Monitoring of multiple solid-state transformations at tablet surfaces using multi-series near-infrared hyperspectral imaging and multivariate curve resolution

Comparing the Performance of Raman and Near-Infrared Imaging in the Prediction of the In Vitro Dissolution Profile of Extended-Release Tablets Based on Artificial Neural Networks

In this work, the performance of two fast chemical imaging techniques, Raman and near-infrared (NIR) imaging is compared by utilizing these methods to predict the rate of drug release from sustained-release tablets. Sustained release is provided by adding hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), as its concentration and particle size determine the dissolution rate of the drug. The chemical images were processed using classical least squares; afterwards, a convolutional neural network was applied to extract information regarding the particle size of HPMC. The chemical images were reduced to an average HPMC concentration and a predicted particle size value; these were used as inputs in an artificial neural network with a single hidden layer to predict the dissolution profile of the tablets. Both NIR and Raman imaging yielded accurate predictions. As the instrumentation of NIR imaging allows faster measurements than Raman imaging, this technique is a better candidate for implementing a real-time technique. The introduction of chemical imaging in the routine quality control of pharmaceutical products would profoundly change quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry.

A Review of Pharmaceutical Robot based on Hyperspectral Technology

The quality and safety of medicinal products are related to patients’ lives and health. Therefore, quality inspection takes a key role in the pharmaceutical industry. Most of the previous solutions are based on machine vision, however, their performance is limited by the RGB sensor. The pharmaceutical visual inspection robot combined with hyperspectral imaging technology is becoming a new trend in the high-end medical quality inspection process since the hyperspectral data can provide spectral information with spatial knowledge. Yet, there is no comprehensive review about hyperspectral imaging-based medicinal products inspection. This paper focuses on the pivotal pharmaceutical applications, including counterfeit drugs detection, active component analysis of tables, and quality testing of herbal medicines and other medical materials. We discuss the technology and hardware of Raman spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging, firstly. Furthermore, we review these technologies in pharmaceutical scenarios. Finally, the development tendency and prospect of hyperspectral imaging technology-based robots in the field of pharmaceutical quality inspection is summarized.

Distributional homogeneity and penetration depth assessment of antibiotic added by surface coating to pellets with mid Infrared imaging and multivariate curve resolution

Fourier Transform Mid Infrared with Attenuated Total Reflection Imaging (FTIR-ATR imaging) and Multivariate Curve Resolution with Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) were used in a multiblock fashion to study the presence, distribution and penetration depth of very low concentrations of florfenicol (FF) in a complex matrix like feed pellets for salmonids. Images from the surface, at 150 µm deep and 200 µm deep from the surface were analyzed to certify the penetration power of FF added by surface coating methodology. Besides, the unique homogeneity index was calculated in order to evaluate the distributional homogeneity of each component. The results demonstrated the reliability of MCR-ALS in studying the distributional homogeneity of FF. It was demonstrated that FF remains mostly on the surface of the pellets with almost no penetration. The rest of the components of the pellets (oil, protein and carbohydrates) were also analyzed. These three nutrients are distributed on the three layers analyzed with a relatively homogeneous location, being carbohydrates (%H = 51 ± 3) the component with the best homogeneous distribution, unlike protein (%H = 45 ± 5), and oil (%H = 40 ± 7). This is the first publication where the penetration of an antibiotic, added with surface-coating to feed pellets, was analyzed with FTIR-ATR imaging and multivariate analysis, showing the contribution these analytical tools can make to the medicated feed industry.

Unveiling meloxicam monohydrate process of dehydration by an at-line vibrational multi-spectroscopy approach

Meloxicam (MLX) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, extensively used for inflammatory diseases and pain treatments, which exhibits five known solids forms. Form IV of MLX, a zwitterionic monohydrate (MH), is an emblematic hydrate case with promissory dissolution properties in a poorly soluble drug. However, the lack of information about MH stability regarding the dehydration process and phase transition impedes the development of further stability studies. A multi-spectroscopic/chemometric approach was implemented coupling middle- (MIR), near-infrared (NIR) and Raman spectroscopies to monitor the heat-mediated dehydration process of MH. The application of multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) to multi-source spectra by data fusion allow a complete view of the phenomena, improving the selectivity and precision to establish the transition temperatures and to identify involved species. It was revealed a two-step mechanism, where MH changes to Form V at 90 °C obtaining its complete dehydration at 130 °C, Form V remains unchanged during the temperature range 130-190 °C and then the polymorphic conversion to Form I starts, which reaches 100 % at 230 °C before melting MLX (248 °C). The findings of this work allow set targets in the process control of products using MH. Additionally, MCR-ALS detected an event not evidenced by conventional thermal analysis, the transformation of Form V to Form I.

Stability of Ceftazidime Pentahydrate Investigated by Thermal Analysis Techniques

Cephalosporins are among the most frequently used broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. Ceftazidime is a semisynthetic β-lactam antibiotic for parenteral administration widely used in the clinical practice, which has been categorized as a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. This drug crystallizes as a pentahydrate and, as all cephalosporins, it is unstable and subject to hydrolytic degradation. Taking this into account, this study investigates the stability under 2 different conditions (high temperature and exposition to vacuum) by using various techniques, as thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction supported by multivariate curve resolution. It was proved that ceftazidime pentahydrate is unstable under the studied variables, exhibiting several transformation processes, which were discussed in terms of the crystalline structure.

Why should the pharmaceutical industry claim for the implementation of second-order chemometric models-A critical review

Today, pharmaceutical products are submitted to a large number of analytical tests, planned to either ensure or construct their quality. The official methods of analysis used to perform these determinations are very different in nature, but almost all demand the intensive use of reagents and manpower as major drawbacks. Thus, analytical development is continuously evolving to find fast and smart approaches. First-order chemometric models are well-known in the pharmaceutical industry, and are extensively used in many fields. Such is the impact of chemometric models that regulatory agencies include them in guidelines and compendia. However, the mention or practical application of higher-order models in the pharmaceutical industry is rather scarce. Herein, we try to bring a brief introduction to chemometric models and useful literature references, focusing on higher-order chemometric models (HOCM) applied to reduce manpower, reagent consumption, and time of analysis, without sacrificing accuracy or precision, while gaining selectivity and sensitivity. The advantages and drawbacks of HOCM are also discussed, and the comparison to first-order chemometric models is also analyzed. Along the work, HOCM are evidenced as a powerful tool for the pharmaceutical industry; moreover, its implementation is shown during several steps of production, such as identification, purity test and assay, and other applications as homogeneity of API distribution, Process Analytical Technology (PAT), Quality by Design (QbD) or natural product fingerprinting. Among these topics, qualitative and quantitative applications were covered. Experimental approaches of chemometrics coupled to several analytical techniques such as UV-vis, fluorescence and vibrational spectroscopies (NIR, MIR and Raman), and other techniques as hyphenated-chromatography and electrochemical techniques applied to production and analysis are discussed throughout this work.

Mechanochemically induced solid state transformations: The case of raloxifene hydrochloride

Raloxifene hydrochloride is a benzothiophene derivative mainly used in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, but exhibits a low bioavailability hindered by its poor water solubility. In this study, a mechanochemical approach based on neat and liquid-assisted grinding was applied to produce new solid forms of raloxifene hydrochloride. The solids obtained were characterized by several solid-state techniques, such as powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, infrared and Raman spectroscopy. These results showed that depending on the processing conditions solvated or amorphous forms can be produced. The thermal stability of the new forms was also investigated showing that the new forms convert back into the raw material form, as observed by Raman spectroscopy, which was successfully used to discriminate amorphous and crystalline forms, as well as, to monitor in situ the recrystallization process. Furthermore, the solubility of the new forms was evaluated, showing the clear advantage of the amorphous form, when compared with the currently marketed salt.

Chemometrics-assisted solid-state characterization of pharmaceutically relevant materials. Polymorphic substances

Current regulations command to properly characterize pharmaceutically relevant solid systems. Chemometrics comprise a range of valuable tools, suitable to process large amounts of data and extract valuable information hidden in their structure. This review aims to detail the results of the fruitful association between analytical techniques and chemometrics methods, focusing on those which help to gain insight into the characteristics of drug polymorphism as an important aspect of the solid state of bulk drugs and drug products. Hence, the combination of Raman, terahertz, mid- and near- infrared spectroscopies, as well as instrumental signals resulting from X-ray powder diffraction, ¹³C solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and thermal methods with quali-and quantitative chemometrics methodologies are examined. The main issues reviewed, concerning pharmaceutical drug polymorphism, include the use of chemometrics-based approaches to perform polymorph classification and assignment of polymorphic identity, as well as the determination of given polymorphs in simple mixtures and complex systems. Aspects such as the solvation/desolvation of solids, phase transformation, crystallinity and the recrystallization from the amorphous state are also discussed. A brief perspective of the field for the next future is provided, based on the developments of the last decade and the current state of the art of analytical instrumentation and chemometrics methodologies.

Hyperspectral image analysis. A tutorial

This tutorial aims at providing guidelines and practical tools to assist with the analysis of hyperspectral images. Topics like hyperspectral image acquisition, image pre-processing, multivariate exploratory analysis, hyperspectral image resolution, classification and final digital image processing will be exposed, and some guidelines given and discussed. Due to the broad character of current applications and the vast number of multivariate methods available, this paper has focused on an industrial chemical framework to explain, in a step-wise manner, how to develop a classification methodology to differentiate between several types of plastics by using Near infrared hyperspectral imaging and Partial Least Squares - Discriminant Analysis. Thus, the reader is guided through every single step and oriented in order to adapt those strategies to the user's case.