title: Process characterization of powder blending by near-infrared spectroscopy: blend end-points and beyond.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is to utilize near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to characterize powder blending in-line. A multivariate model-based approach was used to determine end-point and variability at the end-point of blending processes. Two monitoring positions for NIR spectrometers were evaluated; one was located on the top of the Bin-blender and the other was on the rotation axis. A ternary powder mixture including acetaminophen (APAP, fine and coarse powder), lactose (LAC) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC, Avicel 101 and 200) was used as a test system. A Plackett-Burman design of experiments (DOE) for different blending parameters and compositions was utilized to compare the robustness of end-point determination between the multivariate model-based algorithm and reference algorithms. The end-point determination algorithm, including root mean square from nominal value (RMSNV) and two-tailed Student's t-test, was developed based on PLS predicted concentrations of all three constituents. Mean and standard deviation of RMSNV after end-point were used to characterize blending variability at the end-point. The blending end-point and variability of two sensors were also compared. The multivariate model-based algorithm proved to be more robust on end-point determination compared to the reference algorithms. Blending behavior at the two sensor locations demonstrated a significant difference in terms of end-point and blending variability, indicating the advantage to employ process monitoring via NIR spectroscopy on more than one location on the Bin-blender.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA.
authors.forename: Zhenqi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Cogdill
authors.forename: Steve M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000737:chemistry; D000465:Algorithms; D002138:Calibration; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D007785:Lactose / Q000737:chemistry; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011208:Powders / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
chemical_list: D011208:Powders; D000082:Acetaminophen; D002482:Cellulose; D007785:Lactose