Highly Compactable and Durable Direct Compression Excipients and Excipient Systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to solid dispersions including, but not limited to, co-processed carbohydrates with different solubilities and concentrations, which have a microcrystalline plate structure. The solid dispersions, excipient systems and formulations of the present invention are highly compactable and durable and when compressed into solid dosage forms demonstrate uniform densification, low friability at low pressures, and and/or relatively constant low disintegration times at various hardnesses. The solid dosage forms of the present invention demonstrate superior organoleptics, disintegration, and/or robustness.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solid dispersion comprising a combination of at least three co-processed carbohydrates with different solubilities and/or concentrations, wherein the solid dispersion has a microcrystalline plate structure. 
     
     
         2 . The solid dispersion of  claim 1 , wherein the microcrystalline plate structure has a thickness of about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns. 
     
     
         3 . The solid dispersion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three co-processed carbohydrates are polyols. 
     
     
         4 . The solid dispersion of  claim 3 , wherein the polyols are selected from the group consisting of mannitol, sorbitol, maltitol, lactitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomalt, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The solid dispersion of  claim 3 , wherein the polyols comprise a first polyol present in an amount of about 70 wt % to about 99.5 wt %, a second polyol present in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 30 wt %, and a third polyol present in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 30 wt %. 
     
     
         6 . The solid dispersion of  claim 5 , wherein the first polyol is mannitol, the second polyol is maltitol and the third polyol is sorbitol. 
     
     
         7 . The solid dispersion of  claim 5 , wherein the first polyol is mannitol, the second polyol is lactitol and the third polyol is sorbitol. 
     
     
         8 . The solid dispersion of  claim 1 , wherein the solid dispersion is coated. 
     
     
         9 . The solid dispersion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three co-processed carbohydrates are coated. 
     
     
         10 . The solid dispersion of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three co-processed carbohydrates are co-spray dried. 
     
     
         11 . The solid dispersion of  claim 1 , further comprising a glidant. 
     
     
         12 . The solid dispersion of  claim 11 , wherein the glidant is selected from the group consisting of talc, colloidal silica, silica gel, fumed silica, precipitated silica, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The solid dispersion of  claim 1 , wherein a melting point of the solid dispersion is not lowered by more than 5° C. than melting point of carbohydrate with the highest concentration. 
     
     
         14 . The solid dispersion of  claim 1 , wherein a heat of fusion of the solid dispersion is not reduced by more than 40 J/gm than heat of fusion of carbohydrate with the highest concentration. 
     
     
         15 . A solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion which comprises a combination of at least three co-processed carbohydrates with different solubilities and/or concentrations, wherein the solid dispersion has a microcrystalline plate structure. 
     
     
         16 . The solid dosage form of  claim 15 , further comprising an active ingredient. 
     
     
         17 . The solid dosage form of  claim 16 , wherein the active ingredient is coated. 
     
     
         18 . The solid dosage form of  claim 16 , wherein the active ingredient is uncoated. 
     
     
         19 . The solid dosage form of  claim 16 , wherein the solid dosage form further comprises a lubricant, optionally a disintegrant, optionally a glidant, optionally a sweetner, optionally a flavor, optionally a color, and optionally other excipients. 
     
     
         20 . The solid dosage form of  claim 19 , wherein the disintegrant is selected from the group consisting of crospovidone, alginic acid, croscarmellose sodium, guar gum, microcrystalline cellulose, polacrilin potassium, powdered cellulose, sodium alginate, and sodium starch glycolate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The solid dosage form of  claim 15 , wherein the solid dosage form has a compactability as defined by a hardness from about 22 kP to about 50 kP when about 13 kN to about 35 kN of compression force is applied. 
     
     
         22 . The solid dosage form of  claim 15 , wherein the solid dosage form has a durability as defined by a friability of about 0.5% or less when about 13 kN to about 35 kN of compression force is applied. 
     
     
         23 . The solid dosage form of  claim 15 , wherein the at least three co-processed carbohydrates are polyols. 
     
     
         24 . The solid dosage form of  claim 15 , wherein the at least three co-processed carbohydrates are coated. 
     
     
         25 . The solid dosage form of  claim 15 , wherein the solid dispersion is coated. 
     
     
         26 . The solid dosage form of  claim 15 , wherein the microcrystalline plate structure has a thickness of about 0.5 microns to about 5 microns. 
     
     
         27 . The solid dosage form of  claim 15 , wherein the at least three co-processed carbohydrates are co-spray dried. 
     
     
         28 . The solid dosage form of  claim 15 , further comprising a glidant. 
     
     
         29 . The solid dosage form of  claim 28 , wherein the glidant is selected from the group consisting of colloidal silica, silica gel, precipitated silica, fumed silica, talc and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The solid dosage form of  claim 23 , wherein the polyols are selected from the group consisting of mannitol, sorbitol, maltitol, lactitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomalt, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The solid dosage form of  claim 16 , wherein the solid dosage form has a hardness of about 1 kP to about 50 kP. 
     
     
         32 . The solid dosage form of  claim 16 , wherein the solid dosage form has a friability of about 0.01% to about 5%. 
     
     
         33 . The solid dosage form of  claim 19 , wherein the solid dosage form is a fast disintegrating tablet or a chewable. 
     
     
         34 . The solid dosage form of  claim 33 , wherein the solid dosage form disintegrates in oral cavity in less than about 60 seconds. 
     
     
         35 . The solid dosage form of  claim 16 , wherein the solid dosage form is a swallow tablet or a lozenge. 
     
     
         36 . The solid dosage form of  claim 35 , wherein the solid dosage form disintegrates in less than 10 minutes. 
     
     
         37 . The solid dosage form of  claim 23 , wherein the polyols comprise a first polyol present in an amount of about 70 wt % to about 99.5 wt %, a second polyol present in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 30 wt %, and a third polyol present an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 30 wt %. 
     
     
         38 . The solid dosage form of  claim 37 , wherein the first polyol is mannitol, the second polyol is maltitol and the third polyol is sorbitol. 
     
     
         39 . The solid dosage form of  claim 37 , wherein the first polyol is mannitol, the second polyol is lactitol and the third polyol is sorbitol.