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. 2020 Nov 12;25(22):5269.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25225269.

Influence of Chitin Source and Polymorphism on Powder Compression and Compaction: Application in Drug Delivery

Linda Al-Hmoud  1 , Deeb Abu Fara  1 , Iyad Rashid  2 , Babur Z Chowdhry  3 , Adnan A Badwan  2
Affiliations

Influence of Chitin Source and Polymorphism on Powder Compression and Compaction: Application in Drug Delivery

Linda Al-Hmoud et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

The objective of the research reported herein is to compare the compaction properties of three different chitin extracts from the organisms most used in the seafood industry; namely crabs, shrimps and squids. The foregoing is examined in relation to their polymorphic forms as well as compression and compaction behavior. Chitin extracted from crabs and shrimps exhibits the α-polymorphic form whilst chitin extracted from squid pins displays a β-polymorphic form. These polymorphs were characterized using FTIR, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Pore diameter and volume differ between the two polymorphic powder forms. The β form is smaller in pore diameter and volume. Scanning electron microscopy of the two polymorphic forms shows clear variation in the arrangement of chitin layers such that the α form appears more condensed due to the anti-parallel arrangement of the polymer chains. True, bulk and tapped densities of these polymorphs and their mixtures indicated poor flowability. Nevertheless, compression and compaction properties obtained by applying Heckle and Kawakita analyses indicated that both polymorphs are able to be compacted with differences in the extent of compaction. Chitin compacts, regardless of their origin, showed a very high crushing strength with very fast dissolution which makes them suitable for use as fast mouth dissolving tablets. Moreover, when different chitin powders are granulated with two model drugs, i.e., metronidazole and spiramycin they yielded high crushing strength and their dissolution profiles were in accordance with compendial requirements. It is concluded that the source of chitin extraction is as important as the polymorphic form when compression and compaction of chitin powders is carried out.

Keywords: chitin; chitin characterization; chitin sources; compression analysis; crushing strength; disintegration; dissolution; polymorphs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
FTIR spectra of (a) CH-Cr, (b) CH-Sh (b), and (c) CH-Sq.
Figure 1
Figure 1
FTIR spectra of (a) CH-Cr, (b) CH-Sh (b), and (c) CH-Sq.
Figure 2
Figure 2
X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) patterns of CH-Cr, CH-Sh, and CH-Sq CH.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM image of (a) crab (CH-Cr), (b) shrimp (CH-Sh), and (c) squid (CH-Sq) CHs at 8000× magnification.
Figure 4
Figure 4
SEM image of (a) crab (CH-Cr), (b) shrimp (CH-Sh), and (c) squid (CH-Sq) CHs at 16,000× magnification.
Figure 5
Figure 5
SEM image of (a) crab (CH-Cr), (b) shrimp (CH-Sh), and (c) squid (CH-Sq) CHs at 30,000× magnification.
Figure 6
Figure 6
SEM image with measurement of fiber thickness of (a) shrimp (CH-Sh) CH at 16,000× magnification, (b) shrimp (CH-Sh) CH at 60,000× magnification, and (c) squid (CH-Sq) CH at 50,000× magnification.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Kawakita plots of crab (CH-Cr), shrimp (CH-Sh), and squid (CH-Sq) CHs.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Kawakita plots of CH-Sh9Sq1, CH-Sh7Sq3, and CH-Sh5Sq5 CH mixtures.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Heckel parameter (PY) for CH-Cr, CH-Sh, and CH-Sq and their mixtures.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Compression work for CH-Cr, CH-Sh, and CH-Sq CHs.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Compression work for CH-Sh9Sq1, CH-Sh7Sq3, and CH-Sh5Sq5 CH mixtures in comparison with pure CH-Sh and CH-Sq.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Dissolution profile for metronidazole (200 mg) tablets comprising compacted CHs or CH mixture (CH-Sh5Sq5) compared to Rodogyl® tablets.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Dissolution profile of spiramycin (0.75 M UI) tablets comprising compacted CHs or CH mixture (CH-Sh5Sq5) compared to Rodogyl® tablets.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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