Abstract

LUBRICANTS IN PHARMACEUTICAL SOLID DOSAGE FORMS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON MAGNESIUM STEARATE

Poonam R. Kanher*, Suparna S. Bakhle, Kanchan P. Upadhye, Gauri R. Dixit and Ashwini Dakhole

Abstract

Lubrication plays a key role in successful manufacturing of pharmaceutical solid dosage form; lubricants are essential ingredients in robust formulation to achieve this. Although many failures in pharmaceutical manufacturing operations are caused by issues related to lubrication, in general, lubricants do not gain adequate attention in the development of pharmaceutical formulations. The addition of lubricants also affect tablet properties and can affect the behaviour of the powder mixture. In this review, the fundamental background on lubrication is introduced, in which the relationships between lubrication and friction/adhesion forces are discussed. The application of lubrication in the development of pharmaceutical products and manufacturing processes is discussed with an emphasis on magnesium stearate. In particular, the effect of hydration state (anhydrate, monohydrate, dihydrate, and trihydrate) of a lubricant like Magnesium stearate and its powder characteristics on lubricant efficiency, as well as product and process performance is summarized.

Keywords: lubricant, magnesium stearate, efeect of lubricant on tablet properties.