This work aims to expand the typical raw material attributes that can successfully be processed on a continuous direct compression line with a particular focus on the continuous dry powder blender. Three grades of Acetaminophen were investigated as model active pharmaceutical ingredients and chosen to span a broad range of material attributes wider than what would normally be considered for a direct compression process. An experimental design was set-up for each grade of Acetaminophen to investigate the effect of throughput, impeller speed and impeller configuration on the critical process responses and attributes. The strain experienced by the in-process material was found critical to improve content uniformity. The impeller speed and design can be optimised at a given throughput to obtain a strain which would deliver the required content homogeneity. The content uniformity of the final tablets can be modelled as a function of the strain using an exponential decay model. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

• AstraZeneca
• GM Group Ltd
• Percept Engn Ltd, GlaxoSmithKline Res & Dev Ltd

• Oral solid dose
• Process and material characterization, and modeling

1. and modeling
2. Continuous blending
3. Continuous direct compression
4. continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing
5. Material attributes
6. oral solid dose
7. Process and material characterization
8. Research Article
9. residence time distribution
10. Strain