Material, compressional and tableting properties of ipomea batatas (sweet potato) starch co-processed with silicon dioxide

This study aims to co-process native Ipomea batatas starch (NPS) with colloidal silicon dioxide and evaluate the properties of the co-processed excipient (CPS).The powder morphology was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) measurements.The compressional, mechanical and release properties of metronidazole tablet formulations were evaluated.NPS was predominantly oval in shape while CPS had more large truncated ellipsoidal granules.Both NPS and CPS exhibited spectra typical of a Type A XRD pattern, but CPS has a sharp peak with strong intensity at 27 0 2q which was absent in NPS.Although NPS had a faster onset of plastic deformation, the overall amount of plastic deformation was higher in CPS.Tablets formulated with CPS had faster dissolution than those containing similar concentration of NPS.The co-processing of Ipomea batatas starch with colloidal silicon dioxide resulted in modification of its powder and tableting properties.