Influence of the roll compactor parameter settings and the compression pressure on the buccal bio-adhesive tablet properties

Miconazole buccal tablets were prepared via a dry granulation process. By applying a factorial design (2⁴), the roll compactor parameters (compaction force, gap between the rolls, type of the rolls (smooth, ribbed) and the sieve aperture) were optimised for the tablet strength. The compaction force and the roll type significantly affected the tablet strength. Afterwards, a quarter fractional factorial design (2^5-2) was applied, consisting of the four compactor parameters and additionally the compression pressure, in order to optimise these parameters for the dissolution profile and the buccal bio-adhesion characteristics (bio-adhesive force and energy). In order to evaluate the dissolution profiles properly, the similarity factor between sample and a zero-order release reference profile was used. The compression pressure and the roll type significantly affected the dissolution profile. The sieve aperture had a significant effect on the buccal adhesion properties and the compaction force had a significant effect on the dissolution profile and the bio-adhesive energy. The gap between the rolls affected the bio-adhesive force significantly.