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Thesis
Exploratory study of sticking in single tablet multi-compaction (STMC) with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Aug 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011196
Abstract
Sticking, the adhesion of tablet material to metal punch tooling during compaction, is a common problem in pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing. This defect often goes undetected during early drug product development due to the small number of tablets produced and limited availability of material. However, sticking typically emerges at industrial production scales involving thousands of tablets, posing significant challenges for mitigation during late-phase development. Predicting and understanding sticking is complex, as it is influenced by factors across multiple length scales. To address this issue, material-sparing techniques are critical. This study explores a material-sparing approach known as Single Tablet Multi-Compaction (STMC) using acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as a model drug. The objective was to evaluate whether STMC provides consistent indicators of sticking compared to regular tablet compaction (RTC) and to identify challenges in the current STMC methodology. Experimental work investigated the effects of formulation properties, compaction process variables, equipment configurations, and tooling conditions. Results showed that higher ASA concentrations and smaller particle sizes increased the tendency for sticking. A comparison of STMC and RTC pressure sticking trends, monitored using a laser sensor, revealed insights into material accumulation during STMC. Additionally, the condition of the tooling, both prior to and during STMC, significantly influenced sticking behavior, emphasizing the importance of controlled handling. The findings demonstrate that STMC is a promising material-sparing technique for assessing sticking with only a few tablets. This study highlights the potential of STMC for early prediction and mitigation of sticking in pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing.
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Details
- Title
- Exploratory study of sticking in single tablet multi-compaction (STMC) with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
- Creators
- Elizabeth Ann Moroz
- Contributors
- Antonios Zavaliangos (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- x, 58 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Materials (Science and) Engineering (Metallurgical Engineering) [Historical]; College of Engineering (1970-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022098142504721