Functionality of chitin as a direct compression excipient: An acetaminophen comparative study

The particle and tableting properties of chitin extracted from shrimp exoskeletons were evaluated and compared with common excipients used for the preparation of tablets. Chitin offered more benefits in terms of functionality than calcium diphosphate, lactose monohydrate and pregelatinized starch. Further, highly plastic deforming materials such as sorbitol and PVP K30 and microcrystalline cellulose showed the best compactibility and dilution potential, whereas brittle deforming materials such as lactose monohydrate and calcium diphosphate were poorly compactable. Chitin had better compactibility than pregelatinized starch, calcium diphosphate and lactose monohydrate. Further, along with calcium diphosphate, chitin was the least sensitive material to compaction speed due to a combination of a plastic and brittle behavior. Moreover, chitin was less sensitive to magnesium stearate and possessed better acetaminophen loading capacity than pregelatinized starch, calcium diphosphate and lactose monohydrate. Chitin showed potential for use as a direct compression excipient.