The aim of this study was to improve the physicochemical properties of cocoa extract (CE)\nusing hot-melt extrusion (HME) for pharmaceutical proposes. A mixture design was applied using\nthree distinct hydrophilic polymeric matrices (Soluplus, Plasdone S630, and Eudragit E). Systems\nobtained by HME were evaluated using morphologic, chromatographic, thermic, spectroscopic, and\ndiffractometric assays. The flow, wettability, and dissolution rate of HME powders were also assessed.\nBoth CE and its marker theobromine proved to be stable under heating according to thermal analysis\nand Arrhenius plot under isothermal conditions. Physicochemical analysis confirmed the stability of\nCE HME preparations and provided evidence of drugâ??polymer interactions. Improvements in the\nfunctional characteristics of CE were observed after the extrusion process, particularly in dissolution\nand flow properties. In addition, the use of a mixture design allowed the identification of synergic\neffects by excipient combination. The optimized combination of polymers obtained considering four\ndifferent aspects showed that a mixture of the Soluplus, Plasdone S630, and Eudragit E in equal\nproportions produced the best results (flowability index 88%; contact angle 47.; dispersibility 7.5%;\nand dissolution efficiency 87%), therefore making the pharmaceutical use of CE more feasible.
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