Introduction to iDPC Technology
iDPC is a novel, scalable and cost-effective formulation and manufacturing technology that processes powders in the dry state as well as coats small particles onto large particles without the use of heat, solvents or any physical mixing aid.
iDPC is a low shear, one-step particle coating technology process, consisting of 3 simple and controllable critical process parameters
How does iDPC operate?
The principle of dry coating with iDPC arises from the difference in particle size between the host and carrier. iDPC can coat small particles onto larger particles if they are at least 2-3 times smaller than the larger – nano onto micro, micro onto micro and micro onto millimetre
- Fractional, mono-/multi-layer coverage is achieved with excellent content uniformity
- Achieved at ambient temperature – no frictional heating from energetic particle/particle collisions or from mixing blades or other mechanical aids
- Applicable to APIs in all classes which includes small molecules and biologics
- Can process very dilute (< 0.1%w/w) to API rich (up to 90%w/w) concentration range
- Highly scalable benchtop (<1 - 20 g powder blends) translates directly to pilot (from 100 g to 2 kg powder blends) – 100 fold scalability
- Semi-continuous process at 10 kg/h in advanced development
iDPC Mechanism
iDPC consists of a fast rotating chamber coupled with a stationary gas blade. The mechanism by which iDPC operates is termed thin layer fluidisation which has 3 simultaneously occurring phases. iDPC drives the adsorption/adherence of fine “guest” particles onto the surface of coarse “carrier” without pre-conditioning particles leading to formulations with enhanced functionality, stability and predictable performance.
3 Phases of iDPC
iDPC consists of 3 simultaneously occurring phases, these distinct mechanistic steps include an initial de-agglomeration, particle dispersion and culminating particle adsorption phase.
- De-agglomeration: Fast rotating chamber forms a thin layer of powder at the chamber wall, pulling apart any agglomerates within the constituent powder
- Dispersion: Introduction of gas blade disrupts the thin layer, forming small fluidised pockets which drives the uniform dispersion of the fine particles through the coarse particles
- Adsorption: The dispersed fine particles adsorb onto the surface of the coarse particles in discrete fractional, ‘mono-/multi-layer’ coatings as a function of the relative concentration
