Development of post-compressional textural tests to evaluate the mechanical properties of medicated chewing gum tablets with high drug loadings

Medicated chewing gum tablets (CGTs) represent a unique platform for drug delivery. Loading directly compressible gums with high concentrations of powdered medication, however, results in compacts with hybrid properties between a chewable gum and a brittle tablet. The aim of the present study was to develop textural tests that can identify the point at which CGTs begin to behave like a solid tablet upon drug incorporation. Curcumin (CUR) CGTs made with Health in gum® were prepared with increasing CUR load from 0% to 100% and were characterized for their mechanical properties by a single bite (knife) and a two bites tests. From each test several parameters were extracted and correlated with drug loading. In the single bite test, the change in the resistance of the compacts to plastic deformation was found to give a definitive guide on whether they behave as gums or tablets. A more in depth analysis of the impact of CUR loading on the chewability of the CGTs was provided by the two bites test where CUR loading was found to have a non-linear impact on the mechanical properties of compacts. An upper limit of 10% was found to yield compacts with gum like properties, which were abolished at higher CUR loads. The textural test procedure outlined in this study are expected to assist those involved in the formulation of medicated gums for pharmaceutical applications in making an informed decision on the impact of drug loading on gum behavior before proceeding with clinical testing. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.