title: Applicability of near-infrared spectroscopy in the monitoring of film coating and curing process of the prolonged release coated pellets.
abstract: Although process analytical technology (PAT) guidance has been introduced to the pharmaceutical industry just a decade ago, this innovative approach has already become an important part of efficient pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, and quality assurance. PAT tools are especially important in technologically complex operations which require strict control of critical process parameters and have significant effect on final product quality. Manufacturing of prolonged release film coated pellets is definitely one of such processes. The aim of the present work was to study the applicability of the at-line near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) approach in the monitoring of pellet film coating and curing steps. Film coated pellets were manufactured by coating the active ingredient containing pellets with film coating based on polymethacrylate polymers (Eudragit® RS/RL). The NIR proved as a useful tool for the monitoring of the curing process since it was able to determine the extent of the curing and hence predict drug release rate by using partial least square (PLS) model. However, such approach also showed a number of limitations, such as low reliability and high susceptibility to pellet moisture content, and was thus not able to predict drug release from pellets with high moisture content. On the other hand, the at-line NIR was capable to predict the thickness of Eudragit® RS/RL film coating in a wide range (up to 40μm) with good accuracy even in the pellets with high moisture content. To sum up, high applicability of the at-line NIR in the monitoring of the prolonged release pellets production was demonstrated in the present study. The present findings may contribute to more efficient and reliable PAT solutions in the manufacturing of prolonged release dosage forms.
authors: KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto, Šmarješka cesta 6, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenia. Electronic address: klemen.korasa@krka.biz.
authors: Klemen
authors: K
authors: Korasa
authors: KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto, Šmarješka cesta 6, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenia.
authors: Grega
authors: G
authors: Hudovornik
authors: KRKA, d.d., Novo mesto, Šmarješka cesta 6, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenia; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Franc
authors: F
authors: Vrečer
mesh_terms: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000737:chemistry; D004339:Drug Compounding; D065546:Drug Liberation; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D004008:Diclofenac; C038300:methylmethacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer
keywords: At-line near-infrared spectroscopy; Curing; Film coating thickness; Process analytical technology; Prolonged release pellets