Production of pregelatinised maize starch compared with maize starch as ingredient in pharmaceutical solid dose forms

Abstract

Pregelatinised maize starch was prepared from evaporating to dryness 8%w/v of maize starch mucilage and pulverising it. Its physicochemical properties were compared with maize starch powder. Its higher and tapped densities resulted in lower Carr's index. Its higher particle flow rate lower angle of reponse could render it a better candidate in capsule filling and tablet compression. The later properties could allow more uniform dose distribution by weight and lower power consumption for compression. Its higher intraparticulate porosity and more amorphous disruption by the gelatinisation could cause dose form faster disentegration and therefore enhanced faster dissolution for faster drug bioavailability.

Key words: Pregelatinised starch; Maize starch; Physicochemical properties, Comparative pharmaceutical excipient.

Nig. J. Pharm. Res. 3(1) 2004: 66-71