DRY COATING OF PHARMACEUTICAL POWDERS

This manuscript aims to figure out updated information on the dry coating of powder (DCP). In pharmaceutical processes, the inevitable is handling of fine and ultra-fine particles (FUFP). Their higher surface area associated surface and surface attributes contribute chiefly to exhibited complex phenomenon like bulk behaviors, physicochemical property, performances and functionalities of pharmaceutical importance, and many others. Nowadays particle engineering techniques are extensively exploited to modify surface and surface attributes of FUFP to find their worthy applications and new functionalities. Among available diverse techniques for particle engineering DCP is advocated as a worthy and efficient one. The DCP is considered to have multidisciplinary applications in drug development and drug delivery. Process basis of DCP calls for attaching and/or fixing the particles of coating material (PCM) or guest particle (GuP) onto the substrate/core particle (S/CP) or host particle (HoP). Fixing/ attaching the PCM onto HoPs mandates their interaction that may be mechanical, chemical, thermal, electro-chemical and many others. Scientific literature and patents are evidencing diverse processes and methods for interacting S/CPs or HoPs with PCM or GuPs. Amongst them, novel methods are Magnetically Assisted Impaction Coating (MAIC), Hybridizer®, Mechanofusion®, Theta Composer®, Electrostatic Dry Coating (EDC), Atomic/ Molecular Layer Deposition (ALMD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Principle and method of working, applicability, limitations, and benefits of novel DCP process and methods are discussed and presented in this article. It’s hope; that contained information will benefit pharmaceutical and allied field professionals.