Powdered cellulose as excipient for extrusion-spheronization pellets of a cohesive hydrophobic drug.

This study compared a powdered cellulose (PC) and a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as sole excipients in the preparation of furosemide pellets by extrusion-spheronization. Pellets prepared with PC and 25 or 50% furosemide showed smaller mean size, a broader particle size distribution, similar sphericity, greater surface roughness and higher friability than equivalent pellets prepared with MCC. Furosemide release rate was markedly higher from PC pellets, which may be attributable to their higher micropore volume.