Applications

Pharmaceutical

Small molecule therapeutics are very flexible, with a variety of administrations routes, from pills, capsules, to inhalation devices. The quality of many of these products depends on knowing how much of a component is present, how it is distributed, and what size it is. HORIBA has a portfolio of analytical instruments that address these questions, with a full range of particles sizing techniques, to best-in-class Raman microscopy. This portfolio of products speeds up product development, answers critical questions for troubleshooting, and is indispensable for contaminant identification.

Browse Applications

We introduced a fast and non-destructive imaging method for inorganic minerals on a multivitamin supplement tablet containing various essential minerals to body functions. We used the HORIBA XGT-9000 X-ray Analytical Microscope for the imaging, and we could visualize the distribution of the key inorganic elements on the tablet less than 20 minutes even though the concentration of the elements are tens of mg or less per tablet.

Application note - Multimodal Hyperspectral Imaging for Nanotoxicological Applications

An imaging platform that combines Raman microscopy with enhanced darkfield and hyperspectral imaging technology was used to study lung tissue sections containing carbon nanotubes. It enabled easy identification of the regions containing the carbon nanotubes followed by spectroscopic characterization of chemical composition.

Drug particle size and distribution are key critical quality attributes that govern stability, ocular retention via solution thickness, and therapeutic release characteristics. The laser diffraction technique is an elegant method used to establish the fundamentals of ophthalmic formulations prior to pharmacokinetic or clinical studies. To fulfill the requirements set out by the FDA, our recommendation is the Partica LA-960V2 Particle Size Analyzer.

Process Analytical Technology, or “PAT” is the term given to analytical instruments developed to measure certain attributes of product within the manufacturing process, eliminating, or substantially minimizing the need for sampling for off-line analysis. This approach offers process measurements in-situ with instant access to data, which facilitates rapid decisions during product development and manufacture.

Raman spectra of DayQuil™ and NyQuil™ collected with an immersion probe fiber-coupled to the MacroRAM™ Raman spectrometer, and a picture of the immersion probe setup.

Raman spectroscopy is well known as a powerful analytical method for qualitative chemical analysis. Less well known is that under certain conditions Raman spectroscopy can also be an effective method for quantitative analysis. Here we demonstrate that capability for quantitative analysis under a variety of conditions, involving different solutes in a solution and solution mixtures, and its applications to pharmaceutical analysis such as content uniformity.

It is necessary to have a particle size quantification system better suited to the specific requirements of the pharmaceutical industry; and D-values, while basic, fit this requirement well.

Multiple Characterizations of a Blister Pack Using the XGT-9000

The XGT-9000 is HORIBA’s new X-ray microscope. Its analytical versatility allows, multiple characterizations to be performed on a blister pack, from mapping of the full pack to particle size measurements of the capsule content.

X-ray Fluorescence photons can be partially absorbed by the encapsulated material and will not show in the spectrum. The X-ray transmission image provides a complete picture.

Polymorphisms characterization: when Raman microscopy supports the pharmaceutical industry

Polymorphisms characterization of active molecules is one piece of important information for the pharmaceutical industry, not only on raw powders, but also in the final form. Raman microscopy remains the most appropriate solution for this application. In this paper, we present an example of polymorphisms characterization by Raman microscopy using the super low frequency module.

Application note: Morphological and chemical characterization of pharmaceutical formulations

In order to control formulations of pharmaceutical products, characterizing their active compounds is critical, especially in terms of morphological and chemical characterization of particles. In this application note, two formulations from a generic and an innovator nasal spray have been analyzed to compare their compounds size and shape, and chemically characterized to compare the two formulations based on the ParticleFinderTM app for LabSpec 6. A focus is done on the active compound.

Resulting from the combination of Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy, Raman hyperspectral imaging has proven to be an indispensable tool in the pharmaceutical field. This article will broach a number of Raman hyperspectral imaging applications that were developed in our laboratory, in order to demonstrate the significance of the technique.

The LA-960 Particle Size Analyzer and SZ-100 Nanoparticle Analyzer may be used to measure the particle size distribution and zeta potential for drug delivery vehicles. These characteristics directly affect bioavailability, dissolution, immunotoxicity, amongst other critical formulation factors.

Many particle size measurements are made to track size reduction operations such as milling, mixing, homogenizing, etc. Laser diffraction is the most common analysis technique for monitoring size reduction operations due to its very broad dynamic range.

Pharmaceutical aerosols including metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are devices that deliver a specific quantity of drug to the lungs. The particle size distribution and shape of the delivered dose is more critical for inhalation aerosols than for most other conventional drug products because these factors greatly influence the deposition profile in the lungs of the patient.

The particle size distribution of active ingredients and excipients is an important physical characteristic of the materials used to create pharmaceutical products. The size, distribution and shape of the particles can affect bulk properties, product performance, processability, stability and appearance of the end product.

Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not by their structure. They are grouped under an alphabetized generic descriptor title such as vitamin A that includes the compounds retinal, retinol, and four carotenoids.

Nutraceuticals are food extracts that have been demonstrated to produce a physiological benefit or provide some protection against chronic disease. Nutraceuticals are the intersection of nutrition and pharmaceutical and can also include functional foods and dietary supplements.

Raman Microscopy in Pharmaceutical Salt Analysis

Pharmaceutical and crystallographic samples typically require detailed characterization and analysis to optimize a samples stability, physical properties and indeed general efficacy where an active drug substance is involved.

Laser diffraction particle size analyzers offer the same benefits in speed, precision, and reliability to nutraceutical materials that have made the technique popular in the pharmaceutical industry.

This application note summarizes the reasons why static image analysis is becoming a popular technique for characterizing APIs.

This technical note describes kinetic fluorescence as an analytical technique to quantify non-fluorescent species. The technique is applied to the determination of thiamine (vitamin B1) in solution.

Resulting from the combination of Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy, Raman hyperspectral imaging has proven to be an indispensable tool in the pharmaceutical field, especially to study the distribution of active(s) and excipients in a pharmaceutical drug product.

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