release of drug. During fabrication of tablets, the most important consideration that is to be done is the flowability of active ingredient and excipients into the die cavity. The whole cycle of tablet compaction involves the extensive modification of the active ingredient along with excipients inside the die cavity. In this process of modification, the blend of materials experiences large densification after which the tab- lets are ejected from the die [1]. Various researches and advancements in tableting technology have brought in the concept of developing sustained release dosage forms over the conventional formulation. These dosage forms are acquiring a good place in delivery of drugs because they help in releasing the drug over an extended period of time and improve the therapeutic effectiveness of the drug inside the body. These dosage forms also help to reduce the dosing frequency and improve the patient's compliance. But sometimes single unit sustained release tablets could be disastrous if they cause dose dump- ing. This problem can be overcome by formulating multiunit micropar- ticles which are distributed throughout the GIT and releasing the drug in a sustained manner for a prolonged period of time. The drug loaded microparticulate systems are generally administered by incorporating them in a hard gelatin capsule or by compressing them in a tablet dosage form. Capsule filling may encounter different problems like demixing, physical incompatibilities between active ingredients, dil- uents the capsule shell etc. Sometimes elevated temperatures and humidity may also influence in filling of capsule shells. In this event, tableting the encapsulated product is a better option. But before compressing the microparticulate systems in a tablet dosage form vari- ous parameters like flow properties, compressibility and compactibility of the microparticles must be in an acceptable range. This may be due to the fact that many powders lack the basic characteristic properties for bonding and binding together into compacts [2]. Aceclofenac [3,4] is a novel NSAID used for the symptomatic treat- ment of pain and inflammation. It stimulates the synthesis of the extra Powder Technology 253 (2014) 223–229 ⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 9437526134. E-mail address: madhusmruti_K@rediffmail.com (M. Khandai). 0032-5910/$ – see front matter © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2013.11.026 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Powder Technology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/powtec