Technical Field

The subject of the present invention is a method for the manufacturing of a solid body as an oral dosage form of a pharmaceutical or a food supplement

Background Art

For production of a solid body as an oral dosage form for pharmaceutical use or for food supplements like tablets and capsules lubricants are required. The lubricants avoid for example that materials stick to the punches and dies of the tablet press or the tamping pins and segments and it avoids the seizing of the dosing disc and tamping ring of a capsule filler. These lubricants were typically chosen from the class of fatty acids or fatty acids metals like magnesium stearate or stearic acid.

Patients and consumers looking for natural/organic products also in the field of pharmaceuticals and food supplements.

The use of natural fats is limited because they are difficult to handle regarding mixing and blending because they are not free flowing, have no powder characteristics, agglomerate and flow together to create big blocks.

US2013/0296445 A1 discloses a natural lubricant However, said the lubrication is based on bean powder and is therefore not a stabilized fatty acid with a melting point below 65°C, monoglyceride, dig lyceride, triglyceride, wax with structure building agent.

US 2009/0317461 A1 discloses an oral composition in the form of a pressed tablet with a lubricant such as coconut oil in minor amounts. However, coconut oil tends to melt easily already at the beginning of said tablet-forming process or even before. The result is the formation of lumps or clots which renders the tablet forming process and the uniform distribution of active agents in the tablet difficult to achieve. Said document further discloses the use of maltodextrin as an encapsulation agent for encapsulate breath freshening compounds. The formation of a matrix together with an oil in order to form a matrix is not disclosed. US 6,932,979 B2 discloses the formation of a chewable tablet, which is not comparable to a compacted powder of the current invention. A formation of a matrix prior to the compactation process to avoid the melting and flowing away of said coconut oil under pressure or temperature is not disclosed.

US 6,280,797 B1 and US 6.030,605 A disclose the formation of a breath freshening comestible product. Said product may comprise coconut oil and further compounds but no formation of a matrix prior to a compactation process to avoid the melting and flowing away of said coconut oil under pressure or temperature.

WO 2005/102288 A2 as well as WO 2009/023544 A2 and FR 2 997 301 A3 also disclose the use of pure and unstabilized coconut oil as a lubricant as a confectionery for a pharmaceutical drug and in other applications.

WO 2016/081671 A1 discloses the provision of a novel pharmaceutical polymer matrix composition of dimethyl furmarate as an active agent. The polymer matrix is made of release agent made of organic polymers. Additionally, to said polymer matrix composition a tablet may have further components such as fillers (Maltodextrin) or lubricants (Coconut Oil). However, a matrix made of a stabilized lubricant prior to the compactation is not disclosed in WO 2016/081671 A1.

Although coconut oil is often mentioned as a suitable lubricant a compactation of a powder comprising coconut oil is difficult, because coconut oil tends to drip out at the first application of a pressure during the beginning of the compactation process. Said molten oil tends to form clots or lumps with the powder ingredient which enhances the flow of the powder. Therefore, the lubricant function is disproved with the use of oils having a low melting point.

Object of the invention

With regards to the cited state-of-the-art, one object of the current invention is to provide a solid body for as oral dosage form.

It is a further object of the current invention to provide a new method for the production of said solid body.

Disclosure of the invention The current invention overcomes the aforementioned objections resulting from said state-of-the-art with the subject-matter of claim 1 .

A solid body produced by a method according to the invention for an oral dosage consists of a compacted powder formulation or compacted powder blend formulation.

Said powder formulation or powder blend formulation comprises at least a lubricant for an enhanced removal of said solid body from a compacting machine, wherein said lubricant is selected from a group consisting of one or more fatty acids with a melting point below 65°C, monoglyceride, diglyceride, triglyceride, wax and/or a way or mixtures thereof.

Said lubricant has a melting point above --10°C, preferably above 20°C.

The concentration of lubricant within said powder formulation or powder blend formulation is less than or equal to 30 % by weight of the powder or powder blend formulation.

The inventive method for the manufacturing of the inventive solid body, comprised of the following steps:

A Providing a formulation of the powder or powder blend with the ingredients including the lubricant in molten or non-molten state; and

B Compacting said formulation in a compacting machine, such that a solid body is formed, and

C Removal said powder form said compacting machine.

Said step A may preferably comprises of mixing in a mixing device, preferably in a fluid bed, high shear mixer, v-blender, ribbon blender, paddle blender, bin blender, intermediated bulk container blender, extruder and/or spray drier.

Said step A may further comprise the addition of a compounding agent.

According to the invention Step A comprises the addition of a structure building agent, wherein a solid matrix is formed between the structure building agent and the lubricant. Further ingredients of the powder formulation or powder blend formulation can also be part of the solid matrix.

Said matrix may preferably formed by spray formation, more preferably during a spay drying or by fluid bed granulation or by fluid bed coating or by compounding equipment, which is capable for heating and cooling preferable in an extruder.

Step B may be done in a capsule filling machine or a tablet press.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are subject-matter of the dependent claims.

The concentration of lubricant within the powder formulation or powder blend formulation can be between 0,1 - 30 % by weight, preferably between 0,2- 25% by weight and more preferably between 0,5 -15 % by weight.

The powder formulation or powder blend formulation further may preferably comprise of a structure building agent, preferably for enhancing the thermal stability and/or protection the powder characteristics for easy handling of said lubricant. Thermal stability and/or protection of the powder characteristics might be achieved by preforming a matrix structure between the lubricant and the structure building agent before added to further ingredients of the powder formulation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the solid body is a tablet or a capsule. In the case of a capsule, for example a gel-based capsule, gelatine-based capsule, a Cellulose based capsule or another film forming polymer-based capsule, the compacting action might be done by an agglomeration of powder inside before into the gel or film forming material weather by under a pressure below atmospheric pressure, more preferably under vacuum or mechanical by the use of tamping pins

The solid body can also be merely a temporary product which is temporary formed to be filled into a stick pack or sachets.

The lubricant is a lubricant from natural origin, preferably of animal- or plant-based origin. This origin further enhances the acceptance of the solid body for oral dosage by the users. The structure building agent is according to the invention a stabilizer, preferably of plant-based origin or an identical synthetical product thereof, a derivate of a plant origin substance, such as a degradation product or a synthetic substance. According to the invention said structure building agent is provided prevent the lubricant either from melting and/or from flowing away in a molten state. Thus, the powder characteristics are kept before and during the compactation.

As a consequence, the oil stays inside the matrix before and during compactation. It migrated to the surface of the compacted powder to enhance the lubrication but it will not accumulate and flow away at the beginning of the compactation process. This is due to the stabilization of the oil inside the matrix.

As a further aspect of stabilization, it was discovered that the drop point, also referred to as dropping point, drip point or dropping point is increased by the formation of said matrix.

The drop point indicates the upper temperature limit at which a lubricant retains its structure though is not necessarily the maximum temperature at which a grease can be used.

A further advantage according to the invention is thus the preparation of tablets and capsules by compactation such as pressing with the help of a lubricant of natural oils, grease and waxes whose dropping point is less than 40°C and whose dropping point has been increased by at least 15°C, preferably at least 25°C, more preferably at least 35°C by stabilization in the matrix together with the structure building agent. The by choosing an adequate amount of structure building agent, the dropping point of the stabilized lubricant can be regulated accordingly to the aforementioned values of said temperature difference.

In current times ambient temperatures may easily achieve 40°C. Under these conditions the stabilized lubricant basically remains in its solid structure, which is a further advantage for the storage and productions in times of climate change.

Said lubricant and said structure building agents are preferably the only compounds in said matrix. Other compounds such as active agents, fillers, deodorizing agents and more might be part of the compacted powder but not part of the matrix formed prior to the compacting of said powder. The powder formulation or the powder blend formulation may further comprise at least one substance to improve and/or shape the body and/or improve the body and/or soul feeling.

Said substance to improve and/or shape the body and/or improve the body and/or soul feeling might be selected from a group consisting of one or more vitamins, plant ingredients, plant exudates and/or extracts, animal exudates and/or extracts, a dried plant and/or animal powders, phytochemicals, mineral nutrients, micronutrients, essential nutrients and mixtures thereof or an identical synthetical product or derivate of the aforementioned substances.

An identical synthetic product might be understood as being the main ingredient of the substance from natural origin with the identical chemical formula.

The powder formulation and/or powder blend formulation may further comprise a binder and/or emulsifier and/or stabilizer.

Said structure building agent might be selected from a group consisting of carbohydrates, monosaccharides, di-, tri- oligo-, poly- saccharides, and derivates, sugar alcohols and derivates, Cellulose and modified Cellulose, Plant exudates and extracts, dry Plants and powder of dry plants, Proteins and derivates, Microbial- or animal polysaccharides, organic acids, inorganic salts, Lipids, Phospholipids, synthetic polymers, phytochemicals, water soluble derivates from plants, milk powder, milk powder derivates, silicone dioxide and silicone dioxide derivates, amino acids, peptides, proteins, active pharmaceutical ingredient, the substance to improve and/or shape the body and/or improve the body and/or soul feeling, and/or mixtures thereof

In a further preferred embodiment said carbohydrate might be selected from a group consisting of one or more Erythrose, Threose, Ribose, Arabinose, Xylose, Lyxose, Allose, Altrose, Glucose, Mannose, Gulose, Idose, Galactose, Talose, Erythrulose, Ribulose, Xylulose, Piscose, Fructose, Sorbose, Tagatose, Trehalose, saccarose, lactulose, lactose, maltose, cellobiose, chitobiose, , ethylene glycol, glycerol, erythritol, threitol, arabitol, xylitol, ribitol, mannitol, sorbitol, galactitol, fucitol, inositol, volemitol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, Maltotriitol, Maltotetraitol, Poly- glycitol, Starch and modified Starch, Amylose, Amylopectin, Dextrins, maltodextrin, Polydextrose, Cyclodextrin and/or mixtures thereof. Said cellulose and/or the cellulose derivate might be selected from a group consisting of one or more microcrystalline cellulose, methylcellulose ethylcellulose, sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose, crosslinked carboxymethylcellulose and/or mixtures thereof.

Said plant extrudate and/or extract might be selected from a group consisting of Gum Arabic, Gum Karaya, Pectins, coconut extracts and/or mixtures thereof.

Said protein might be selected from a group consisting of one or more casein, whey proteins, gelatin, gluten, collagen, milk proteins and/or mixtures thereof.

Said microbial- and/or animal polysaccharide might be selected from a group consisting of one or more chitosan, xanthan, alginate acids, carragenan, agar, agarose and/or mixtures thereof.

Said organic acid might be selected from a group consisting of one or more lactic acid, tartaric acids, tatronic acid, butyric acid, gamma hydroxy butyric acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, malonic acid, malic acid, oxalacetic acid, squar- ic acid, crotonic acid, iso crotonic acid, vinyl acetic acid, valeric acid, allylacetic acid, glutaric acid, ketoglutaric acid, citric acid, iso citric acid, aconitic acid, capron acid, sorbic acid, adipic acid, gluconic acid, enanthic acid, pimelic acid, caprylic acid, suberic acid, pelargonic acid, azelaic acid, capric acid, sebacic acid or deri- vates of the aforementioned organic acids and/or mixtures thereof.

Said synthetic polymer might be selected from a group consisting of one or more poloxamer, polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, polylactic acids, poly(lactic- coglycolic acid) Polyvinylpyrrolidone and/or mixtures thereof.

Said amino acid might be selected from a group consisting of one or more arginine, histidine, lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, threonine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, selenocysteine, glycine, proline, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophane and/or mixtures thereof.

The powder formulation or the powder blend formulation may further comprise of a pharmaceutical active ingredient.

Said additional emulsifier might be selected from a group consisting of one or more bentonite, cetyl alcohol, cetyl stearyl alcohol, cholesterol, emulsifying ce- tostearyl alcohol, glycerol mono stearate, laureth-2, laureth-4, lecithin, magnesium stearate, macrogol stearate, mono-, diglycerides from fats, sodium cetyl stearyl sufate, sodium laurylsulafte, oleic alcohol, phospholipide, polaxamer, polysorbate, saccarose ester, sorbitanmonolaurate, sorbitanmonopalmitate, sorbitanmonos- tearate, sorbitanmonooolate, starylalcohol, triethaolamine, triethanolamine with fatty acid, wool wax, wool wax alcohols, lanolin, xanthan. Substances with the following E Number E304 (Ascorbylpalmitate), E322 (lecithin), E338 (phosphoric acid), E339 (sodium phosphate), E340 (kalium phlosphate); E341 (calcium phosphate); E343 (magnesiumorthophosphate); E405 (propylenglykolalginate); E430 (polyoxyethylene 8 stearate); E431 (polyoxyethylenstearate); E442 (ammonium phosphatide); E450 (sodium and kalium phosphate); E471 mono and diglycerides from food fatty acids); E572 a (acetic acid mono glyceride), E572b (lactic acid mono glycerides), E572 c (citric acid monoglycerides; E472 d (tartaric acid mono glycerides); E 472 e (diacetyl tartaric acid mono glycerides); E473 (sugar ester from food fatty acids), E474 (sugar glycerides); E475 (polyglycerides from food fatty acids); E476 (polyglycerin-polyricinoleate); E477 (propylenglycolester from food fatty acids); E481 (sodium stearyoyllactylate); E482 (calciumstearoyl-2- lactylate); E483 (stearyl tartrate); E491 (sorbitan monostearate); E570 (stearic acid) and/or mixtures thereof.

Preferably the triglyceride and/or wax may originate from a natural source without further processing.

Alternatively, the triglyceride might be a hydrogenated triglyceride.

Said triglyceride might be a substance which originates from the source selected from a group of one or more Cashew oil, Acaj oil, Field mustard oil, baobab oil , Ajwain Oil , Algae oil, Andiroba oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Argan Oil, Avellana oil, Avocado oil, Babassu oil ,balanite oil, Cottonseed Oil ,Behen oil , Borage seed oil , Beech nut oil, Calophyllum oil, Catappa oil, Chaulmoogra oil, Chufa oil, cupuacu butter, safflower oil, peanut oil I african. Peanut oil, Esparto wax , Fennel oil Fulwatalg, pomegranate seed oil Rose hip oil I wild rose oil, Hemp oil, Hazelnut oil, lllipe fat, Japanese tallow, Jatropha curcas seed oil, currant seed oil, St. John's wort oil , Jojoba oil I jojoba wax , Coffee Bean Oil, Cocoa butter, Kapok oil, carnauba wax, carrot oil, kiwi oil, Coconut Oil, Cocum Butter, coriander oil, Croton Oil, Kukui Nut Oil, caraway seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, camelina oil, flaxseed oil, laurel oil, macadamia oil, macassar oil, madia oil, com oil, almond oil, mango seed oil, marula oil, poppy seed oil, mowrah butter, myrica wax, evening primrose oil, neem oil, niger oil, oiticica oil, olive oil, Ootanga oil, palm kernel oil I palm oil, bell pepper oil, brazil nut oil, passion fruit seed oil, pecan Oil, peril la Oil, parsley seed oil, pepper oil, peach Kernel Oil, pine Oil I pine nut Oil, pistachio (kernel) oil, rapeseed oil, Rice germ oil, Castor oil, Sea buckthorn oil I sea buckthorn pulp oil, Black Seed Oil, Sesame oil I sesame oil roasted seeds, Shea Butter, soybean oil, Sunflower oil, Stillingia oil, Tea seed oil, tomato seed oil, Tung Oil, Walnut Oil, Grape seed oil, wheat germ oil, beeswax and/or mixtures thereof.

Said fatty acid, mono-, di-, or triglyceride and/or wax might be at least partly bound within a matrix structure as a part of the powder formulation or the powder blend formulation, wherein the matrix structure further comprises the structure building agent, and wherein the concentration of said fatty acid, mono-, di-, or triglyceride or wax within the matrix structure is between 5-95% by weight of said matrix structure, preferably 10-93% by weight of said matrix structure, more preferably 20-92% by weight of said matrix structure. In the case the active pharmaceutical ingredient or the substance to improve and/or shape the body and/or improve the body and/or soul feeling is the structure building substance the concentration of said fatty acid, mono-, di-, or triglyceride or wax within the matrix structure is between 0,05-30% by weight of said matrix structure, preferably 0.1-20% by weight of said matrix structure, more preferably 0.2-15% by weight of said matrix structure.

Said the matrix might be within the powder formulation or powder blend formulation with a concentration between 0, 1 %-30% by weight of said powder formulation or powder blend formulation, preferably 0,2- 25% by weight, more preferably 0,5- 15% by weight. In the caste the active pharmaceutical ingredient, the substance to improve and/or shape the body and/or improve the body and/or soul feeling is the structure building substance the concentration would be 0,1-100%. In this case the matrix structure may also comprise powder particles incorporated in the matrix.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the compacting is provided by mechanical compaction force or by loading a base material into gel-based body, gelatine-based body, a Cellulose based body or another film forming polymer based body with the powder or powder-blend formulation at conditions below atmospheric pressure or mechanical by the use of the tamping pin

Said fatty acid, mono-, di-, triglyceride and/or wax might be added to further ingredients of the powder formulation or powder blend formulation in a molten form. Alternatively said fatty acid, mono-, di-, triglyceride and/or wax were added to further ingredients of the powder formulation or powder blend formulation dissolved in a solvent.

Said fatty acid, mono-, di-, triglyceride and/or wax might also be added to further ingredients of the powder formulation or powder blend formulation such that they are melted and dispersed in a solvent previous to said addition.

Brief Description of the drawings (Figures and Tables)

Some advantageous embodiments for inventive method and the composition of a solid body being a compacted powder formulation or powder blend formulation are further explained in detail below together with drawings. Specific parts of the different embodiments can be understood as separate features that can also be realized in other embodiments of the invention. The combination of features described by the embodiment shall not be understood as a limitation for the invention:

Fig. 1 a diagram about the ejection force for different powder formulations after slug formation for simulating the capsule filling process

Fig. 2 a formula and a diagram about the tendencies for the evaluation of a flow function;

Fig. 3 diagram of the shear stress for different applied stresses;

Fig. 4 principle measurement unit for the measurement of the shear stress;

Fig. 5 a diagram about the ejection force for different powder formulations after slug formation for simulating the capsule filling process;

Fig. 6 a diagram about the ejection force for different powder formulations after slug formation for simulating the capsule filling process

Fig. 7 a diagram about the radial tensile strength and ejection forces from the tablet press of different powder formulations.

Mode for Carrying out the invention In a preferred embodiment stabilized natural fats or fatty acids are used in a compacted powder, wherein said natural fats or fatty acids have with a melting point higher than --10°C. This stabilization is reached by a structure building agent which acts in combination lubricants for the production of oral solid dosage forms and thus stabilizes the used natural fat or fatty acids. The stabilization of the natural fat or fatty acids could preferably be done into two different methods.

In a first embodiment for a production method A, a natural fat or fatty acids is added in a molten or non-molten state to the further ingredients of the capsule or tablet alone or in combination with agent which supports the compounding of the ingredients. The pure substance or the mixture is the structure building substance

The addition of the natural fat or fatty acids could be done in a fluid bed, high shear mixer, extruder, spray drier and any other kind of mixing device.

The produced material exhibits similar benefits, likewise products blended with metal fatty acids or fatty acids. Likewise, less ejection force in the slug tester, capsule filler, tablet press, or allows longer run time without cleaning in the capsule filler or tablet press, less wearing of the parts, better flow of the material into the dosing disk of the capsule filler or die of the tablet press.

In a second embodiment for a production method B natural fat is initially transformed into a matrix structure and by stabilizing and transforming the natural fat by spray forming. For this purpose, the natural fat is stabilized before mixed with the other ingredient with a structure-building agent.

The structure-building agent could be maltodextrin coconut extract and other used matrix forming substances. The matrix structure could be produced in a spray drier, fluid bed, high-shear mixer or any other kind of mixer preferable high shear mixer, v-blender, ribbon blender, paddle blender, bin blender, intermediated bulk container blender. Depending on the production equipment the natural fat is blended before processing for example during spray drying or during the processing with structure building substance for example high-shear mixing.

The natural fat matrix structure can be blended together with the other ingredients of solid oral dosage form. The final blend exhibits similar benefits likewise products blended with metal fatty acids or fatty acids. Likewise, less ejection force in the slug tester, capsule filler, tablet press, or allows longer run time without cleaning the capsule filler or tablet press, less wearing of the parts, better flow of the material into the capsule or die of the tablet press.

The different embodiments of production methods A and B are described by the following examples of preparation:

Example 1 (Method A):

Preparation:

Tumeric Powder: 3000g

Maltodextrin: 120g

Coconut Oil: 60g.

Water 2000g

Maltodextrin and coconut oil were added to heated water above 80°C and a dispersion was formed.

The dispersion was sprayed on to tumeric powder in a fluid bed. The process parameters were chosen from an expert and are dependent on the type of fluid bed and size.

For example, Solidlab 2 from Huttlin/Germany 180 m ³ /h, 75°C inlet air temperature; 90 g/min spray rate; spray pressure 0,7 bar and 0,15 bar microclimate.

The lubrication was tested by the use of a Slugtester from company Bosch. The slug was compressed 5 times with 100N. Afterwards the slug was ejected from the die and the maximal ejection force applied to the slug to remove it from the die was measured in Newtons and displayed in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1 , the ejection force was significantly reduced which allows the expert to draw the conclusion that the lubricated turmeric will perform much better in the process of capsule filling

Example 2 (Method A):

Preparation:

Calcium Citrate: 4500

Maltodextrin: 110g Coconut Oil: 90g.

Water 2000g

The maltodextrin and coconut oil were added to heated water above 80°C and a dispersion was formed. The dispersion was sprayed to the citric salt powder in a fluid bed. The process parameters were chosen from an expert and are depending of the type of fluid bed and size.

For example, Solidlab 2 from Huttlin/Germany 200 m ³ /h, 75°C inlet air temperature; 100 g/min spray rate; spray pressure 0,7 bar and 0,15 bar microclimate.

The ejection force was significantly reduced which allows the expert to draw the conclusion that the lubricated turmeric will perform much better in the process of capsule filling.

Preparation according to Method B

A natural fat source together with a stabilizing agent to form a matrix is used for the lubrication:

Example 3 (Method B) - Flow Function measurement:

Powder evaluation:

The powder evaluation was done in a FT4 powder rheometer from the company Micromeritics.

The flowability of the powder can be described by the shear stress (yield) to move powder vs. powder defined at different normal forces

As shown in Fig. 2 the flow function coefficient ffC or FF is defined as the ratio of consolidation stress (<J1 ) to unconfined yield stress (<JC)

Fig. 3 shows the shear stress as a function of the normal stress for different lubricants. An understanding of said stresses can be derived from Fig. 4. Rice starch lubricant and magnesium stearate are well known as lubricants. The matrix structure of coconut oil is used according to the invention as a lubricant.

The coconut oil/matrix consist of 45% coconut oil and 55% Maltodextrin. The rice starch lubricant is a commercial product BonuTab organic well known in the in- dustry for similarly applications. Magnesium Stearate (MgStearate) is a well known lubricant in the industry.

The FF value was significantly reduced which allows the expert to draw the conclusion that the coconut oil matrix has a better flow compared to the rice lubricant and the magnesium stearate. This facilitates the processing in the production of tablets and capsules.

Example 4 (Method B) - Wall friction measurement:

Wall friction is defined as frictional resistance between a powder and the wall surface of the equipment. For the measurement a wall friction head of stainless steel (Ra = 0,05pm) and a pre-shear force of 3 kPa was used.

For this measurement the following general conclusion applies: The higher the wall friction angle (WFA), the higher the mechanical interaction between a powder sample and the wall surface and the less likely the powder slides or the greater chance the powder sticks at the surface.

An understanding of said stresses can be derived from Fig. 4.

Again, the coconut oil/matrix consist of 45% coconut oil and 55% maltodextrin. The rice starch lubricant as the commercial product BonuTab and Magnesium Stearate (MgStearate) are a well-known lubricants in the industry. The WAF angle of the matrix structure was significantly lower which allows the expert to draw the conclusion that the coconut oil matrix-structure has excellent lubrication properties.

Example 5 (Method B) - Wall friction measurement of different blends:

The lubricant magnesium stearate, rice lubricant and different coconut oil matrix were blended with typical excipients from the pharmaceutical food supplement industry. The coconut oil/matrix A consist of 45% coconut oil and 55% coconut extract, the coconut oil/matrix B consist of 65% coconut oil and 35% coconut extract, the coconut oil/matrix C consist of 45% coconut oil and 45% coconut maltodextrin. The rice lubricant was BonuTab organic a commercially available lubricant also for the replacement of magnesium stearate. The amount of lubricant is given in the brackets. Lactose as was a spray dried lactose. MCC was microcrystalline cellulose with the grade 101 and “DCPA” is Dicalcium phosphate anhydrous. The wall friction angle was measured similar to the methods of Example 2.

It was possible to reduce the WAF angle by addition of the different coconut oil matrix structures to the blends. Also, in comparison to other lubricants the coconut oil/ matrix shows excellent or even superior results.

Example 6 (Method B) - measurement of the ejection force

The ejection force of Calcium Citrate ingredients and blend of coconut oil/matrix and different other lubricants was measured

A Slug tester as described in Example 1 was used

The ejection force in the slug tester was measured with pure calcium citrate and blended calcium citrate with different lubricants. Coconut oil matrix, two different rice starch lubricants, both of which are well known in the industry for similar applications for the replacement of magnesium stearate (BonuTab organic and Nu-Mag), and different concentrations of magnesium stearate (Mgsterate) were used as lubricants.

The coconut oil/matrix consists of 45% coconut oil and 55% maltodextrin. The amount of lubricant is given in the brackets. 2. The ejection force was measured in the slug tester as described in example 1 . The results are shown in Fig. 6

As shown in Fig. 6 the ejection force of the coconut oil matrix was significantly less than the rice lubricants and 1 .5% magnesium stearate which allow the expert to draw the conclusion that the coconut oil matrix has excellent lubrication properties.

Example 7 (Method B) - measurement of the ejection force

A Slug tester was used as described in example 1 .

The ejection force in the slug tester was measured with pure tumeric and blended tumeric with different lubricants. Coconut oil matrix, two different rice starch lubricants, which both well known in the industry for similar applications for the replacement of magnesium stearate (BonuTab organic and Nu-Mag), and different concentrations of magnesium stearate (Mg-stearate) were used as lubricants.

The coconut oil/matrix consist of 45% coconut oil and 55% maltodextrin. The amount of lubricant is given in the brackets. 2. The ejection force was measured in the slug tester as described in example 1 . Fig. 6 shows the results of these measurements.

As shown in Fig. 6, the ejection force of the coconut oil matrix was significantly less than the rice lubricants and almost similarly to 2.0%magnesium stearate which allows the expert to draw the conclusion that the coconut oil matrix has excellent lubrication properties.

Example 8 (Method B) - measurement of the radial tensile strength and ejection force

Three different blends of microcrystalline cellulose 95% and 3 different lubricants with 5% lubricants were blended and compressed. The different lubricant were: 45% Coconut oil with 55% of the structure building agent maltodextrin, 65% Coconut oil with 35% structure building agent of coconut extract and a commercially available rice lubricant (Compactcel lub) which is known in the industry for the replacement of magnesium stearate.

The compression pressure of the tablet press to radial tensile strength and ejection force was plotted against each other. The breaking strength was measured with a hardness tester from Sotax and the radial strength were calculated accordingly. The results are shown in Fig. 7. The resulting radial tensile strength with the same pressure results in weaker tablet with the commercial rice lubricant. A high radial tensile strength with the same compression force leading to more stable tablets is a significant benefit against the commercially available rice lubricant.

The ejection force of the coconut oil matrix was significantly less than the rice lubricants which allows the expert to draw the conclusion that the coconut oil matrix have excellent lubrication properties.

As a further aspect of the stabilization by incorporation in a matrix is the enhancement of the dropping point of the lubricant.

The determination of the dropping point was done according to Ph. EUR. (European Pharmacopoeia). Here, the substance is heated in a standardized apparatus until a drop is separated from a standardized surface. This temperature is usually slightly above the melting point with 2-5°C. Under these conditions normal coconut oil has a dropping point of 26.2 and the coconut oil stabilized within the matrix with the structure building agent has a dropping point of 67°C.

The advantage of the formation of the matrix is demonstrated for the following method steps. As an example for this, the flowability of different powders were compared. Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) mixed with coconut against MCC mixed with stabilized coconut oil as previously described. The same tests were repeated with xylitol granules. The concentrations in the samples were the same and in the typical concentration for lubricants. Flowability is one of the critical powder properties for tableting and capping. The method 2.2.17 from the Ph. EUR was used for this determination. This determines how long a certain mass of powder is needed to flow through a standardized funnel. The mixtures with the normal coconut oil were so bad that they did not flow out at all. Here no more time indications were possible as well as no determination how much percent of the coconut oil flowed out. This is because the pure coconut oil cannot be incorporated and not evenly distributed.

Flow - Test conditions:

Ph. EUR 2.9.16 method a funnel with a 10mm opening at the bottom 51.25 g of powder was placed in the funnel. The time for all product to pass through the container was recorded.

Observations:

For MCC102: the flow was poor and required tapping on the side of the container to initiate flow

For Xylitol Granular Xylitol was free flowing

For Coconut Oil: The coconut oil was very poorly dispersed in both powder mixtures, this cause lumping which prevented the product from leaving the container resulting in an incomplete test

For stabilized CNO (coconut oil): The flow for both powder mixtures products was similarl to the pure MCC 102 and Xylitol