Abstract

Sulphanilamide, phenobarbitone and paracetamol as active ingredients, having varying aqueous wettability, were each investigated when subjected to variations in Lactose-based powder blends for tabletting. The influence of surfactants on the consistency of such blends was determined using wet granulation process. The surfactants, dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate and cetrimide (0.01 to 0.5 w/w) were incorporated into binder solutions containing 5 percent w/w PVP. The effects of the surfactants on mean granule size, granule friability as well as compact hardness and disintegration times varied; Mean granule size decreased with easily wetted powder blends, but increased with poorly wetted powder blends; while granule friability was reduced. Resultant fall in compact hardness and disintegration times were observed with increased surfactant concentration. Whereas, in the absence of surfactants, poorly wetted powder blends produced smaller and more friable granules than powder blends that are readily wetted. The effect of decreasing the wettability of the powder bed blend generally produces stronger compacts.