Controlled quality texture analysis

The method and rate at which tablets and other drug delivery systems enter the body are of vital importance.

Accurate texture analysis techniques from Stable Micro Systems (SMS) now allows the controlled release of the active ingredient to be measured, so optimising performance of the drug and ensuring patient comfort and safety.

SMS offers a reliable quality control technique for tableting technology which can be used at all stages of the manufacturing process, including research and development, ingredient selection, production and packaging.

The tests, carried out using the TA.XTplus texture analyser, allow manufacturers to measure a number of key characteristics - such as tablet compaction, hardness and gel swelling properties - which all influence the speed of drug release. Different attachments specific to the test requirements can be fixed to the texture analyser, allowing increased adaptability.

A commonly implemented method for characterising tablet properties, both for in-process monitoring and quality assurance testing at the end of production, is the diametral crushing test using the cyclinder probe. The maximum force value is the force required to cause initial mechanical failure of the tablet, followed by further breakdown.

Using Exponent software, this test calculates the area under the force applied versus tablet deformation as well as assessing the toughness of the tablet. This is important for manufacturers to monitor the degree of compaction and, therefore, the hardness of tablets which impact on the drug release and its effectiveness.

Many conventional strength analysis methods simply measure the force point where the tablet breaks, without taking these additional considerations into account.

Stable Micro Systems offers a range of texture analysis techniques that provide repeatable and accurate verification of the quality of raw materials, as well as an effective evaluation of the end-product performance.