Comparative analyses/evaluation of the textural properties of naproxen sodium tablets and powders prepared using microwave and other drying techniques

Abstract The properties of oral tablets are normally related to the properties of the powders they contain. Characterization of oral tablets is important for the development of tablets with rapid and safe release of the active ingredient. In this study, a new formulation of naproxen sodium was prepared and dried using microwave drying (MWD) and the following conventional drying techniques: freeze-drying (FD), vacuum drying (VD), and convective drying (CD). The reference drug powder (RDP) and dry granules MWG, CDG, VDG, and FDG, which were dried using MWD, CD, VD, and FD, respectively were compressed to form tablets labeled RF-TAB, MW-TAB, CD-TAB, VD-TAB, and FD-TAB, respectively. The dry granules and prepared tablets were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. This study aimed to explore the correlation between the textural characteristics of the tablets and their respective powders for different drying methods. Although the morphologies of the dry particles were irregular, the prepared tablets were smooth and flat with few cracks. Drying increased the amorphous nature of the granules but decreased their crystallinity. The crystallinities of all tablets, except those prepared by VD, decreased after compression. In summary, the characteristics of the prepared tablets were acquired from their respective powders.