Abstract

Nandana Krishnan* and Dr. Viresh K. Chandur

ABSTRACT

Pelletization is an advanced agglomeration technique widely used in pharmaceutical formulation to improve drug delivery, enhance bioavailability, and achieve controlled or sustained release. This process involves converting fine powders or granules into small, spherical, free-flowing units, commonly referred to as pellets. The pharmaceutical industry has adopted pelletization due to its ability to minimize dose dumping, reduce gastric irritation, and improve patient compliance. Various techniques, such as extrusion-spheronization, layering, balling, and fluidized bed coating, are employed to produce pellets with uniform drug distribution and controlled release properties. The formulation of pellets requires careful selection of excipients, including binders, fillers, disintegrants, and surfactants, to ensure stability and optimize drug release profiles. Factors such as moisture content, particle size, drying technique, and polymer selection play crucial roles in determining pellet characteristics. The use of polymers like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and β-cyclodextrins enhances pellet integrity and functionality. Recent advancements in pelletization technology, such as liquisolid pellets and micropellet-containing formulations, have further improved drug solubility and bioavailability. Innovative techniques like hot-melt extrusion, cryopelletization, and freeze pelletization allow for the development of novel drug delivery systems with enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, fluidized bed coating techniques, including top-spray, bottom-spray (Wurster), and tangential spray coating, provide precise control over drug release kinetics. This review explores the principles, methods, and recent developments in pelletization, highlighting its significance in modern pharmaceutical formulations. As research continues to advance, pellet-based drug delivery systems hold great promise for improving patient outcomes and expanding the range of therapeutic applications in oral dosage forms.