What is the Difference Between Lubricant Glidant and Anti Adherent?

The main difference between lubricant, glidant, and anti-adherent lies in their functions in pharmaceutical formulations, specifically in tablet and capsule production:

1. Lubricant:

• Reduces friction between particles and machine parts.
• Prevents sticking to die walls.
• Commonly used lubricants are hydrophobic, such as magnesium stearate, and hydrophilic, such as sodium stearyl fumarate.

1. Glidant:

• Enhances the flowability of a powder by reducing interparticle friction.
• Increases the flow rate of the granules of the powder used for tablet formation.
• Commonly used glidants in the pharmaceutical industry are talc, starch, colloidal silica, and silicates.

1. Anti-adherent:

• Prevents sticking between the punch faces or, in the case of encapsulation, to machine dosators and tamping pins.
• Can be water-insoluble lubricants such as magnesium stearate, talc, and starch.

In summary, lubricants reduce friction between particles and machine parts, glidants promote the flowability of a powder, and anti-adherents prevent sticking between surfaces. These substances are used in pharmaceutical formulations to improve the production process and the quality of the final product.

Comparative Table: Lubricant Glidant vs Anti Adherent

The main differences between lubricants, glidants, and anti-adherents are their functions in tablet and capsule formulations. Here is a comparative table outlining their characteristics and roles:

Lubricants are substances added to tablet and capsule formulations to reduce friction between particles during tablet formation and prevent sticking to machine parts. Glidants, on the other hand, are used to increase the flowability of a powder by reducing interparticle friction, thus promoting the flow of tablet granules. Anti-adherents, such as magnesium stearate, talc, and starch, are used to prevent tablet granules from sticking to the die walls during the tablet formation process.