Noninvasive porosity measurement of biconvex tablets using terahertz pulses.
Biconvex pharmaceutical microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) compacts were investigated by the detection of terahertz (THz) pulse delay in the transmission measurement mode. The dimensions of the tablets were kept as constants but the porosity was a priori known variable. It is shown that the porosity of the biconvex compact has a linear correlation with the THz pulse delay. By constructing a calibration line between these two parameters (i.e. porosity and THz pulse delay), it is possible to non-invasively detect porosity of biconvex tablets. We suggest that this preliminary study could be the starting point of in-depth future studies on the screening of porosity and related properties of real biconvex pharmaceutical tablets using terahertz sensing techniques.
Institute of Photonics, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland. Electronic address: prince.bawuah@uef.fi.
Prince
P
Bawuah
School of Pharmacy, Promis Centre, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1617, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
Tuomas
T
Ervasti
Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3RA, United Kingdom.
Nicholas
N
Tan
Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3RA, United Kingdom.
J Axel
JA
Zeitler
School of Pharmacy, Promis Centre, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1617, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
Jarkko
J
Ketolainen
Institute of Photonics, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland.
Kai-Erik
KE
Peiponen
D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D005079:Excipients / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D011674:Pulse; D013607:Tablets / Q000737:chemistry*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D055068:Terahertz Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*
D005079:Excipients; D013607:Tablets; D002482:Cellulose; C109691:microcrystalline cellulose
Biconvex pharmaceutical compact; Microcrystalline cellulose; Porosity; Terahertz pulse delay