Multilayer Chewing Gum Tablets with Antiadhesion Outer Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manufacturing processes for chewing gum, particularly those involving thermolabile substances, face challenges such as strong adherence of gum bases to tablet press punches, leading to inefficiencies and imperfections in the production of multilayer tablets, which complicates large-scale production and requires complex cooling systems and additional coating processes.
Innovation Solution
The development of multilayer tablets with an inner gum base layer and outer layers comprising antiadhesion excipients and compression adjuvants, such as Isomalt, Maltodextrin, and Xylitol, which prevent adherence to the punches during compression, allowing for high-speed production without heating the gum base and enabling the inclusion of thermolabile substances like drugs and probiotics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gum base is compressed directly to form tablets, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the gum base adheres strongly to the punches causing production inefficiency and requiring complex cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
A coating layer comprising antiadhesion excipients (such as silica, talc, or magnesium stearate) is applied to the gum base before compression. This intermediary layer acts as a mediator between the gum base and the punches, preventing direct contact and strong adhesion while allowing the compression process to proceed efficiently at high speed without requiring complex cooling systems.
2Ease of manufacture
If gum base is compressed directly, then the process is straightforward, but the tablet surface becomes irregular and non-homogeneous requiring additional coating processes
Solution Approach 1:
The antiadhesion excipient coating layer serves as an intermediary that not only prevents adhesion but also provides a smooth, uniform surface for the tablet. This coating layer compensates for the irregularities that would otherwise be present on the tablet surface, eliminating the need for additional coating processes while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Device complexity
If conventional compression is used without antiadhesion agents, then the process is simple, but the gum base adheres strongly requiring low production speed and complex cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The antiadhesion excipient coating acts as an intermediary substance that prevents the gum base from adhering to the punches. This allows the use of simple, conventional tablet press equipment without complex cooling systems while enabling high-speed production by eliminating the need for slow, controlled compression and subsequent cooling periods.
4Ease of manufacture
If gum base is heated to softening temperature for manufacturing, then the mixing and processing is easy, but thermolabile substances such as drugs and probiotics are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process parameter of temperature is changed from high (heating to softening temperature) to low (room temperature or ambient temperature). The gum base is processed at these lower temperatures without requiring heating, which preserves the integrity of thermolabile substances while still allowing for effective mixing and processing through alternative means such as mechanical mixing or cold compression.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution prevents adherence issues during compression, enables continuous high-speed manufacturing, and results in tablets with a smooth surface and improved organoleptic characteristics, effectively addressing the limitations of previous methods by allowing for the efficient production of thermolabile substance-containing chewing gums.
Implementation Method 1
The term 'antiadhesion excipients and compression adjuvants' means any substance or mixture of substances able to coat the inner layer of gum base with one or more layers which promote the process of compression of the system and prevent the punches from adhering to the tablet press.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are tablets having a sandwich-like structure comprising at least one inner layer of gum base containing one or more active pharmaceutical, dietetic or nutritional ingredients and two non-contigous outer layers comprising antiadhesion excipients and compression adjuvants preventing the adhesion to the punches of the tabletting machine and possibly active ingredients which are the same as or different from those present in the inner layer. Said tablets are obtainable by direct compression of mixtures or granulates of the various components of each layer.