Effect of colloidal silicon dioxide and moisture on powder flow properties: Predicting in-process performance using image-based analysis.

The effect of colloidal silicon dioxide (CSD) on powder flow properties of poor-flowing excipient lactose 200 M was investigated. Binary mixtures of different ratios of CSD as glidant were examined using a modern image-based flow measuring technique. Special attention was placed to subtle variations in powder flow from small changes in glidant concentration (0.

Image-based characterization of powder flow to predict the success of pharmaceutical minitablet manufacturing.

Powder flowability plays an important role in die filling during tablet manufacturing. The present study introduces a novel small-scale measuring technique for powder flow. Based on image analysis, the flow was defined depending on the variation of luminous intensity and the movement of powder inside the measurement cuvette.

Use of telephone and web interfaces of interactive response technology at clinical investigator sites in clinical trials.

Background: Interactive response technologies are used in clinical trials to provide services such as automated randomization and medication logistics management. The objective of this article is to investigate the usage of telephone (Interactive Voice Response) and web (Interactive Web Response) interfaces of interactive response technologies at clinical investigator sites in clinical trials, to obtain information about the preferences of interactive response technology end users between the telephone and web interfaces, and to explore the relevance of the telephone interface in this setting.

Methods: The data consist of an online survey conducted in spring 2016 with clinical investigators, study nurses, and pharmacists in 13 countries.

Atomic layer deposition-A novel method for the ultrathin coating of minitablets.

We introduce atomic layer deposition (ALD) as a novel method for the ultrathin coating (nanolayering) of minitablets. The effects of ALD coating on the tablet characteristics and taste masking were investigated and compared with the established coating method. Minitablets containing bitter tasting denatonium benzoate were coated by ALD using three different TiO nanolayer thicknesses (number of deposition cycles).

Evaluating optimal combination of clodronate and bioactive glass for dental application.

Both clodronate and bioactive glass are mostly used alone as treatment in various bone diseases but, they are also known to have beneficial effects in dental application. The same processes that lead to loss of bone can also result in alveolar bone loss. The object of this study was to define the optimal combination of clodronate and bioactive glass (BAG) to be used locally in dentistry.

Interaction of bioactive glass with clodronate.

Bone tissue engineering is a rapidly growing area of research involving the use of bioactive glass (BG) alone and in combination with different materials. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of BG with clodronate. Characterisation of the interaction between BG and clodronate was undertaken using; scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

The effect of water plasticization on the molecular mobility and crystallization tendency of amorphous disaccharides.

Purpose: To study how water plasticization affects the molecular mobility and crystallization tendency of freeze-dried trehalose, sucrose, melibiose and cellobiose.

Methods: Freeze-dried disaccharides were subjected to different relative humidity atmospheres and their physical stabilities were evaluated. Lyophilizate water sorption tendencies and glass transition temperatures were modeled using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Gordon-Taylor (GT) equations, respectively.

Rapid formulation screening with a Multipart Microscale Fluid bed Powder processor.

The aim of this study was to investigate early formulation screening in small scale with a miniaturized fluid bed device. Altogether eight different batches were granulated in a Multipart Microscale Fluid bed Powder processor (MMFP) with constant process conditions using electrostatic atomization. Atomization voltage and granulation liquid flow rate were kept constant.

Experiences of using the GMP audit preparation tool in pharmaceutical contract manufacturer audits.

Background: Use of external contractors is nowadays inevitable in the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore the amount of current good manufacturing practice audits has been increasing. During the audit, a large amount of items should be covered in a limited amount of time.

Compatibility of chewing gum excipients with the amino acid L-cysteine and stability of the active substance in directly compressed chewing gum formulation.

Using L-cysteine chewing gum to eliminate carcinogenic acetaldehyde in the mouth during smoking has recently been introduced. Besides its efficacy, optimal properties of the gum include stability of the formulation. However, only a limited number of studies exist on the compatibility of chewing gum excipients and stability of gum formulations.

Rheology and molecular mobility of amorphous blends of citric acid and paracetamol.

The aim of this study was to investigate the rheological properties, molecular mobility and crystallization tendency of pure citric acid and paracetamol or blends of them. Amorphous samples were produced by ethanol-evaporation or by melt-quenching. Enthalpy recovery, glass fragility and heat capacity were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Developing a tool for the preparation of GMP audit of pharmaceutical contract manufacturer.

Outsourcing is rapidly growing in the pharmaceutical industry. When the manufacturing activities are outsourced, control of the product's quality has to be maintained. One way to confirm contract manufacturer's GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliance is auditing.

Comparison of torque measurements and near-infrared spectroscopy in characterization of a wet granulation process.

The purpose of this study was to compare impeller torque measurements and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in the characterization of the water addition phase of a wet granulation process. Additionally, the effect of hydrate formation during granulation on the impeller torque was investigated. Anhydrous theophylline, alpha-lactose monohydrate, and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were used as materials for the study.

Evaluation of polar lipid-hydrophilic polymer microparticles.

The aim of the present study was to prepare controlled-release tablets of poorly-soluble drug, felodipine. Spray chilling was used to formulate the drug, the polar lipids and the hydrophilic polymers into solid dispersion microparticles, which were then compressed. The microparticles were characterised by Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies, X-ray powder diffraction, hot-stage microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and image analysis.

Measurement of pharmaceutical particles using a time-of-flight particle sizer.

The Aerosizer is an instrument for time-of-flight measurement, which is widely used in particle size determinations. The results of various studies indicate that there are still some problems related to the optimization of the analysis conditions. In this study, the behaviour of a set of different kinds of pharmaceutical particles during Aerosizer measurements was studied.

Evaluation of solid dispersion particles prepared with SEDS.

Formation of solid solution particles in the Solution Enhanced Dispersion by Supercritical fluids (SEDS) process from a model drug and two different types of carriers, mannitol and Eudragit E100 was evaluated. The crystal properties of samples and molecular interactions were investigated with DSC and FTIR, respectively. The effect of co-crystallisation of drug and mannitol on dissolution rate was studied.

Evaluation of controlled-release polar lipid microparticles.

The aim of the present study was to prepare controlled-release tablets of poorly-soluble drug, felodipine, and various erodable lipophilic excipients. Spray chilling was used to formulate the drug and the excipients into solid dispersion microparticles, which were then compressed. The microparticles were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, hot-stage microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and image analysis.