Sample records for pharmaceutical coating processes

  1. An update on pharmaceutical film coating for drug delivery.

    PubMed

    Felton, Linda A; Porter, Stuart C

    2013-04-01

    Pharmaceutical coating processes have generally been transformed from what was essentially an art form in the mid-twentieth century to a much more technology-driven process. This review article provides a basic overview of current film coating processes, including a discussion on polymer selection, coating formulation additives and processing equipment. Substrate considerations for pharmaceutical coating processes are also presented. While polymeric coating operations are commonplace in the pharmaceutical industry, film coating processes are still not fully understood, which presents serious challenges with current regulatory requirements. Novel analytical technologies and various modeling techniques that are being used to better understand film coating processes are discussed. This review article also examines the challenges of implementing process analytical technologies in coating operations, active pharmaceutical ingredients in polymer film coatings, the use of high-solids coating systems and continuous coating and other novel coating application methods.

  2. Solventless pharmaceutical coating processes: a review.

    PubMed

    Bose, Sagarika; Bogner, Robin H

    2007-01-01

    Coatings are an essential part in the formulation of pharmaceutical dosage form to achieve superior aesthetic quality (e.g., color, texture, mouth feel, and taste masking), physical and chemical protection for the drugs in the dosage forms, and modification of drug release characteristics. Most film coatings are applied as aqueous- or organic-based polymer solutions. Both organic and aqueous film coating bring their own disadvantages. Solventless coating technologies can overcome many of the disadvantages associated with the use of solvents (e.g., solvent exposure, solvent disposal, and residual solvent in product) in pharmaceutical coating. Solventless processing reduces the overall cost by eliminating the tedious and expensive processes of solvent disposal/treatment. In addition, it can significantly reduce the processing time because there is no drying/evaporation step. These environment-friendly processes are performed without any heat in most cases (except hot-melt coating) and thus can provide an alternative technology to coat temperature-sensitive drugs. This review discusses and compares six solventless coating methods - compression coating, hot-melt coating, supercritical fluid spray coating, electrostatic coating, dry powder coating, and photocurable coating - that can be used to coat the pharmaceutical dosage forms.

  3. Electrostatic powder coating: Principles and pharmaceutical applications.

    PubMed

    Prasad, Leena Kumari; McGinity, James W; Williams, Robert O

    2016-05-30

    A majority of pharmaceutical powders are insulating materials that have a tendency to accumulate charge. This phenomenon has contributed to safety hazards and issues during powder handling and processing. However, increased understanding of this occurrence has led to greater understanding and control of processing and product performance. More recently, the charging of pharmaceutical powders has been employed to adopt electrostatic powder coating as a pharmaceutical process. Electrostatic powder coating is a mature technology used in the finishing industry and much of that knowledge applies to its use in pharmaceutical applications. This review will serve to summarize the principles of electrostatic powder coating and highlight some of the research conducted on its use for the preparation of pharmaceutical dosage forms. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. In-line monitoring of pellet coating thickness growth by means of visual imaging.

    PubMed

    Oman Kadunc, Nika; Sibanc, Rok; Dreu, Rok; Likar, Boštjan; Tomaževič, Dejan

    2014-08-15

    Coating thickness is the most important attribute of coated pharmaceutical pellets as it directly affects release profiles and stability of the drug. Quality control of the coating process of pharmaceutical pellets is thus of utmost importance for assuring the desired end product characteristics. A visual imaging technique is presented and examined as a process analytic technology (PAT) tool for noninvasive continuous in-line and real time monitoring of coating thickness of pharmaceutical pellets during the coating process. Images of pellets were acquired during the coating process through an observation window of a Wurster coating apparatus. Image analysis methods were developed for fast and accurate determination of pellets' coating thickness during a coating process. The accuracy of the results for pellet coating thickness growth obtained in real time was evaluated through comparison with an off-line reference method and a good agreement was found. Information about the inter-pellet coating uniformity was gained from further statistical analysis of the measured pellet size distributions. Accuracy and performance analysis of the proposed method showed that visual imaging is feasible as a PAT tool for in-line and real time monitoring of the coating process of pharmaceutical pellets. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Surface modification of acetaminophen particles by atomic layer deposition.

    PubMed

    Kääriäinen, Tommi O; Kemell, Marianna; Vehkamäki, Marko; Kääriäinen, Marja-Leena; Correia, Alexandra; Santos, Hélder A; Bimbo, Luis M; Hirvonen, Jouni; Hoppu, Pekka; George, Steven M; Cameron, David C; Ritala, Mikko; Leskelä, Markku

    2017-06-15

    Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are predominantly organic solid powders. Due to their bulk properties many APIs require processing to improve pharmaceutical formulation and manufacturing in the preparation for various drug dosage forms. Improved powder flow and protection of the APIs are often anticipated characteristics in pharmaceutical manufacturing. In this work, we have modified acetaminophen particles with atomic layer deposition (ALD) by conformal nanometer scale coatings in a one-step coating process. According to the results, ALD, utilizing common chemistries for Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 and ZnO, is shown to be a promising coating method for solid pharmaceutical powders. Acetaminophen does not undergo degradation during the ALD coating process and maintains its stable polymorphic structure. Acetaminophen with nanometer scale ALD coatings shows slowed drug release. ALD TiO 2 coated acetaminophen particles show cytocompatibility whereas those coated with thicker ZnO coatings exhibit the most cytotoxicity among the ALD materials under study when assessed in vitro by their effect on intestinal Caco-2 cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Particle Engineering Via Mechanical Dry Coating in the Design of Pharmaceutical Solid Dosage Forms.

    PubMed

    Qu, Li; Morton, David A V; Zhou, Qi Tony

    2015-01-01

    Cohesive powders are problematic in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms because they exhibit poor flowability, fluidization and aerosolization. These undesirable bulk properties of cohesive powders represent a fundamental challenge in the design of efficient pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Recently, mechanical dry coating has attracted increasing attention as it can improve the bulk properties of cohesive powders in a cheaper, simpler, safer and more environment-friendly way than the existing solvent-based counterparts. In this review, mechanical dry coating techniques are outlined and their potential applications in formulation and manufacturing of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms are discussed. Reported data from the literature have shown that mechanical dry coating holds promise for the design of superior pharmaceutical solid formulations or manufacturing processes by engineering the interfaces of cohesive powders in an efficient and economical way.

  7. Development and in-line validation of a Process Analytical Technology to facilitate the scale up of coating processes.

    PubMed

    Wirges, M; Funke, A; Serno, P; Knop, K; Kleinebudde, P

    2013-05-05

    Incorporation of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) into the coating layer of film-coated tablets is a method mainly used to formulate fixed-dose combinations. Uniform and precise spray-coating of an API represents a substantial challenge, which could be overcome by applying Raman spectroscopy as process analytical tool. In pharmaceutical industry, Raman spectroscopy is still mainly used as a bench top laboratory analytical method and usually not implemented in the production process. Concerning the application in the production process, a lot of scientific approaches stop at the level of feasibility studies and do not manage the step to production scale and process applications. The present work puts the scale up of an active coating process into focus, which is a step of highest importance during the pharmaceutical development. Active coating experiments were performed at lab and production scale. Using partial least squares (PLS), a multivariate model was constructed by correlating in-line measured Raman spectral data with the coated amount of API. By transferring this model, being implemented for a lab scale process, to a production scale process, the robustness of this analytical method and thus its applicability as a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tool for the correct endpoint determination in pharmaceutical manufacturing could be shown. Finally, this method was validated according to the European Medicine Agency (EMA) guideline with respect to the special requirements of the applied in-line model development strategy. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. A novel electrostatic dry powder coating process for pharmaceutical dosage forms: immediate release coatings for tablets.

    PubMed

    Qiao, Mingxi; Zhang, Liqiang; Ma, Yingliang; Zhu, Jesse; Chow, Kwok

    2010-10-01

    An electrostatic dry powder coating process for pharmaceutical solid dosage forms was developed for the first time by electrostatic dry powder coating in a pan coater system. Two immediate release coating compositions with Opadry® AMB and Eudragit® EPO were successfully applied using this process. A liquid plasticizer was sprayed onto the surface of the tablet cores to increase the conductivity of tablet cores to enhance particle deposition, electrical resistivity reduced from greater than 1×10(13)Ωm to less than 1×10(9)Ωm, and to lower the glass transition temperature (T(g)) of the coating polymer for film forming in the pan coater. The application of liquid plasticizer was followed by spraying charged coating particles using an electrostatic charging gun to enhance the uniform deposition on tablet surface. The coating particles were coalesced into a thin film by curing at an acceptable processing temperature as formation was confirmed by SEM micrographs. The results also show that the optimized dry powder coating process produces tablets with smooth surface, good coating uniformity and release profile that are comparable to that of the tablet cores. The data also suggest that this novel electrostatic dry powder coating technique is an alternative to aqueous- or solvent-based coating process for pharmaceutical products. Crown Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Effects of Coating Materials and Processing Conditions on Flow Enhancement of Cohesive Acetaminophen Powders by High-Shear Processing With Pharmaceutical Lubricants.

    PubMed

    Wei, Guoguang; Mangal, Sharad; Denman, John; Gengenbach, Thomas; Lee Bonar, Kevin; Khan, Rubayat I; Qu, Li; Li, Tonglei; Zhou, Qi Tony

    2017-10-01

    This study has investigated the surface coating efficiency and powder flow improvement of a model cohesive acetaminophen powder by high-shear processing with pharmaceutical lubricants through 2 common equipment, conical comil and high-shear mixer. Effects of coating materials and processing parameters on powder flow and surface coating coverage were evaluated. Both Carr's index and shear cell data indicated that processing with the lubricants using comil or high-shear mixer substantially improved the flow of the cohesive acetaminophen powder. Flow improvement was most pronounced for those processed with 1% wt/wt magnesium stearate, from "cohesive" for the V-blended sample to "easy flowing" for the optimally coated sample. Qualitative and quantitative characterizations demonstrated a greater degree of surface coverage for high-shear mixing compared with comilling; nevertheless, flow properties of the samples at the corresponding optimized conditions were comparable between 2 techniques. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrated different coating mechanisms with magnesium stearate or l-leucine (magnesium stearate forms a coating layer and leucine coating increases surface roughness). Furthermore, surface coating with hydrophobic magnesium stearate did not retard the dissolution kinetics of acetaminophen. Future studies are warranted to evaluate tableting behavior of such dry-coated pharmaceutical powders. Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. PAT-tools for process control in pharmaceutical film coating applications.

    PubMed

    Knop, Klaus; Kleinebudde, Peter

    2013-12-05

    Recent development of analytical techniques to monitor the coating process of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms such as pellets and tablets are described. The progress from off- or at-line measurements to on- or in-line applications is shown for the spectroscopic methods near infrared (NIR) and Raman spectroscopy as well as for terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) and image analysis. The common goal of all these methods is to control or at least to monitor the coating process and/or to estimate the coating end point through timely measurements. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring and control of the fluidized bed granulation and coating processes-A review.

    PubMed

    Liu, Ronghua; Li, Lian; Yin, Wenping; Xu, Dongbo; Zang, Hengchang

    2017-09-15

    The fluidized bed granulation and pellets coating technologies are widely used in pharmaceutical industry, because the particles made in a fluidized bed have good flowability, compressibility, and the coating thickness of pellets are homogeneous. With the popularization of process analytical technology (PAT), real-time analysis for critical quality attributes (CQA) was getting more attention. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, as a PAT tool, could realize the real-time monitoring and control during the granulating and coating processes, which could optimize the manufacturing processes. This article reviewed the application of NIR spectroscopy in CQA (moisture content, particle size and tablet/pellet thickness) monitoring during fluidized bed granulation and coating processes. Through this review, we would like to provide references for realizing automated control and intelligent production in fluidized bed granulation and pellets coating of pharmaceutical industry. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Innovations in coating technology.

    PubMed

    Behzadi, Sharareh S; Toegel, Stefan; Viernstein, Helmut

    2008-01-01

    Despite representing one of the oldest pharmaceutical techniques, coating of dosage forms is still frequently used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The aims of coating range from simply masking the taste or odour of drugs to the sophisticated controlling of site and rate of drug release. The high expectations for different coating technologies have required great efforts regarding the development of reproducible and controllable production processes. Basically, improvements in coating methods have focused on particle movement, spraying systems, and air and energy transport. Thereby, homogeneous distribution of coating material and increased drying efficiency should be accomplished in order to achieve high end product quality. Moreover, given the claim of the FDA to design the end product quality already during the manufacturing process (Quality by Design), the development of analytical methods for the analysis, management and control of coating processes has attracted special attention during recent years. The present review focuses on recent patents claiming improvements in pharmaceutical coating technology and intends to first familiarize the reader with the available procedures and to subsequently explain the application of different analytical tools. Aiming to structure this comprehensive field, coating technologies are primarily divided into pan and fluidized bed coating methods. Regarding pan coating procedures, pans rotating around inclined, horizontal and vertical axes are reviewed separately. On the other hand, fluidized bed technologies are subdivided into those involving fluidized and spouted beds. Then, continuous processing techniques and improvements in spraying systems are discussed in dedicated chapters. Finally, currently used analytical methods for the understanding and management of coating processes are reviewed in detail in the last section of the review.

  13. Modeling the motion and orientation of various pharmaceutical tablet shapes in a film coating pan using DEM.

    PubMed

    Ketterhagen, William R

    2011-05-16

    Film coating uniformity is an important quality attribute of pharmaceutical tablets. Large variability in coating thickness can limit process efficiency or cause significant variation in the amount or delivery rate of the active pharmaceutical ingredient to the patient. In this work, the discrete element method (DEM) is used to computationally model the motion and orientation of several novel pharmaceutical tablet shapes in a film coating pan in order to predict coating uniformity. The model predictions are first confirmed with experimental data obtained from an equivalent film coating pan using a machine vision system. The model is then applied to predict coating uniformity for various tablet shapes, pan speeds, and pan loadings. The relative effects of these parameters on both inter- and intra-tablet film coating uniformity are assessed. The DEM results show intra-tablet coating uniformity is strongly influenced by tablet shape, and the extent of this can be predicted by a measure of the tablet shape. The tablet shape is shown to have little effect on the mixing of tablets, and thus, the inter-tablet coating uniformity. The pan rotation speed and pan loading are shown to have a small effect on intra-tablet coating uniformity but a more significant impact on inter-tablet uniformity. These results demonstrate the usefulness of modeling in guiding drug product development decisions such as selection of tablet shape and process operating conditions. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Terahertz pulsed imaging as an advanced characterisation tool for film coatings--a review.

    PubMed

    Haaser, Miriam; Gordon, Keith C; Strachan, Clare J; Rades, Thomas

    2013-12-05

    Solid dosage forms are the pharmaceutical drug delivery systems of choice for oral drug delivery. These solid dosage forms are often coated to modify the physico-chemical properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), in particular to alter release kinetics. Since the product performance of coated dosage forms is a function of their critical coating attributes, including coating thickness, uniformity, and density, more advanced quality control techniques than weight gain are required. A recently introduced non-destructive method to quantitatively characterise coating quality is terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI). The ability of terahertz radiation to penetrate many pharmaceutical materials enables structural features of coated solid dosage forms to be probed at depth, which is not readily achievable with other established imaging techniques, e.g. near-infrared (NIR) and Raman spectroscopy. In this review TPI is introduced and various applications of the technique in pharmaceutical coating analysis are discussed. These include evaluation of coating thickness, uniformity, surface morphology, density, defects and buried structures as well as correlation between TPI measurements and drug release performance, coating process monitoring and scale up. Furthermore, challenges and limitations of the technique are discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Dry coating, a novel coating technology for solid pharmaceutical dosage forms.

    PubMed

    Luo, Yanfeng; Zhu, Jesse; Ma, Yingliang; Zhang, Hui

    2008-06-24

    Dry coating is a coating technology for solid pharmaceutical dosage forms derived from powder coating of metals. In this technology, powdered coating materials are directly coated onto solid dosage forms without using any solvent, and then heated and cured to form a coat. As a result, this technology can overcome such disadvantages caused by solvents in conventional liquid coating as serious air pollution, high time- and energy-consumption and expensive operation cost encountered by liquid coating. Several dry coating technologies, including plasticizer-dry-coating, electrostatic-dry-coating, heat-dry-coating and plasticizer-electrostatic-heat-dry-coating have been developed and extensively reported. This mini-review summarized the fundamental principles and coating processes of various dry coating technologies, and thoroughly analyzed their advantages and disadvantages as well as commercialization potentials.

  16. Optical coherence tomography for non-destructive analysis of coatings in pharmaceutical tablets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Markl, Daniel; Hannesschläger, Günther; Sacher, Stephan; Khinast, Johannes G.; Leitner, Michael

    2013-04-01

    Tablet coating is a common pharmaceutical technique to apply a thin continuous layer of solid on the top of a tablet or a granule containing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Coating thickness and homogeneity are critical parameters regarding the drug release rate, and consequently a direct or indirect monitoring strategy of these critical process parameters is essential. With the aid of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) it is not only possible to measure the absolute coating thickness, but also to detect inhomogeneities in the coating or substrate material. In this work the possible application of OCT as in-line method for monitoring pharmaceutical tablet film coating is studied. Firstly, the feasibility of OCT for analysis tablet coating is examined. Seven different commercially available film-coated tablets with different shapes, formulations and coating thicknesses were investigated off-line. OCT images were acquired by two different spectral-domain OCT systems operating at center wavelengths of 830 and 1325 nm. Since the images of both systems allow the analysis of the coatings, the OCT system employing the shorter wavelength and thus providing a higher axial resolution was selected for the further experiments. The influence of a moving tablet bed on OCT images was analyzed by considering a static tablet bed and moving the sensor head along the tablet bed. The ability to analyze the coating homogeneity is limited to a speed up to 0.3 m/s. However, determining the coating thickness and inter-coating uniformity is still possible up to a speed of 0.7 m/s.

  17. Membrane-Based Technologies in the Pharmaceutical Industry and Continuous Production of Polymer-Coated Crystals/Particles.

    PubMed

    Chen, Dengyue; Sirkar, Kamalesh K; Jin, Chi; Singh, Dhananjay; Pfeffer, Robert

    2017-01-01

    Membrane technologies are of increasing importance in a variety of separation and purification applications involving liquid phases and gaseous mixtures. Although the most widely used applications at this time are in water treatment including desalination, there are many applications in chemical, food, healthcare, paper and petrochemical industries. This brief review is concerned with existing and emerging applications of various membrane technologies in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. The goal of this review article is to identify important membrane processes and techniques which are being used or proposed to be used in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical operations. How novel membrane processes can be useful for delivery of crystalline/particulate drugs is also of interest. Membrane separation technologies are extensively used in downstream processes for bio-pharmaceutical separation and purification operations via microfiltration, ultrafiltration and diafiltration. Also the new technique of membrane chromatography allows efficient purification of monoclonal antibodies. Membrane filtration techniques of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration are being combined with bioreactors and advanced oxidation processes to treat wastewaters from pharmaceutical plants. Nanofiltration with organic solvent-stable membranes can implement solvent exchange and catalyst recovery during organic solvent-based drug synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds/intermediates. Membranes in the form of hollow fibers can be conveniently used to implement crystallization of pharmaceutical compounds. The novel crystallization methods of solid hollow fiber cooling crystallizer (SHFCC) and porous hollow fiber anti-solvent crystallization (PHFAC) are being developed to provide efficient methods for continuous production of polymer-coated drug crystals in the area of drug delivery. This brief review provides a general introduction to various applications of membrane technologies in the pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical industry with special emphasis on novel membrane techniques for pharmaceutical applications. The method of coating a drug particle with a polymer using the SHFCC method is stable and ready for scale-up for operation over an extended period. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  18. Real-time data processing for in-line monitoring of a pharmaceutical coating process by optical coherence tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Markl, Daniel; Ziegler, Jakob; Hannesschläger, Günther; Sacher, Stephan; Buchsbaum, Andreas; Leitner, Michael; Khinast, Johannes G.

    2014-05-01

    Coating of tablets is a widely applied unit operation in the pharmaceutical industry. Thickness and uniformity of the coating layer are crucial for efficacy as well as for compliance. Not only due to different initiatives it is thus essential to monitor and control the coating process in-line. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was already shown in previous works to be a suitable candidate for in-line monitoring of coating processes. However, to utilize the full potential of the OCT technology an automatic evaluation of the OCT measurements is essential. The automatic evaluation is currently implemented in MATLAB and includes several steps: (1) extraction of features of each A-scan, (2) classification of Ascan measurements based on their features, (3) detection of interfaces (air/coating and coating/tablet core), (4) correction of distortions due to the curvature of the bi-convex tablets and the oblique orientation of the tablets, and (5) determining the coating thickness. The algorithm is tested on OCT data acquired by moving the sensor head of the OCT system across a static tablet bed. The coating thickness variations of single tablets (i.e., intra-tablet coating variability) can additionally be analyzed as OCT allows the measurement of the coating thickness on multiple displaced positions on one single tablet. Specifically, the information about those parameters emphasizes the high capability of the OCT technology to improve process understanding and to assure a high product quality.

  19. Demonstration of pharmaceutical tablet coating process by injection molding technology.

    PubMed

    Puri, Vibha; Brancazio, David; Harinath, Eranda; Martinez, Alexander R; Desai, Parind M; Jensen, Keith D; Chun, Jung-Hoon; Braatz, Richard D; Myerson, Allan S; Trout, Bernhardt L

    2018-01-15

    We demonstrate the coating of tablets using an injection molding (IM) process that has advantage of being solvent free and can provide precision coat features. The selected core tablets comprising 10% w/w griseofulvin were prepared by an integrated hot melt extrusion-injection molding (HME-IM) process. Coating trials were conducted on a vertical injection mold machine. Polyethylene glycol and polyethylene oxide based hot melt extruded coat compositions were used. Tablet coating process feasibility was successfully demonstrated using different coating mold designs (with both overlapping and non-overlapping coatings at the weld) and coat thicknesses of 150 and 300 μm. The resultant coated tablets had acceptable appearance, seal at the weld, and immediate drug release profile (with an acceptable lag time). Since IM is a continuous process, this study opens opportunities to develop HME-IM continuous processes for transforming powder to coated tablets. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Overview of PAT process analysers applicable in monitoring of film coating unit operations for manufacturing of solid oral dosage forms.

    PubMed

    Korasa, Klemen; Vrečer, Franc

    2018-01-01

    Over the last two decades, regulatory agencies have demanded better understanding of pharmaceutical products and processes by implementing new technological approaches, such as process analytical technology (PAT). Process analysers present a key PAT tool, which enables effective process monitoring, and thus improved process control of medicinal product manufacturing. Process analysers applicable in pharmaceutical coating unit operations are comprehensibly described in the present article. The review is focused on monitoring of solid oral dosage forms during film coating in two most commonly used coating systems, i.e. pan and fluid bed coaters. Brief theoretical background and critical overview of process analysers used for real-time or near real-time (in-, on-, at- line) monitoring of critical quality attributes of film coated dosage forms are presented. Besides well recognized spectroscopic methods (NIR and Raman spectroscopy), other techniques, which have made a significant breakthrough in recent years, are discussed (terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI), chord length distribution (CLD) analysis, and image analysis). Last part of the review is dedicated to novel techniques with high potential to become valuable PAT tools in the future (optical coherence tomography (OCT), acoustic emission (AE), microwave resonance (MR), and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Solution Coating of Pharmaceutical Nanothin Films and Multilayer Nanocomposites with Controlled Morphology and Polymorphism.

    PubMed

    Horstman, Elizabeth M; Kafle, Prapti; Zhang, Fengjiao; Zhang, Yifu; Kenis, Paul J A; Diao, Ying

    2018-03-28

    Nanosizing is rapidly emerging as an alternative approach to enhance solubility and thus the bioavailability of poorly aqueous soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Although numerous techniques have been developed to perform nanosizing of API crystals, precise control and modulation of their size in an energy and material efficient manner remains challenging. In this study, we present meniscus-guided solution coating as a new technique to produce pharmaceutical thin films of nanoscale thickness with controlled morphology. We demonstrate control of aspirin film thickness over more than 2 orders of magnitude, from 30 nm to 1.5 μm. By varying simple process parameters such as the coating speed and the solution concentration, the aspirin film morphology can also be modulated by accessing different coating regimes, namely the evaporation regime and the Landau-Levich regime. Using ellipticine-a poorly water-soluble anticancer drug-as another model compound, we discovered a new polymorph kinetically trapped during solution coating. Furthermore, the polymorphic outcome can be controlled by varying coating conditions. We further performed layer-by-layer coating of multilayer nanocomposites, with alternating thin films of ellipticine and a biocompatible polymer, which demonstrate the potential of additive manufacturing of multidrug-personalized dosage forms using this approach.

  2. Improving tablet coating robustness by selecting critical process parameters from retrospective data.

    PubMed

    Galí, A; García-Montoya, E; Ascaso, M; Pérez-Lozano, P; Ticó, J R; Miñarro, M; Suñé-Negre, J M

    2016-09-01

    Although tablet coating processes are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, they often lack adequate robustness. Up-scaling can be challenging as minor changes in parameters can lead to varying quality results. To select critical process parameters (CPP) using retrospective data of a commercial product and to establish a design of experiments (DoE) that would improve the robustness of the coating process. A retrospective analysis of data from 36 commercial batches. Batches were selected based on the quality results generated during batch release, some of which revealed quality deviations concerning the appearance of the coated tablets. The product is already marketed and belongs to the portfolio of a multinational pharmaceutical company. The Statgraphics 5.1 software was used for data processing to determine critical process parameters in order to propose new working ranges. This study confirms that it is possible to determine the critical process parameters and create design spaces based on retrospective data of commercial batches. This type of analysis is thus converted into a tool to optimize the robustness of existing processes. Our results show that a design space can be established with minimum investment in experiments, since current commercial batch data are processed statistically.

  3. An Application of X-Ray Fluorescence as Process Analytical Technology (PAT) to Monitor Particle Coating Processes.

    PubMed

    Nakano, Yoshio; Katakuse, Yoshimitsu; Azechi, Yasutaka

    2018-06-01

    An attempt to apply X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis to evaluate small particle coating process as a Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) was made. The XRF analysis was used to monitor coating level in small particle coating process with at-line manner. The small particle coating process usually consists of multiple coating processes. This study was conducted by a simple coating particles prepared by first coating of a model compound (DL-methionine) and second coating by talc on spherical microcrystalline cellulose cores. The particles with two layered coating are enough to demonstrate the small particle coating process. From the result by the small particle coating process, it was found that the XRF signal played different roles, resulting that XRF signals by first coating (layering) and second coating (mask coating) could demonstrate the extent with different mechanisms for the coating process. Furthermore, the particle coating of the different particle size has also been investigated to evaluate size effect of these coating processes. From these results, it was concluded that the XRF could be used as a PAT in monitoring particle coating processes and become powerful tool in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

  4. In line NIR quantification of film thickness on pharmaceutical pellets during a fluid bed coating process.

    PubMed

    Lee, Min-Jeong; Seo, Da-Young; Lee, Hea-Eun; Wang, In-Chun; Kim, Woo-Sik; Jeong, Myung-Yung; Choi, Guang J

    2011-01-17

    Along with the risk-based approach, process analytical technology (PAT) has emerged as one of the key elements to fully implement QbD (quality-by-design). Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been extensively applied as an in-line/on-line analytical tool in biomedical and chemical industries. In this study, the film thickness on pharmaceutical pellets was examined for quantification using in-line NIR spectroscopy during a fluid-bed coating process. A precise monitoring of coating thickness and its prediction with a suitable control strategy is crucial to the quality assurance of solid dosage forms including dissolution characteristics. Pellets of a test formulation were manufactured and coated in a fluid-bed by spraying a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) coating solution. NIR spectra were acquired via a fiber-optic probe during the coating process, followed by multivariate analysis utilizing partial least squares (PLS) calibration models. The actual coating thickness of pellets was measured by two separate methods, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and laser diffraction particle size analysis (LD-PSA). Both characterization methods gave superb correlation results, and all determination coefficient (R(2)) values exceeded 0.995. In addition, a prediction coating experiment for 70min demonstrated that the end-point can be accurately designated via NIR in-line monitoring with appropriate calibration models. In conclusion, our approach combining in-line NIR monitoring with CLSM and LD-PSA can be applied as an effective PAT tool for fluid-bed pellet coating processes. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Application of a tablet film coating model to define a process-imposed transition boundary for robust film coating.

    PubMed

    van den Ban, Sander; Pitt, Kendal G; Whiteman, Marshall

    2018-02-01

    A scientific understanding of interaction of product, film coat, film coating process, and equipment is important to enable design and operation of industrial scale pharmaceutical film coating processes that are robust and provide the level of control required to consistently deliver quality film coated product. Thermodynamic film coating conditions provided in the tablet film coating process impact film coat formation and subsequent product quality. A thermodynamic film coating model was used to evaluate film coating process performance over a wide range of film coating equipment from pilot to industrial scale (2.5-400 kg). An approximate process-imposed transition boundary, from operating in a dry to a wet environment, was derived, for relative humidity and exhaust temperature, and used to understand the impact of the film coating process on product formulation and process control requirements. This approximate transition boundary may aid in an enhanced understanding of risk to product quality, application of modern Quality by Design (QbD) based product development, technology transfer and scale-up, and support the science-based justification of critical process parameters (CPPs).

  6. A Novel Scale Up Model for Prediction of Pharmaceutical Film Coating Process Parameters.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Yasuhiro; Suzuki, Tatsuya; Minami, Hidemi; Terada, Katsuhide

    2016-01-01

    In the pharmaceutical tablet film coating process, we clarified that a difference in exhaust air relative humidity can be used to detect differences in process parameters values, the relative humidity of exhaust air was different under different atmospheric air humidity conditions even though all setting values of the manufacturing process parameters were the same, and the water content of tablets was correlated with the exhaust air relative humidity. Based on this experimental data, the exhaust air relative humidity index (EHI), which is an empirical equation that includes as functional parameters the pan coater type, heated air flow rate, spray rate of coating suspension, saturated water vapor pressure at heated air temperature, and partial water vapor pressure at atmospheric air pressure, was developed. The predictive values of exhaust relative humidity using EHI were in good correlation with the experimental data (correlation coefficient of 0.966) in all datasets. EHI was verified using the date of seven different drug products of different manufacturing scales. The EHI model will support formulation researchers by enabling them to set film coating process parameters when the batch size or pan coater type changes, and without the time and expense of further extensive testing.

  7. Measurement of the Intertablet Coating Uniformity of a Pharmaceutical Pan Coating Process With Combined Terahertz and Optical Coherence Tomography In-Line Sensing.

    PubMed

    Lin, Hungyen; Dong, Yue; Markl, Daniel; Williams, Bryan M; Zheng, Yalin; Shen, Yaochun; Zeitler, J Axel

    2017-04-01

    We present in-line coating thickness measurements acquired simultaneously using 2 independent sensing modalities: terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Both techniques are sufficiently fast to resolve the coating thickness of individual pharmaceutical tablets in situ during the film coating operation, and both techniques are direct structural imaging techniques that do not require multivariate calibration. The TPI sensor is suitable to measure coatings greater than 50 μm and can penetrate through thick coatings even in the presence of pigments over a wide range of excipients. Due to the long wavelength, terahertz radiation is not affected by scattering from dust within the coater. In contrast, OCT can resolve coating layers as thin as 20 μm and is capable of measuring the intratablet coating uniformity and the intertablet coating thickness distribution within the coating pan. However, the OCT technique is less robust when it comes to the compatibility with excipients, dust, and potentially the maximum coating thickness that can be resolved. Using a custom-built laboratory scale coating unit, the coating thickness measurements were acquired independently by the TPI and OCT sensors throughout a film coating operation. Results of the in-line TPI and OCT measurements were compared against one another and validated with off-line TPI and weight gain measurements. Compared with other process analytical technology sensors, such as near-infrared and Raman spectroscopy, the TPI and OCT sensors can resolve the intertablet thickness distribution based on sampling a significant fraction of the tablet populations in the process. By combining 2 complementary sensing modalities, it was possible to seamlessly monitor the coating process over the range of film thickness from 20 μm to greater than 250 μm. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Impact of Processing Conditions on Inter-tablet Coating Thickness Variations Measured by Terahertz In-Line Sensing

    PubMed Central

    Lin, Hungyen; May, Robert K; Evans, Michael J; Zhong, Shuncong; Gladden, Lynn F; Shen, Yaochun; Zeitler, J Axel

    2015-01-01

    A novel in-line technique utilising pulsed terahertz radiation for direct measurement of the film coating thickness of individual tablets during the coating process was previously developed and demonstrated on a production-scale coater. Here, we use this technique to monitor the evolution of tablet film coating thickness and its inter-tablet variability during the coating process under a number of different process conditions that have been purposefully induced in the production-scale coating process. The changes that were introduced to the coating process include removing the baffles from the coater, adding uncoated tablets to the running process, halting the drum, blockage of spray guns and changes to the spray rate. The terahertz sensor was able to pick up the resulting changes in average coating thickness in the coating drum and we report the impact of these process changes on the resulting coating quality. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 104:2513–2522, 2015 PMID:26037660

  9. 40 CFR 52.1670 - Identification of plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 2003 and thereafter. Part 205, Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Coatings 1/1/11 3/8/12... Coating Processes, Commercial and Industrial Adhesives, Sealants and Primers 9/30/10 3/8/12, 77 FR 13974...(a) provides for reasonably available control technology. Part 233, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic...

  10. Quantifying Pharmaceutical Film Coating with Optical Coherence Tomography and Terahertz Pulsed Imaging: An Evaluation.

    PubMed

    Lin, Hungyen; Dong, Yue; Shen, Yaochun; Zeitler, J Axel

    2015-10-01

    Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) has recently attracted a lot of interest in the pharmaceutical industry as a fast and non-destructive modality for quantification of thin film coatings that cannot easily be resolved with other techniques. Because of the relative infancy of this technique, much of the research to date has focused on developing the in-line measurement technique for assessing film coating thickness. To better assess OCT for pharmaceutical coating quantification, this paper evaluates tablets with a range of film coating thickness measured using OCT and terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) in an off-line setting. In order to facilitate automated coating quantification for film coating thickness in the range of 30-200 μm, an algorithm that uses wavelet denoising and a tailored peak finding method is proposed to analyse each of the acquired A-scan. Results obtained from running the algorithm reveal an increasing disparity between the TPI and OCT measured intra-tablet variability when film coating thickness exceeds 100 μm. The finding further confirms that OCT is a suitable modality for characterising pharmaceutical dosage forms with thin film coatings, whereas TPI is well suited for thick coatings. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  11. Quantifying Pharmaceutical Film Coating with Optical Coherence Tomography and Terahertz Pulsed Imaging: An Evaluation

    PubMed Central

    Lin, Hungyen; Dong, Yue; Shen, Yaochun; Zeitler, J Axel

    2015-01-01

    Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) has recently attracted a lot of interest in the pharmaceutical industry as a fast and non-destructive modality for quantification of thin film coatings that cannot easily be resolved with other techniques. Because of the relative infancy of this technique, much of the research to date has focused on developing the in-line measurement technique for assessing film coating thickness. To better assess OCT for pharmaceutical coating quantification, this paper evaluates tablets with a range of film coating thickness measured using OCT and terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) in an off-line setting. In order to facilitate automated coating quantification for film coating thickness in the range of 30–200 μm, an algorithm that uses wavelet denoising and a tailored peak finding method is proposed to analyse each of the acquired A-scan. Results obtained from running the algorithm reveal an increasing disparity between the TPI and OCT measured intra-tablet variability when film coating thickness exceeds 100 μm. The finding further confirms that OCT is a suitable modality for characterising pharmaceutical dosage forms with thin film coatings, whereas TPI is well suited for thick coatings. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 104:3377–3385, 2015 PMID:26284354

  12. Optical coherence tomography as a novel tool for in-line monitoring of a pharmaceutical film-coating process.

    PubMed

    Markl, Daniel; Hannesschläger, Günther; Sacher, Stephan; Leitner, Michael; Khinast, Johannes G

    2014-05-13

    Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a contact-free non-destructive high-resolution imaging technique based on low-coherence interferometry. This study investigates the application of spectral-domain OCT as an in-line quality control tool for monitoring pharmaceutical film-coated tablets. OCT images of several commercially-available film-coated tablets of different shapes, formulations and coating thicknesses were captured off-line using two OCT systems with centre wavelengths of 830nm and 1325nm. Based on the off-line image evaluation, another OCT system operating at a shorter wavelength was selected to study the feasibility of OCT as an in-line monitoring method. Since in spectral-domain OCT motion artefacts can occur as a result of the tablet or sensor head movement, a basic understanding of the relationship between the tablet speed and the motion effects is essential for correct quantifying and qualifying of the tablet coating. Experimental data was acquired by moving the sensor head of the OCT system across a static tablet bed. Although examining the homogeneity of the coating turned more difficult with increasing transverse speed of the tablets, the determination of the coating thickness was still highly accurate at a speed up to 0.7m/s. The presented OCT setup enables the investigation of the intra- and inter-tablet coating uniformity in-line during the coating process. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Quantitative image analysis for evaluating the coating thickness and pore distribution in coated small particles.

    PubMed

    Laksmana, F L; Van Vliet, L J; Hartman Kok, P J A; Vromans, H; Frijlink, H W; Van der Voort Maarschalk, K

    2009-04-01

    This study aims to develop a characterization method for coating structure based on image analysis, which is particularly promising for the rational design of coated particles in the pharmaceutical industry. The method applies the MATLAB image processing toolbox to images of coated particles taken with Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CSLM). The coating thicknesses have been determined along the particle perimeter, from which a statistical analysis could be performed to obtain relevant thickness properties, e.g. the minimum coating thickness and the span of the thickness distribution. The characterization of the pore structure involved a proper segmentation of pores from the coating and a granulometry operation. The presented method facilitates the quantification of porosity, thickness and pore size distribution of a coating. These parameters are considered the important coating properties, which are critical to coating functionality. Additionally, the effect of the coating process variations on coating quality can straight-forwardly be assessed. Enabling a good characterization of the coating qualities, the presented method can be used as a fast and effective tool to predict coating functionality. This approach also enables the influence of different process conditions on coating properties to be effectively monitored, which latterly leads to process tailoring.

  14. X-ray powder diffractometry of intact film coated tablets--an approach to monitor the physical form of the active pharmaceutical ingredient during processing and storage.

    PubMed

    Yamada, Hiroyuki; Suryanarayanan, Raj

    2007-08-01

    The antiviral compound, 2-amino-6-(4-methoxyphenylthio)-9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]purine bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)ester (MCC-478), can exist in several anhydrous polymorphic forms and also as a hemihydrate. The XRD patterns of the tablets, containing each form of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), revealed at least one peak unique to each form. A semiquantitative microdiffractometric method was developed to nondestructively characterize the physical form of the API in intact film-coated tablets. This was accomplished even though the weight fraction of the API was <0.2 and that of mannitol, a highly crystalline excipient, was approximately 0.6. The method was used to determine the effect of aqueous film-coating process on the physical form of the API. The final dosage form was also monitored following storage at 40 degrees C/75% RH for 6 months. There was no phase transformation of the API either due to the film-coating process or following accelerated storage. This technique has potential utility not only for process control during manufacture, but also for the quality control of the final product. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  15. Pharmaceutical Film Coating Catalog for Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

    PubMed

    Lin, Hungyen; Dong, Yue; Markl, Daniel; Zhang, Zijian; Shen, Yaochun; Zeitler, J Axel

    2017-10-01

    Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has recently been demonstrated to measure the film coating thickness of pharmaceutical tablets and pellets directly. The results enable the analysis of inter- and intra-tablet coating variability at an off-line and in-line setting. To date, only a few coating formulations have been tried and there is very little information on the applicability of OCT to other coatings. As it is well documented that optical methods including OCT are prone to scattering leading to limited penetration, some pharmaceutical coatings may not be measurable altogether. This study presents OCT measurements of 22 different common coatings for the assessment of OCT applicability. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. 40 CFR 52.1679 - EPA-approved New York State regulations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... Industrial Maintenance Coatings 11/22/04 12/13/04, 69 FR 72118 Part 207, Control Measures for an Air... State during 2003 and thereafter established in Part 204. Part 228, “Surface Coating Processes” 7/23/03..., Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Processes 4/4/93 12/23/97, 62 FR 67006 SIP revisions submitted in accordance with...

  17. Automated pharmaceutical tablet coating layer evaluation of optical coherence tomography images

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Markl, Daniel; Hannesschläger, Günther; Sacher, Stephan; Leitner, Michael; Khinast, Johannes G.; Buchsbaum, Andreas

    2015-03-01

    Film coating of pharmaceutical tablets is often applied to influence the drug release behaviour. The coating characteristics such as thickness and uniformity are critical quality parameters, which need to be precisely controlled. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows not only high potential for off-line quality control of film-coated tablets but also for in-line monitoring of coating processes. However, an in-line quality control tool must be able to determine coating thickness measurements automatically and in real-time. This study proposes an automatic thickness evaluation algorithm for bi-convex tables, which provides about 1000 thickness measurements within 1 s. Beside the segmentation of the coating layer, optical distortions due to refraction of the beam by the air/coating interface are corrected. Moreover, during in-line monitoring the tablets might be in oblique orientation, which needs to be considered in the algorithm design. Experiments were conducted where the tablet was rotated to specified angles. Manual and automatic thickness measurements were compared for varying coating thicknesses, angles of rotations, and beam displacements (i.e. lateral displacement between successive depth scans). The automatic thickness determination algorithm provides highly accurate results up to an angle of rotation of 30°. The computation time was reduced to 0.53 s for 700 thickness measurements by introducing feasibility constraints in the algorithm.

  18. Lotus Dust Mitigation Coating and Molecular Adsorber Coating

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    O'Connor, Kenneth M.; Abraham, Nithin S.

    2015-01-01

    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has developed two unique coating formulations that will keep surfaces clean and sanitary and contain contaminants.The Lotus Dust Mitigation Coating, modeled after the self-cleaning, water-repellant lotus leaf, disallows buildup of dust, dirt, water, and more on surfaces. This coating, has been successfully tested on painted, aluminum, glass, silica, and some composite surfaces, could aid in keeping medical assets clean.The Molecular Adsorber Coating is a zeolite-based, sprayable molecular adsorber coating, designed to prevent outgassing in materials in vacuums. The coating works well to adsorb volatiles and contaminates in manufacturing and processing, such as in pharmaceutical production. The addition of a biocide would also aid in controlling bacteria levels.

  19. Applicability of near-infrared spectroscopy in the monitoring of film coating and curing process of the prolonged release coated pellets.

    PubMed

    Korasa, Klemen; Hudovornik, Grega; Vrečer, Franc

    2016-10-10

    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. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Development of Process Analytical Technology (PAT) methods for controlled release pellet coating.

    PubMed

    Avalle, P; Pollitt, M J; Bradley, K; Cooper, B; Pearce, G; Djemai, A; Fitzpatrick, S

    2014-07-01

    This work focused on the control of the manufacturing process for a controlled release (CR) pellet product, within a Quality by Design (QbD) framework. The manufacturing process was Wurster coating: firstly layering active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) onto sugar pellet cores and secondly a controlled release (CR) coating. For each of these two steps, development of a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) method is discussed and also a novel application of automated microscopy as the reference method. Ultimately, PAT methods should link to product performance and the two key Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) for this CR product are assay and release rate, linked to the API and CR coating steps respectively. In this work, the link between near infra-red (NIR) spectra and those attributes was explored by chemometrics over the course of the coating process in a pilot scale industrial environment. Correlations were built between the NIR spectra and coating weight (for API amount), CR coating thickness and dissolution performance. These correlations allow the coating process to be monitored at-line and so better control of the product performance in line with QbD requirements. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. In-Line Monitoring of a Pharmaceutical Pan Coating Process by Optical Coherence Tomography.

    PubMed

    Markl, Daniel; Hannesschläger, Günther; Sacher, Stephan; Leitner, Michael; Buchsbaum, Andreas; Pescod, Russel; Baele, Thomas; Khinast, Johannes G

    2015-08-01

    This work demonstrates a new in-line measurement technique for monitoring the coating growth of randomly moving tablets in a pan coating process. In-line quality control is performed by an optical coherence tomography (OCT) sensor allowing nondestructive and contact-free acquisition of cross-section images of film coatings in real time. The coating thickness can be determined directly from these OCT images and no chemometric calibration models are required for quantification. Coating thickness measurements are extracted from the images by a fully automated algorithm. Results of the in-line measurements are validated using off-line OCT images, thickness calculations from tablet dimension measurements, and weight gain measurements. Validation measurements are performed on sample tablets periodically removed from the process during production. Reproducibility of the results is demonstrated by three batches produced under the same process conditions. OCT enables a multiple direct measurement of the coating thickness on individual tablets rather than providing the average coating thickness of a large number of tablets. This gives substantially more information about the coating quality, that is, intra- and intertablet coating variability, than standard quality control methods. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  2. Drop Impact of Viscous Suspensions on Solid Surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bolleddula, Daniel; Aliseda, Alberto

    2009-11-01

    Droplet impact is a well studied subject with over a century of progress. Most studies are motivated by applications such as inkjet printing, agriculture spraying, or printed circuit boards. Pharmaceutically relevant fluids provide an experimental set that has received little attention. Medicinal tablets are coated by the impaction of micron sized droplets of aqueous suspensions and subsequently dried for various purposes such as brand recognition, mask unpleasant taste, or functionality. We will present a systematic study of micron sized drop impact of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluids used in pharmaceutical coating processes. In our experiments we extend the range of Ohnesorge numbers, O(1), of previous studies on surfaces of varying wettability and roughness.

  3. Bioinspired Polyelectrolyte-Assembled Graphene-Oxide-Coated C18 Composite Solid-Phase Microextraction Fibers for In Vivo Monitoring of Acidic Pharmaceuticals in Fish.

    PubMed

    Qiu, Junlang; Chen, Guosheng; Liu, Shuqin; Zhang, Tianlang; Wu, Jiayi; Wang, Fuxin; Xu, Jianqiao; Liu, Yan; Zhu, Fang; Ouyang, Gangfeng

    2016-06-07

    A novel solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber was prepared by gluing poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) assembled graphene oxide (GO)-coated C18 composite particles (C18@GO@PDDA) onto a quartz fiber with polyaniline (PANI). The fiber surface coating was sequentially modified with bioinspired polynorepinephrine, which provided a smooth biointerface and makes the coating suitable for in vivo sampling. The novel custom-made coating was used to extract acidic pharmaceuticals, and high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was employed for analysis. The custom-made coating exhibited a much higher extraction efficiency than the previously used commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyacrylate (PA) coatings. The custom-made coating also possessed satisfactory stability (the relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 1.60% to 10.3% for six sampling-desorption cycles), interfiber reproducibility (the RSDs ranged from 2.61% to 11.5%), and resistance to matrix effects. The custom-made fibers were used to monitor the presence of acid pharmaceuticals in dorsal-epaxial muscle of living fish, and satisfactory sensitivities (limits of detection ranged from 0.13 ng/g to 7.56 ng/g) were achieved. The accuracies were verified by the comparison with liquid extraction. Moreover, the novel fibers were successfully used to monitor the presence of acidic pharmaceuticals in living fish, which demonstrated that the custom-made fibers were feasible for possible long-term in vivo continuous pharmaceutical monitoring.

  4. Quantifying Pharmaceutical Film Coating with Optical Coherence Tomography and Terahertz Pulsed Imaging: An Evaluation.

    PubMed

    Lin, Hungyen; Dong, Yue; Shen, Yaochun; Axel Zeitler, J

    2015-10-01

    Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) has recently attracted a lot of interest in the pharmaceutical industry as a fast and non-destructive modality for quantification of thin film coatings that cannot easily be resolved with other techniques. Because of the relative infancy of this technique, much of the research to date has focused on developing the in-line measurement technique for assessing film coating thickness. To better assess OCT for pharmaceutical coating quantification, this paper evaluates tablets with a range of film coating thickness measured using OCT and terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) in an off-line setting. In order to facilitate automated coating quantification for film coating thickness in the range of 30-200μm, an algorithm that uses wavelet denoising and a tailored peak finding method is proposed to analyse each of the acquired A-scan. Results obtained from running the algorithm reveal an increasing disparity between the TPI and OCT measured intra-tablet variability when film coating thickness exceeds 100μm. The finding further confirms that OCT is a suitable modality for characterising pharmaceutical dosage forms with thin film coatings, whereas TPI is well suited for thick coatings. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 104:3377-3385, 2015. Copyright © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  5. Dry coating of solid dosage forms: an overview of processes and applications.

    PubMed

    Foppoli, Anastasia Anna; Maroni, Alessandra; Cerea, Matteo; Zema, Lucia; Gazzaniga, Andrea

    2017-12-01

    Dry coating techniques enable manufacturing of coated solid dosage forms with no, or very limited, use of solvents. As a result, major drawbacks associated with both organic solvents and aqueous coating systems can be overcome, such as toxicological, environmental, and safety-related issues on the one hand as well as costly drying phases and impaired product stability on the other. The considerable advantages related to solventless coating has been prompting a strong research interest in this field of pharmaceutics. In the article, processes and applications relevant to techniques intended for dry coating are analyzed and reviewed. Based on the physical state of the coat-forming agents, liquid- and solid-based techniques are distinguished. The former include hot-melt coating and coating by photocuring, while the latter encompass press coating and powder coating. Moreover, solventless techniques, such as injection molding and three-dimensional printing by fused deposition modeling, which are not purposely conceived for coating, are also discussed in that they would open new perspectives in the manufacturing of coated-like dosage forms.

  6. Blowing Polymer Bubbles in an Acoustic Levitator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lee, M. C.

    1985-01-01

    In new manufacturing process, small gas-filled polymer shells made by injecting gas directly into acoustically levitated prepolymer drops. New process allows sufficient time for precise control of shell geometry. Applications foreseen in fabrication of deuterium/tritium-filled fusion targets and in pharmaceutical coatings. New process also useful in glass blowing and blow molding.

  7. Numerical investigation of solid mixing in a fluidized bed coating process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kenche, Venkatakrishna; Feng, Yuqing; Ying, Danyang; Solnordal, Chris; Lim, Seng; Witt, Peter J.

    2013-06-01

    Fluidized beds are widely used in many process industries including the food and pharmaceutical sectors. Despite being an intensive research area, there are no design rules or correlations that can be used to quantitatively predict the solid mixing in a specific system for a given set of operating conditions. This paper presents a numerical study of the gas and solid dynamics in a laboratory scale fluidized bed coating process used for food and pharmaceutical industries. An Eulerian-Eulerian model (EEM) with kinetic theory of granular flow is selected as the modeling technique, with the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package ANSYS/Fluent being the numerical platform. The flow structure is investigated in terms of the spatial distribution of gas and solid flow. The solid mixing has been evaluated under different operating conditions. It was found that the solid mixing rate in the horizontal direction is similar to that in the vertical direction under the current design and operating conditions. It takes about 5 s to achieve good mixing.

  8. Impact of Electrostatics on Processing and Product Performance of Pharmaceutical Solids.

    PubMed

    Desai, Parind Mahendrakumar; Tan, Bernice Mei Jin; Liew, Celine Valeria; Chan, Lai Wah; Heng, Paul Wan Sia

    2015-01-01

    Manufacturing of pharmaceutical solids involves different unit operations and processing steps such as powder blending, fluidization, sieving, powder coating, pneumatic conveying and spray drying. During these operations, particles come in contact with other particles, different metallic, glass or polymer surfaces and can become electrically charged. Electrostatic charging often gives a negative connotation as it creates sticking, jamming, segregation or other issues during tablet manufacturing, capsule filling, film packaging and other pharmaceutical operations. A thorough and fundamental appreciation of the current knowledge of mechanisms and the potential outcomes is essential in order to minimize potential risks resulting from this phenomenon. The intent of this review is to discuss the electrostatic properties of pharmaceutical powders, equipment surfaces and devices affecting pharmaceutical processing and product performance. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the electrostatic charging are described and factors affecting electrostatic charging have been reviewed in detail. Feasibility of different methods used in the laboratory and pharmaceutical industry to measure charge propensity and decay has been summarized. Different computational and experimental methods studied have proven that the particle charging is a very complex phenomenon and control of particle charging is extremely important to achieve reliable manufacturing and reproducible product performance.

  9. Improvement of flow and bulk density of pharmaceutical powders using surface modification.

    PubMed

    Jallo, Laila J; Ghoroi, Chinmay; Gurumurthy, Lakxmi; Patel, Utsav; Davé, Rajesh N

    2012-02-28

    Improvement in flow and bulk density, the two most important properties that determine the ease with which pharmaceutical powders can be handled, stored and processed, is done through surface modification. A limited design of experiment was conducted to establish a standardized dry coating procedure that limits the extent of powder attrition, while providing the most consistent improvement in angle of repose (AOR). The magnetically assisted impaction coating (MAIC) was considered as a model dry-coater for pharmaceutical powders; ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and ascorbic acid. Dry coated drug powders were characterized by AOR, particle size as a function of dispersion pressure, particle size distribution, conditioned bulk density (CBD), Carr index (CI), flow function coefficient (FFC), cohesion coefficient using different instruments, including a shear cell in the Freeman FT4 powder rheometer, and Hansen flowability index. Substantial improvement was observed in all the measured properties after dry coating relative to the uncoated powders, such that each powder moved from a poorer to a better flow classification and showed improved dispersion. The material intrinsic property such as cohesion, plotted as a function of particle size, gave a trend similar to those of bulk flow properties, AOR and CI. Property improvement is also illustrated in a phase map of inverse cohesion (or FFC) as a function of bulk density, which also indicated a significant positive shift due to dry coating. It is hoped that such phase maps are useful in manufacturing decisions regarding the need for dry coating, which will allow moving from wet granulation to roller compaction or to direct compression based formulations. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Optimization of process parameters for a quasi-continuous tablet coating system using design of experiments.

    PubMed

    Cahyadi, Christine; Heng, Paul Wan Sia; Chan, Lai Wah

    2011-03-01

    The aim of this study was to identify and optimize the critical process parameters of the newly developed Supercell quasi-continuous coater for optimal tablet coat quality. Design of experiments, aided by multivariate analysis techniques, was used to quantify the effects of various coating process conditions and their interactions on the quality of film-coated tablets. The process parameters varied included batch size, inlet temperature, atomizing pressure, plenum pressure, spray rate and coating level. An initial screening stage was carried out using a 2(6-1(IV)) fractional factorial design. Following these preliminary experiments, optimization study was carried out using the Box-Behnken design. Main response variables measured included drug-loading efficiency, coat thickness variation, and the extent of tablet damage. Apparent optimum conditions were determined by using response surface plots. The process parameters exerted various effects on the different response variables. Hence, trade-offs between individual optima were necessary to obtain the best compromised set of conditions. The adequacy of the optimized process conditions in meeting the combined goals for all responses was indicated by the composite desirability value. By using response surface methodology and optimization, coating conditions which produced coated tablets of high drug-loading efficiency, low incidences of tablet damage and low coat thickness variation were defined. Optimal conditions were found to vary over a large spectrum when different responses were considered. Changes in processing parameters across the design space did not result in drastic changes to coat quality, thereby demonstrating robustness in the Supercell coating process. © 2010 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists

  11. Reflectance infrared spectroscopy for in-line monitoring of nicotine during a coating process for an oral thin film.

    PubMed

    Hammes, Florian; Hille, Thomas; Kissel, Thomas

    2014-02-01

    A process analytical method using reflectance infrared spectrometry was developed for the in-line monitoring of the amount of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) nicotine during a coating process for an oral thin film (OTF). In-line measurements were made using a reflectance infrared (RI) sensor positioned after the last drying zone of the coating line. Real-time spectra from the coating process were used for modelling the nicotine content. Partial least squares (PLS1) calibration models with different data pre-treatments were generated. The calibration model with the most comparable standard error of calibration (SEC) and the standard error of cross validation (SECV) was selected for an external validation run on the production coating line with an independent laminate. Good correlations could be obtained between values estimated from the reflectance infrared data and the reference HPLC test method, respectively. With in-line measurements it was possible to allow real-time adjustments during the production process to keep product specifications within predefined limits hence avoiding loss of material and batch. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Solventless dry powder coating for sustained drug release using mechanochemical treatment based on the tri-component system of acetaminophen, carnauba wax and glidant.

    PubMed

    Hoashi, Yohei; Tozuka, Yuichi; Takeuchi, Hirofumi

    2013-02-01

    Solventless dry powder coating methods have many advantages compared to solvent-based methods: they are more economical, simpler, safer, more environmentally friendly and easier to scale up. The purpose of this study was to investigate a highly effective dry powder coating method using the mechanofusion system, a mechanochemical treatment equipped with high compressive and shearing force. Acetaminophen (AAP) and carnauba wax (CW) were selected as core particles of the model drug and coating material, respectively. Mixtures of AAP and CW with and without talc were processed using the mechanofusion system. Sustained AAP release was observed by selecting appropriate processing conditions for the rotation speed and the slit size. The dissolution rate of AAP processed with CW substantially decreased with an increase in talc content up to 40% of the amount of CW loaded. Increasing the coating amount by two-step addition of CW led to more effective coating and extended drug release. Scanning electron micrographs indicated that CW adhered and showed satisfactory coverage of the surface of AAP particles. Effective CW coating onto the AAP surface was successfully achieved by strictly controlling the processing conditions and the composition of core particles, coating material and glidant. Our mechanochemical dry powder coating method using the mechanofusion system is a simple and promising means of solventless pharmaceutical coating.

  13. Automated Dissolution for Enteric-Coated Aspirin Tablets: A Case Study for Method Transfer to a RoboDis II.

    PubMed

    Ibrahim, Sarah A; Martini, Luigi

    2014-08-01

    Dissolution method transfer is a complicated yet common process in the pharmaceutical industry. With increased pharmaceutical product manufacturing and dissolution acceptance requirements, dissolution testing has become one of the most labor-intensive quality control testing methods. There is an increased trend for automation in dissolution testing, particularly for large pharmaceutical companies to reduce variability and increase personnel efficiency. There is no official guideline for dissolution testing method transfer from a manual, semi-automated, to automated dissolution tester. In this study, a manual multipoint dissolution testing procedure for an enteric-coated aspirin tablet was transferred effectively and reproducibly to a fully automated dissolution testing device, RoboDis II. Enteric-coated aspirin samples were used as a model formulation to assess the feasibility and accuracy of media pH change during continuous automated dissolution testing. Several RoboDis II parameters were evaluated to ensure the integrity and equivalency of dissolution method transfer from a manual dissolution tester. This current study provides a systematic outline for the transfer of the manual dissolution testing protocol to an automated dissolution tester. This study further supports that automated dissolution testers compliant with regulatory requirements and similar to manual dissolution testers facilitate method transfer. © 2014 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

  14. Influence of the inlet air temperature in a fluid bed coating process on drug release from shellac-coated pellets.

    PubMed

    Farag, Yassin; Leopold, Claudia Sabine

    2011-03-01

    Since the introduction of aqueous ammoniacal solutions, shellac regained importance for pharmaceutical applications. However, as shellac is a material obtained from natural resources, its quality and thus its physicochemical properties may vary depending on its origin and the type of refining. In this study theophylline pellets were coated with aqueous solutions of three different commercially available shellac types. The inlet air temperature of the coating process was varied, and its influence on drug release from the coated pellet formulations was investigated. Film formation was correlated to the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the investigated shellac types. Pellets coated at lower temperatures showed distinct cracks in the coating film resulting in a loss of the barrier function during dissolution testing. These cracks were nonreversible by additional curing. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of the investigated shellac types varied significantly and could hardly be related to the drug release performance of the investigated formulations. Obviously, with shellac a minimum inlet air temperature must be exceeded to achieve a coherent coating film. This temperature was dependent on the investigated shellac type.

  15. Pharmaceutical approaches to preparing pelletized dosage forms using the extrusion-spheronization process.

    PubMed

    Trivedi, Namrata R; Rajan, Maria Gerald; Johnson, James R; Shukla, Atul J

    2007-01-01

    Pelletized dosage forms date back to the 1950s, when the first product was introduced to the market. Since then, these dosage forms have gained considerable popularity because of their distinct advantages, such as ease of capsule filling because of better flow properties of the spherical pellets; enhancement of drug dissolution; ease of coating; sustained, controlled, or site-specific delivery of the drug from coated pellets; uniform packing; even distribution in the GI tract; and less GI irritation. Pelletized dosage forms can be prepared by a number of techniques, including drug layering on nonpareil sugar or microcrystalline cellulose beads, spray drying, spray congealing, rotogranulation, hot-melt extrusion, and spheronization of low melting materials or extrusion-spheronization of a wet mass. This review discusses recent developments in the pharmaceutical approaches that have been used to prepare pelletized dosage forms using the extrusion-spheronization process over the last decade. The review is divided into three parts: the first part discusses the extrusion-spheronization process, the second part discusses the effect of varying formulation and process parameters on the properties of the pellets, and the last part discusses the different approaches that have been used to prepare pelletized dosage forms using the extrusion-spheronization process.

  16. Controlled release from drug microparticles via solventless dry-polymer coating.

    PubMed

    Capece, Maxx; Barrows, Jason; Davé, Rajesh N

    2015-04-01

    A novel solvent-less dry-polymer coating process employing high-intensity vibrations avoiding the use of liquid plasticizers, solvents, binders, and heat treatments is utilized for the purpose of controlled release. The main hypothesis is that such process having highly controllable processing intensity and time may be effective for coating particularly fine particles, 100 μm and smaller via exploiting particle interactions between polymers and substrates in the dry state, while avoiding breakage yet achieving conformal coating. The method utilizes vibratory mixing to first layer micronized polymer onto active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) particles by virtue of van der Waals forces and to subsequently mechanically deform the polymer into a continuous film. As a practical example, ascorbic acid and ibuprofen microparticles, 50-500 μm, are coated with the polymers polyethylene wax or carnauba wax, a generally recognized as safe material, resulting in controlled release on the order of seconds to hours. As a novelty, models are utilized to describe the coating layer thickness and the controlled-release behavior of the API, which occurs because of a diffusion-based mechanism. Such modeling would allow the design and control of the coating process with application for the controlled release of microparticles, particularly those less than 100 μm, which are difficult to coat by conventional solvent coating methods. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  17. Simulation and parametric study of a film-coated controlled-release pharmaceutical.

    PubMed

    Borgquist, Per; Zackrisson, Gunnar; Nilsson, Bernt; Axelsson, Anders

    2002-04-23

    Pharmaceutical formulations can be designed as Multiple Unit Systems, such as Roxiam CR, studied in this work. The dose is administrated as a capsule, which contains about 100 individual pellets, which in turn contain the active drug remoxipride. Experimental data for a large number of single pellets can be obtained by studying the release using microtitre plates. This makes it possible to study the release of the individual subunits making up the total dose. A mathematical model for simulating the release of remoxipride from single film-coated pellets is presented including internal and external mass transfer hindrance apart from the most important film resistance. The model can successfully simulate the release of remoxipride from single film-coated pellets if the lag phase of the experimental data is ignored. This was shown to have a minor influence on the release rate. The use of the present model is demonstrated by a parametric study showing that the release process is film-controlled, i.e. is limited by the mass transport through the polymer coating. The model was used to fit the film thickness and the drug loading to the experimental release data. The variation in the fitted values was similar to that obtained in the experiments.

  18. Authentication of gold nanoparticle encoded pharmaceutical tablets using polarimetric signatures.

    PubMed

    Carnicer, Artur; Arteaga, Oriol; Suñé-Negre, Josep M; Javidi, Bahram

    2016-10-01

    The counterfeiting of pharmaceutical products represents concerns for both industry and the safety of the general public. Falsification produces losses to companies and poses health risks for patients. In order to detect fake pharmaceutical tablets, we propose producing film-coated tablets with gold nanoparticle encoding. These coated tablets contain unique polarimetric signatures. We present experiments to show that ellipsometric optical techniques, in combination with machine learning algorithms, can be used to distinguish genuine and fake samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report using gold nanoparticles encoded with optical polarimetric classifiers to prevent the counterfeiting of pharmaceutical products.

  19. Integrating tristimulus colorimetry into pharmaceutical development for color selection and physical appearance control: a quality-by-design approach.

    PubMed

    Hetrick, Evan M; Vannoy, Jeffrey; Montgomery, Laura L; Pack, Brian W

    2013-08-01

    The color of pharmaceutical dosage forms can be an important aspect of product branding and patient compliance with a dosing regimen. During the development of drug products, it is important to understand the stability of not only the active pharmaceutical ingredient but also the color and appearance of the tablet or capsule. Currently, the most common method to ensure color stability is to conduct a visual test throughout a stability study. This visual test is subjective and can be expensive, especially if there is a failure late in development or after marketing approval. This work describes a series of studies using accelerated conditions (i.e., heat, humidity, and light) and logistic regression analyses that have been developed to determine the relative stability ranking of multiple color coatings early in development to provide an increased probability of technical success on long-term stability studies and to avoid coatings whose visual appearance may change over time. Once this relative stability ranking has been established, the stability advantages can be assessed versus any manufacturing/processing liabilities of the selected coating in order to make a data-driven decision around coating selection. This work reviews the basic fundamentals of colorimetry, followed by the description of a consistent experimental approach to correlate a visual rating with an instrumental measurement (e.g., dE(*) from a colorimeter) to remove the subjectivity from the assessment. This approach represents a novel strategy for establishing a probabilized correlation between the quantitative instrumental color measurement and the visual rating of the same color change. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  20. Development and evaluation of a dimensionless mechanistic pan coating model for the prediction of coated tablet appearance.

    PubMed

    Niblett, Daniel; Porter, Stuart; Reynolds, Gavin; Morgan, Tomos; Greenamoyer, Jennifer; Hach, Ronald; Sido, Stephanie; Karan, Kapish; Gabbott, Ian

    2017-08-07

    A mathematical, mechanistic tablet film-coating model has been developed for pharmaceutical pan coating systems based on the mechanisms of atomisation, tablet bed movement and droplet drying with the main purpose of predicting tablet appearance quality. Two dimensionless quantities were used to characterise the product properties and operating parameters: the dimensionless Spray Flux (relating to area coverage of the spray droplets) and the Niblett Number (relating to the time available for drying of coating droplets). The Niblett Number is the ratio between the time a droplet needs to dry under given thermodynamic conditions and the time available for the droplet while on the surface of the tablet bed. The time available for drying on the tablet bed surface is critical for appearance quality. These two dimensionless quantities were used to select process parameters for a set of 22 coating experiments, performed over a wide range of multivariate process parameters. The dimensionless Regime Map created can be used to visualise the effect of interacting process parameters on overall tablet appearance quality and defects such as picking and logo bridging. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Applications of terahertz-pulsed technology in the pharmaceutical industry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Taday, Philip F.

    2010-02-01

    Coatings are applied to pharmaceutical tablets (or pills) to for either cosmetic or release control reasons. Cosmetic coatings control the colour or to mask the taste of an active ingredient; the thickness of these coating is not critical to the performance of the product. On the other hand the thickness and uniformity of a controlled release coating has been found affect the release of the active ingredient. In this work we have obtained from a pharmacy single brand of pantoprazole tablet and mapped them using terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) prior to additional dissolution testing. Three terahertz parameters were derived for univariate analysis for each layer: coating thickness, terahertz electric field peak strength and terahertz interface index. These parameters were then correlated dissolution tested. The best fit was found to be with combined coating layer thickness of the inert layer and enteric coating. The commercial tablets showed a large variation in coating thickness.

  2. Crystalline coats or hollow crystals as tools for product design in pharmaceutical industry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ulrich, J.; Schuster, A.; Stelzer, T.

    2013-01-01

    The coating of pharmaceutical compounds is a field of high interest. As most of the coating materials form an amorphous layer around the material, the studies on crystalline coatings are rare. In this work the progress in this domain should be summarized and innovative results concerning crystalline hollow needles as coating material are presented. Since the first reports on needles formed via a solvent-mediated phase transition from solvates to hydrates, the field could be widened to hydrate-to-anhydrate and anhydrate-to-hydrate transformations. Novel investigations on hollow theophylline monohydrate and carbamazepine dihydrate needles are presented. It is shown that the inclusion of substances into the hollow needle crystals is feasible by simple means, which enable an application in industry as coating for sensitive materials.

  3. In-line quality control of moving objects by means of spectral-domain OCT

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Markl, Daniel; Hannesschläger, Günther; Buchsbaum, Andreas; Sacher, Stephan; Khinast, Johannes G.; Leitner, Michael

    2014-08-01

    In-line quality control of intermediate and final products is essential in various industries. This may imply determining the thickness of a foil or evaluating the homogeneity of coating applied to a pharmaceutical tablet. Such a qualitative and quantitative monitoring in a depth-resolved manner can be accomplished using optical coherence tomography (OCT). In-line quality control based on OCT requires additional consideration of motion effects for the system design as well as for data interpretation. This study focuses on transverse motion effects that can arise in spectral-domain (SD-) OCT systems. The impact of a transverse movement is analyzed for a constant relative speed difference up to 0.7 m/s between sample and sensor head. In particular, transverse motion is affecting OCT system properties such as the beam displacement (distance between adjacent A-scans) and transverse resolution. These properties were evaluated theoretically and experimentally for OCT images of a resolution target and pharmaceutical film-coated tablets. Both theoretical and experimental analyses highlight the shift of the transverse resolution limiting factor from the optics to the beam displacement above a relative speed difference between sensor head and sample of 0.42 m/s (for the presented SD-OCT setup). Speeds above 0.4 m/s are often demanded when monitoring industrial processes, such as a coating process when producing film-coated tablets. This emphasizes the importance of a fast data acquisition when using OCT as in-line quality control tool.

  4. Functionalised particles using dry powder coating in pharmaceutical drug delivery: promises and challenges.

    PubMed

    Dahmash, Eman Z; Mohammed, Afzal R

    2015-01-01

    Production of functionalised particles using dry powder coating is a one-step, environmentally friendly process that paves the way for the development of particles with targeted properties and diverse functionalities. Applying the first principles in physical science for powders, fine guest particles can be homogeneously dispersed over the surface of larger host particles to develop functionalised particles. Multiple functionalities can be modified including: flowability, dispersibility, fluidisation, homogeneity, content uniformity and dissolution profile. The current publication seeks to understand the fundamental underpinning principles and science governing dry coating process, evaluate key technologies developed to produce functionalised particles along with outlining their advantages, limitations and applications and discusses in detail the resultant functionalities and their applications. Dry particle coating is a promising solvent-free manufacturing technology to produce particles with targeted functionalities. Progress within this area requires the development of continuous processing devices that can overcome challenges encountered with current technologies such as heat generation and particle attrition. Growth within this field requires extensive research to further understand the impact of process design and material properties on resultant functionalities.

  5. Non-destructive quantification of pharmaceutical tablet coatings using terahertz pulsed imaging and optical coherence tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhong, Shuncong; Shen, Yao-Chun; Ho, Louise; May, Robert K.; Zeitler, J. Axel; Evans, Mike; Taday, Philip F.; Pepper, Michael; Rades, Thomas; Gordon, Keith C.; Müller, Ronny; Kleinebudde, Peter

    2011-03-01

    Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) are two powerful techniques allowing high quality cross-sectional images from within scattering media to be obtained non-destructively. In this paper, we report experimental results of using OCT and TPI for quantitatively characterizing pharmaceutical tablet coatings in the thickness range of 10-140 μm. We found that the spectral OCT system developed in-house has an axial resolution of 0.9 μm, and is capable of quantifying very thin coatings in the range of 10-60 μm. The upper limit of 60 μm within the tablet coating and core is owed to the strong scattering of OCT light, which has relatively short wavelengths in the range of 0.5-1.0 μm. On the other hand, TPI utilizes terahertz radiation that has substantially long wavelengths in the range of hundreds of microns, and thus is less prone to the scattering problem. Consequently TPI has been demonstrated to be able to quantify thicker coatings in the range of 40-140 μm and beyond. We concluded that OCT and TPI are two complementary analytical techniques for non-destructive and quantitative characterization of pharmaceutical tablet coatings.

  6. Improved blend and tablet properties of fine pharmaceutical powders via dry particle coating.

    PubMed

    Huang, Zhonghui; Scicolone, James V; Han, Xi; Davé, Rajesh N

    2015-01-30

    The improvements in the flow and packing of fine pharmaceutical powder blends due to dry coating of micronized acetaminophen (mAPAP, ∼11μm), a model poorly flowing drug, are quantified. Poor flow and packing density of fine excipients (∼20μm) allowed testing the hypothesis that dry coating of cohesive API may counteract poor flow and packing of fine pharmaceutical powder blends. Further, fine excipients could improve compaction and reduce segregation tendency. It was found that flow function coefficient (FFC) and bulk density enhancements for 10%, 30%, and 60% (w/w), API loading blends with dry coated API are significantly higher than those without coated silica. At the highest API loading, for which coarser excipients were also used as reference, the flow and packing of dry coated mAPAP blends were significantly increased regardless of the excipient particle size, exceeding those of a well compacting excipient, Avicel 102. In addition, tensile strength of tablets with fine excipients was significantly higher, indicating improved compactibility. These results show for the first time that dry coating of fine, cohesive API powder leads to significantly improved flow and packing of high API loading blends consisting of fine excipients, while achieving improved tablet compactibility, suggesting suitability for direct compaction. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Vapor Phase Alkyne Coating of Pharmaceutical Excipients: Discrimination Enhancement of Raman Chemical Imaging for Tablets.

    PubMed

    Yamashita, Mayumi; Sasaki, Hiroaki; Moriyama, Kei

    2015-12-01

    Raman chemical imaging has become a powerful analytical tool to investigate the crystallographic characteristics of pharmaceutical ingredients in tablet. However, it is often difficult to discriminate some pharmaceutical excipients from each other by Raman spectrum because of broad and overlapping signals, limiting their detailed assessments. To overcome this difficulty, we developed a vapor phase coating method of excipients by an alkyne, which exhibits a distinctive Raman signal in the range of 2100-2300 cm(-1) . We found that the combination of two volatile reagents, propargyl bromide and triethylamine, formed a thin and nonvolatile coating on the excipient and observed the Raman signal of the alkyne at the surface. We prepared alkyne-coated cellulose by this method and formed a tablet. The Raman chemical imaging of the tablet cross-section using the alkyne peak area intensity of 2120 cm(-1) as the index showed a much clearer particle image of cellulose than using the peak area intensity of 1370 cm(-1) , which originated from the cellulose itself. Our method provides an innovative technique to analyze the solid-state characteristics of pharmaceutical excipients in tablets. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  8. Pharmaceutical Compounds Studied Using NEXAFS

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Murray Booth, A.; Braun, Simon; Lonsbourough, Tom; Purton, John; Patel, Sunil; Schroeder, Sven L. M.

    2007-02-01

    Total Electron Yield (TEY) oxygen K-edge NEXAFS detects the presence of strongly adsorbed water molecules on poloxamer-coated pharmaceutical actives, which provides a useful spectroscopic indicator for bioavailability. The results are supported by complementary XPS measurements. Carbon K-edge spectra obtained in a high-pressure NEXAFS cell were used in situ to establish how a polymer coating spread on a drug surface by using humidity induced dispersion of the coating. Finally, we demonstrate how combined Carbon and Oxygen K-edge measurements can be used to characterize amorphous surface layers on micronised crystals of a drug compound.

  9. Experimental analysis of tablet properties for discrete element modeling of an active coating process.

    PubMed

    Just, Sarah; Toschkoff, Gregor; Funke, Adrian; Djuric, Dejan; Scharrer, Georg; Khinast, Johannes; Knop, Klaus; Kleinebudde, Peter

    2013-03-01

    Coating of solid dosage forms is an important unit operation in the pharmaceutical industry. In recent years, numerical simulations of drug manufacturing processes have been gaining interest as process analytical technology tools. The discrete element method (DEM) in particular is suitable to model tablet-coating processes. For the development of accurate simulations, information on the material properties of the tablets is required. In this study, the mechanical parameters Young's modulus, coefficient of restitution (CoR), and coefficients of friction (CoF) of gastrointestinal therapeutic systems (GITS) and of active-coated GITS were measured experimentally. The dynamic angle of repose of these tablets in a drum coater was investigated to revise the CoF. The resulting values were used as input data in DEM simulations to compare simulation and experiment. A mean value of Young's modulus of 31.9 MPa was determined by the uniaxial compression test. The CoR was found to be 0.78. For both tablet-steel and tablet-tablet friction, active-coated GITS showed a higher CoF compared with GITS. According to the values of the dynamic angle of repose, the CoF was adjusted to obtain consistent tablet motion in the simulation and in the experiment. On the basis of this experimental characterization, mechanical parameters are integrated into DEM simulation programs to perform numerical analysis of coating processes.

  10. A novel in-line NIR spectroscopy application for the monitoring of tablet film coating in an industrial scale process.

    PubMed

    Möltgen, C-V; Puchert, T; Menezes, J C; Lochmann, D; Reich, G

    2012-04-15

    Film coating of tablets is a multivariate pharmaceutical unit operation. In this study an innovative in-line Fourier-Transform Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) application is described which enables real-time monitoring of a full industrial scale pan coating process of heart-shaped tablets. The tablets were coated with a thin hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) film of up to approx. 28 μm on the tablet face as determined by SEM, corresponding to a weight gain of 2.26%. For a better understanding of the aqueous coating process the NIR probe was positioned inside the rotating tablet bed. Five full scale experimental runs have been performed to evaluate the impact of process variables such as pan rotation, exhaust air temperature, spray rate and pan load and elaborate robust and selective quantitative calibration models for the real-time determination of both coating growth and tablet moisture content. Principal Component (PC) score plots allowed each coating step, namely preheating, spraying and drying to be distinguished and the dominating factors and their spectral effects to be identified (e.g. temperature, moisture, coating growth, change of tablet bed density, and core/coat interactions). The distinct separation of HPMC coating growth and tablet moisture in different PCs enabled a real-time in-line monitoring of both attributes. A PLS calibration model based on Karl Fischer reference values allowed the tablet moisture trajectory to be determined throughout the entire coating process. A 1-latent variable iPLS weight gain calibration model with calibration samples from process stages dominated by the coating growth (i.e. ≥ 30% of the theoretically applied amount of coating) was sufficiently selective and accurate to predict the progress of the thin HPMC coating layer. At-line NIR Chemical Imaging (NIR-CI) in combination with PLS Discriminant Analysis (PLSDA) verified the HPMC coating growth and physical changes at the core/coat interface during the initial stages of the coating process. In addition, inter- and intra-tablet coating variability throughout the process could be assessed. These results clearly demonstrate that in-line NIRS and at-line NIR-CI can be applied as complimentary PAT tools to monitor a challenging pan coating process. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Characterization of the coating and tablet core roughness by means of 3D optical coherence tomography.

    PubMed

    Markl, Daniel; Wahl, Patrick; Pichler, Heinz; Sacher, Stephan; Khinast, Johannes G

    2018-01-30

    This study demonstrates the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to simultaneously characterize the roughness of the tablet core and coating of pharmaceutical tablets. OCT is a high resolution non-destructive and contactless imaging methodology to characterize structural properties of solid dosage forms. Besides measuring the coating thickness, it also facilitates the analysis of the tablet core and coating roughness. An automated data evaluation algorithm extracts information about coating thickness, as well as tablet core and coating roughness. Samples removed periodically from a pan coating process were investigated, on the basis of thickness and profile maps of the tablet core and coating computed from about 480,000 depth measurements (i.e., 3D data) per sample. This data enables the calculation of the root mean square deviation, the skewness and the kurtosis of the assessed profiles. Analyzing these roughness parameters revealed that, for the given coating formulation, small valleys in the tablet core are filled with coating, whereas coarse features of the tablet core are still visible on the final film-coated tablet. Moreover, the impact of the tablet core roughness on the coating thickness is analyzed by correlating the tablet core profile and the coating thickness map. The presented measurement method and processing could be in the future transferred to in-line OCT measurements, to investigate core and coating roughness during the production of film-coated tablets. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  12. Making Microscopic Cubes Of Boron

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Faulkner, Joseph M.

    1993-01-01

    Production of finely divided cubes of boron involves vacuum-deposition technology and requires making of template. Template supports pattern of checkered squares 25 micrometers on side, which are etched 25 micrometers into template material. Template coasted uniformly with paralyene or some similar vacuum coating with low coefficient of adhesion. Intended application to solid rocket fuels, explosives, and pyrotechnics; process used for other applications, from manufacture of pharmaceuticals to processing of nuclear materials.

  13. Strategy for design NIR calibration sets based on process spectrum and model space: An innovative approach for process analytical technology.

    PubMed

    Cárdenas, V; Cordobés, M; Blanco, M; Alcalà, M

    2015-10-10

    The pharmaceutical industry is under stringent regulations on quality control of their products because is critical for both, productive process and consumer safety. According to the framework of "process analytical technology" (PAT), a complete understanding of the process and a stepwise monitoring of manufacturing are required. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) combined with chemometrics have lately performed efficient, useful and robust for pharmaceutical analysis. One crucial step in developing effective NIRS-based methodologies is selecting an appropriate calibration set to construct models affording accurate predictions. In this work, we developed calibration models for a pharmaceutical formulation during its three manufacturing stages: blending, compaction and coating. A novel methodology is proposed for selecting the calibration set -"process spectrum"-, into which physical changes in the samples at each stage are algebraically incorporated. Also, we established a "model space" defined by Hotelling's T(2) and Q-residuals statistics for outlier identification - inside/outside the defined space - in order to select objectively the factors to be used in calibration set construction. The results obtained confirm the efficacy of the proposed methodology for stepwise pharmaceutical quality control, and the relevance of the study as a guideline for the implementation of this easy and fast methodology in the pharma industry. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. A SPION-eicosane protective coating for water soluble capsules: Evidence for on-demand drug release triggered by magnetic hyperthermia.

    PubMed

    Che Rose, Laili; Bear, Joseph C; McNaughter, Paul D; Southern, Paul; Piggott, R Ben; Parkin, Ivan P; Qi, Sheng; Mayes, Andrew G

    2016-02-04

    An orally-administered system for targeted, on-demand drug delivery to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is highly desirable due to the high instances of diseases of that organ system and harsh mechanical and physical conditions any such system has to endure. To that end, we present an iron oxide nanoparticle/wax composite capsule coating using magnetic hyperthermia as a release trigger. The coating is synthesised using a simple dip-coating process from pharmaceutically approved materials using a gelatin drug capsule as a template. We show that the coating is impervious to chemical conditions within the GI tract and is completely melted within two minutes when exposed to an RF magnetic field under biologically-relevant conditions. The overall simplicity of action, durability and non-toxic and inexpensive nature of our system demonstrated herein are key for successful drug delivery systems.

  15. Tablet Velocity Measurement and Prediction in the Pharmaceutical Film Coating Process.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Yasuhiro; Yokohama, Chihiro; Minami, Hidemi; Terada, Katsuhide

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to measure the tablet velocity in pan coating machines during the film coating process in order to understand the impact of the batch size (laboratory to commercial scale), coating machine type (DRIACOATER, HICOATER® and AQUA COATER®) and manufacturing conditions on tablet velocity. We used a high speed camera and particle image velocimetry to measure the tablet velocity in the coating pans. It was observed that increasing batch sizes resulted in increased tablet velocities under the same rotation number because of the differences in circumferential rotation speeds. We also observed the tendency that increase in the filling ratio of tablets resulted in an increased tablet velocity for all coating machines. Statistical analysis was used to make a tablet velocity predictive equation by employing the filling ratio and rotation speed as the parameters from these measured values. The correlation coefficients of predicted value and experimental value were more than 0.959 in each machine. Using the predictive equation to determine tablet velocities, the manufacturing conditions of previous products were reviewed, and it was found that the tablet velocities of commercial scales, in which tablet chipping and breakage problems had occurred, were higher than those of pilot scales or laboratory scales.

  16. Protective Coatings

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1980-01-01

    General Magnaplate Corporation's pharmaceutical machine is used in the industry for high speed pressing of pills and capsules. Machine is automatic system for molding glycerine suppositories. These machines are typical of many types of drug production and packaging equipment whose metal parts are treated with space spinoff coatings that promote general machine efficiency and contribute to compliance with stringent federal sanitation codes for pharmaceutical manufacture. Collectively known as "synergistic" coatings, these dry lubricants are bonded to a variety of metals to form an extremely hard slippery surface with long lasting self lubrication. The coatings offer multiple advantages; they cannot chip, peel or be rubbed off. They protect machine parts from corrosion and wear longer, lowering maintenance cost and reduce undesired heat caused by power-robbing friction.

  17. PAT-Based Control of Fluid Bed Coating Process Using NIR Spectroscopy to Monitor the Cellulose Coating on Pharmaceutical Pellets.

    PubMed

    Naidu, Venkata Ramana; Deshpande, Rucha S; Syed, Moinuddin R; Deoghare, Piyush; Singh, Dharamvir; Wakte, Pravin S

    2017-08-01

    Current endeavor was aimed towards monitoring percent weight build-up during functional coating process on drug-layered pellets. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is an emerging process analytical technology (PAT) tool which was employed here within quality by design (QbD) framework. Samples were withdrawn after spraying every 15-Kg cellulosic coating material during Wurster coating process of drug-loaded pellets. NIR spectra of these samples were acquired using cup spinner assembly of Thermoscientific Antaris II, followed by multivariate analysis using partial least squares (PLS) calibration model. PLS model was built by selecting various absorption regions of NIR spectra for Ethyl cellulose, drug and correlating the absorption values with actual percent weight build up determined by HPLC. The spectral regions of 8971.04 to 8250.77 cm -1 , 7515.24 to 7108.33 cm -1 , and 5257.00 to 5098.87 cm -1 were found to be specific to cellulose, where as the spectral region of 6004.45 to 5844.14 cm -1 was found to be specific to drug. The final model gave superb correlation co-efficient value of 0.9994 for calibration and 0.9984 for validation with low root mean square of error (RMSE) values of 0.147 for calibration and 0.371 for validation using 6 factors. The developed correlation between the NIR spectra and cellulose content is useful in precise at-line prediction of functional coat value and can be used for monitoring the Wurster coating process.

  18. Microencapsulation and Electrostatic Processing Method

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Morrison, Dennis R. (Inventor); Mosier, Benjamin (Inventor)

    2000-01-01

    Methods are provided for forming spherical multilamellar microcapsules having alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic liquid layers, surrounded by flexible, semi-permeable hydrophobic or hydrophilic outer membranes which can be tailored specifically to control the diffusion rate. The methods of the invention rely on low shear mixing and liquid-liquid diffusion process and are particularly well suited for forming microcapsules containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. These methods can be carried out in the absence of gravity and do not rely on density-driven phase separation, mechanical mixing or solvent evaporation phases. The methods include the process of forming, washing and filtering microcapsules. In addition, the methods contemplate coating microcapsules with ancillary coatings using an electrostatic field and free fluid electrophoresis of the microcapsules. The microcapsules produced by such methods are particularly useful in the delivery of pharmaceutical compositions.

  19. Alternative method for enteric coating of HPMC capsules resulting in ready-to-use enteric-coated capsules.

    PubMed

    Huyghebaert, Nathalie; Vermeire, An; Remon, Jean Paul

    2004-04-01

    The aim of this study was to develop an alternative method for enteric coating of HPMC capsules that avoids the sealing step before coating, resulting in ready-to-use enteric-coated capsules for the use in retail or hospital pharmacy or R&D sections of pharmaceutical industry and for the production of enteric-coated heat and moisture sensitive biomaterials. HPMC caps and bodies 00 (Vcaps, Capsugel) were coated separately in a fluid bed apparatus prior to filling (GPCG-1, Glatt) with Eudragit L30D-55 or Eudragit FS 30 D (Röhm), Aqoat AS-HF (Shin-Etsu) and Sureteric (Colorcon), using an optimised coating process. The coated bodies were filled and closed with the coated caps without encountering problems of coating damage. The release in 0.1N HCl after 2h from capsules coated with Eudragit L30D-55, Eudragit FS 30 D, Aqoat AS-HF and Sureteric was 0.6+/-.03, 0.6+/-0.3, 1.2+/-0.2 and 7.3+/-1.9%, respectively. The alternative method was reproducible and offered a way to overcome the time-consuming and expensive sealing step required using the conventional coating procedure. The obtained enteric-coated HPMC capsules can be stored (un)-filled for at least 6 months without loosing enteric properties.

  20. Contact Angle of Drops Measured on Nontransparent Surfaces and Capillary Flow Visualized

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chao, David F.; Zhang, Nengli

    2003-01-01

    The spreading of a liquid on a solid surface is important for various practical processes, and contact-angle measurements provide an elegant method to characterize the interfacial properties of the liquid with the solid substrates. The complex physical processes occurring when a liquid contacts a solid play an important role in determining the performance of chemical processes and materials. Applications for these processes are in printing, coating, gluing, textile dyeing, and adhesives and in the pharmaceutical industry, biomedical research, adhesives, flat panel display manufacturing, surfactant chemistry, and thermal engineering.

  1. Inhibiting surface crystallization of amorphous indomethacin by nanocoating.

    PubMed

    Wu, Tian; Sun, Ye; Li, Ning; de Villiers, Melgardt M; Yu, Lian

    2007-04-24

    An amorphous solid (glass) may crystallize faster at the surface than through the bulk, making surface crystallization a mechanism of failure for amorphous pharmaceuticals and other materials. An ultrathin coating of gold or polyelectrolytes inhibited the surface crystallization of amorphous indomethacin (IMC), an anti-inflammatory drug and model organic glass. The gold coating (10 nm) was deposited by sputtering, and the polyelectrolyte coating (3-20 nm) was deposited by an electrostatic layer-by-layer assembly of cationic poly(dimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA) and anionic sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) in aqueous solution. The coating also inhibited the growth of existing crystals. The inhibition was strong even with one layer of PDDA. The polyelectrolyte coating still permitted fast dissolution of amorphous IMC and improved its wetting and flow. The finding supports the view that the surface crystallization of amorphous IMC is enabled by the mobility of a thin layer of surface molecules, and this mobility can be suppressed by a coating of only a few nanometers. This technique may be used to stabilize amorphous drugs prone to surface crystallization, with the aqueous coating process especially suitable for drugs of low aqueous solubility.

  2. Co-extrusion as a processing technique to manufacture a dual sustained release fixed-dose combination product.

    PubMed

    Vynckier, An-Katrien; Voorspoels, Jody; Remon, Jean Paul; Vervaet, Chris

    2016-05-01

    This study aimed to design a fixed-dose combination dosage form which provides a sustained release profile for both the freely water-soluble metformin HCl and the poorly soluble gliclazide, two antidiabetic compounds used to treat diabetes mellitus. Hot-melt co-extrusion was used as an innovative manufacturing technique for a pharmaceutical fixed-dose combination product. In this way, a matrix formulation that sustained metformin release could be developed, despite the high drug load in the formulation and the freely soluble nature of the drug. It was clear that co-extrusion was perfectly suited to produce a fixed-dose combination product with adequate properties for each of the incorporated APIs. A coat layer, containing at least 30% CAPA(®) 6506 as a hydrophobic polymer, was necessary to adequately sustain the release of the highly dosed freely soluble drug from the 70% metformin HCl-loaded CAPA(®) 6506 core of the co-extrudate. To obtain a complete gliclazide release over 24-h solubilization in Kollidon(®) VA, added as a second polymer to the CAPA(®) 6506 in the coat, was needed. Both active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which have different physicochemical characteristics, were formulated in a single dosage form, using co-extrusion. © 2016 Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.

  3. Application of terahertz pulse imaging as PAT tool for non-destructive evaluation of film-coated tablets under different manufacturing conditions.

    PubMed

    Dohi, Masafumi; Momose, Wataru; Yoshino, Hiroyuki; Hara, Yuko; Yamashita, Kazunari; Hakomori, Tadashi; Sato, Shusaku; Terada, Katsuhide

    2016-02-05

    Film-coated tablets (FCTs) are a popular solid dosage form in pharmaceutical industry. Manufacturing conditions during the film-coating process affect the properties of the film layer, which might result in critical quality problems. Here, we analyzed the properties of the film layer using a non-destructive approach with terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI). Hydrophilic tablets that become distended upon water absorption were used as core tablets and coated with film under different manufacturing conditions. TPI-derived parameters such as film thickness (FT), film surface reflectance (FSR), and interface density difference (IDD) between the film layer and core tablet were affected by manufacturing conditions and influenced critical quality attributes of FCTs. Relative standard deviation of FSR within tablets correlated well with surface roughness. Tensile strength could be predicted in a non-destructive manner using the multivariate regression equation to estimate the core tablet density by film layer density and IDD. The absolute value of IDD (Lateral) correlated with the risk of cracking on the lateral film layer when stored in a high-humidity environment. Further, in-process control was proposed for this value during the film-coating process, which will enable a feedback control system to be applied to process parameters and reduced risk of cracking without a stability test. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Diffractive optical element in materials testing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silvennoinen, Raimo V. J.; Peiponen, Kai-Erik

    1998-09-01

    The object of this paper is to present a sensor based on diffractive optics that can be applied for the materials testing. The present sensor, which is based on the use of a computer-generated hologram (CGH) exploits the holographic imagery. The CGH-sensor was introduced for inspection of surface roughness and flatness of metal surfaces. The results drawn out by the present sensor are observed to be in accordance with the experimental data. Together with the double exposure holographic interferometry (DEHI) and digital electronic speckle pattern interferometry (DSPI) in elasticity inspection, the sensor was applied for the investigations of surface quality of opaque fragile materials, which are pharmaceutical compacts. The optical surface quality was observed to be related to the porosity of the pharmaceutical tablets. The CGH-sensor was also applied for investigations of optical quality of thin films as PLZT ceramics and coating of pharmaceutical compacts. The surfaces of PLZT samples showed fluctuations in optical curvature, and wedgeness for all the cases studied. For pharmaceutical compacts, the optical signals were observed to depend to a great extent on the optical constants of the coatings and the substrates, and in addition to the surface porosity under the coating.

  5. Enhanced Physical Stability of Amorphous Drug Formulations via Dry Polymer Coating.

    PubMed

    Capece, Maxx; Davé, Rajesh

    2015-06-01

    Although amorphous solid drug formulations may be advantageous for enhancing the bioavailability of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients, they exhibit poor physical stability and undergo recrystallization. To address this limitation, this study investigates stability issues associated with amorphous solids through analysis of the crystallization behavior for acetaminophen (APAP), known as a fast crystallizer, using a modified form of the Avrami equation that kinetically models both surface and bulk crystallization. It is found that surface-enhanced crystallization, occurring faster at the free surface than in the bulk, is the major impediment to the stability of amorphous APAP. It is hypothesized that a novel use of a dry-polymer-coating process referred to as mechanical-dry-polymer-coating may be used to inhibit surface crystallization and enhance stability. The proposed process, which is examined, simultaneously mills and coats amorphous solids with polymer, while avoiding solvents or solutions, which may otherwise cause stability or crystallization issues during coating. It is shown that solid dispersions of APAP (64% loading) with a small particle size (28 μm) could be prepared and coated with the polymer, carnauba wax, in a vibratory ball mill. The resulting amorphous solid was found to have excellent stability as a result of inhibition of surface crystallization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  6. Quantitative Appearance Inspection for Film Coated Tablets.

    PubMed

    Yoshino, Hiroyuki; Yamashita, Kazunari; Iwao, Yasunori; Noguchi, Shuji; Itai, Shigeru

    2016-01-01

    The decision criteria for the physical appearance of pharmaceutical products are subjective and qualitative means of evaluation that are based entirely on human interpretation. In this study, we have developed a comprehensive method for the quantitative analysis of the physical appearance of film coated tablets. Three different kinds of film coated tablets with considerable differences in their physical appearances were manufactured as models, and their surface roughness, contact angle, color measurements and physicochemical properties were investigated as potential characteristics for the quantitative analysis of their physical appearance. All of these characteristics were useful for the quantitative evaluation of the physical appearances of the tablets, and could potentially be used to establish decision criteria to assess the quality of tablets. In particular, the analysis of the surface roughness and film coating properties of the tablets by terahertz spectroscopy allowed for an effective evaluation of the tablets' properties. These results indicated the possibility of inspecting the appearance of tablets during the film coating process.

  7. [Pharmacological availability of erythromycin granules for children's use].

    PubMed

    Korenev, S V; Garsheva, G B; Nesterova, L Ia; Grakovskaia, L K; Tentsova, A I

    1990-08-01

    Pharmaceutical availability of erythromycin granules with polymeric coating of different composition+ was studied. With an account of the ++anatomo-physiological features of a child organism and the properties of the antibiotic, acetylphthalyl cellulose in combination with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or methyl cellulose was used as a film forming agent. The coated granules were estimated by such parameters as the time of disintegration and the rate of dissolution in various media. The results of the study showed that coating of the erythromycin granules with the film composed of acetylphthalyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in the ratio of 8 to 2 provided the required protection of the antibiotic in acid media and high pharmaceutical availability of the drug.

  8. A novel approach to a fine particle coating using porous spherical silica as core particles.

    PubMed

    Ishida, Makoto; Uchiyama, Jumpei; Isaji, Keiko; Suzuki, Yuta; Ikematsu, Yasuyuki; Aoki, Shigeru

    2014-08-01

    Abstract The applicability of porous spherical silica (PSS) was evaluated as core particles for pharmaceutical products by comparing it with commercial core particles such as mannitol (NP-108), sucrose and microcrystalline cellulose spheres. We investigated the physical properties of core particles, such as particle size distribution, flow properties, crushing strength, plastic limit, drying rate, hygroscopic property and aggregation degree. It was found that PSS was a core particle of small particle size, low friability, high water adsorption capacity, rapid drying rate and lower occurrence of particle aggregation, although wettability is a factor to be carefully considered. The aggregation and taste-masking ability using PSS and NP-108 as core particles were evaluated at a fluidized-bed coating process. The functional coating under the excess spray rate shows different aggregation trends and dissolution profiles between PSS and NP-108; thereby, exhibiting the formation of uniform coating under the excess spray rate in the case of PSS. This expands the range of the acceptable spray feed rates to coat fine particles, and indicates the possibility of decreasing the coating time. The results obtained in this study suggested that the core particle, which has a property like that of PSS, was useful in overcoming such disadvantages as large particle size, which feels gritty in oral cavity; particle aggregation; and the long coating time of the particle coating process. These results will enable the practical fine particle coating method by increasing the range of optimum coating conditions and decreasing the coating time in fluidized bed technology.

  9. Co-precipitation of tobramycin into biomimetically coated orthopedic fixation pins employing submicron-thin seed layers of hydroxyapatite.

    PubMed

    Sörensen, Jan H; Lilja, Mirjam; Åstrand, Maria; Sörensen, Torben C; Procter, Philip; Strømme, Maria; Steckel, Hartwig

    2014-01-01

    The migration, loosening and cut-out of implants and nosocomial infections are current problems associated with implant surgery. New innovative strategies to overcome these issues are emphasized in today's research. The current work presents a novel strategy involving co-precipitation of tobramycin with biomimetic hydroxyapatite (HA) formation to produce implant coatings that control local drug delivery to prevent early bacterial colonization of the implant. A submicron- thin HA layer served as seed layer for the co-precipitation process and allowed for incorporation of tobramycin in the coating from a stock solution of antibiotic concentrations as high as 20 mg/ml. Concentrations from 0.5 to 20 mg/ml tobramycin and process temperatures of 37 °C and 60 °C were tested to assess the optimal parameters for a thin tobramycin- delivering HA coating on discs and orthopedic fixation pins. The morphology and thickness of the coating and the drug-release profile were evaluated via scanning electron microscopy and high performance liquid chromatography. The coatings delivered pharmaceutically relevant amounts of tobramycin over a period of 12 days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the longest release period ever observed for a fast-loaded biomimetic implant coating. The presented approach could form the foundation for development of combination device/antibiotic delivery vehicles tailored to meet well-defined clinical needs while combating infections and ensuring fast implant in-growth.

  10. Tunable stability of monodisperse secondary O/W nano-emulsions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vecchione, R.; Ciotola, U.; Sagliano, A.; Bianchini, P.; Diaspro, A.; Netti, P. A.

    2014-07-01

    Stable and biodegradable oil in water (O/W) nano-emulsions can have a huge impact on a wide range of bio-applications, from food to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Emulsions, however, are immiscible systems unstable over time; polymer coatings are known to be helpful, but an effective procedure to stabilize monodisperse and biodegradable O/W nano-emulsions is yet to be designed. Here, we coat biodegradable O/W nano-emulsions with a molecular layer of biodegradable polyelectrolytes such as polysaccharides - like chitosan - and polypeptides - like polylysine - and effectively re-disperse and densify the polymer coating at high pressure, thus obtaining monodisperse and stable systems. In particular, focusing on chitosan, our tests show that it is possible to obtain unprecedented ultra-stable O/W secondary nano-emulsions (diameter sizes tunable from ~80 to 160 nm and polydispersion indices below 0.1) by combining this process with high concentrations of polymers. Depending on the polymer concentration, it is possible to control the level of coating that results in a tunable stability ranging from a few weeks to several months. The above range of concentrations has been investigated using a fluorescence-based approach with new insights into the coating evolution.Stable and biodegradable oil in water (O/W) nano-emulsions can have a huge impact on a wide range of bio-applications, from food to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Emulsions, however, are immiscible systems unstable over time; polymer coatings are known to be helpful, but an effective procedure to stabilize monodisperse and biodegradable O/W nano-emulsions is yet to be designed. Here, we coat biodegradable O/W nano-emulsions with a molecular layer of biodegradable polyelectrolytes such as polysaccharides - like chitosan - and polypeptides - like polylysine - and effectively re-disperse and densify the polymer coating at high pressure, thus obtaining monodisperse and stable systems. In particular, focusing on chitosan, our tests show that it is possible to obtain unprecedented ultra-stable O/W secondary nano-emulsions (diameter sizes tunable from ~80 to 160 nm and polydispersion indices below 0.1) by combining this process with high concentrations of polymers. Depending on the polymer concentration, it is possible to control the level of coating that results in a tunable stability ranging from a few weeks to several months. The above range of concentrations has been investigated using a fluorescence-based approach with new insights into the coating evolution. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental section, Fig. S1-S3, and Tables S1-S6. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr02273d

  11. The use of holographic interferometry and electron speckle pattern interferometry for diffusion measurement in biochemical and pharmaceutical engineering applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Axelsson, Anders; Marucci, Mariagrazia

    2008-12-01

    In this review holographic interferometry and electron speckle pattern interferometry are discussed as efficient techniques for diffusion measurements in biochemical and pharmaceutical applications. Transport phenomena can be studied, quantitatively and qualitatively, in gels, liquids and membranes. Detailed information on these phenomena is required to design effective chromatography bioseparation processes using gel beads or ultrafiltration membranes, and in the design of controlled-release pharmaceuticals using membrane-coated pellets or tablets. The influence of gel concentration, ion strength in the liquid and the size of diffusing protein molecules can easily be studied with good accuracy. When studying membranes, the resistance can be quantified, and it is also possible to discriminate between permeable and semi-permeable membranes. In this review the influence of temperature, natural convection and light deflection on the accuracy of the diffusion measurements is also discussed.

  12. Preparation and evaluation of enteric coated tablets of hot melt extruded lansoprazole

    PubMed Central

    Alsulays, Bader B.; Kulkarni, Vijay; Alshehri, Sultan M.; Almutairy, Bjad K.; Ashour, Eman A.; Morott, Joseph T.; Alshetaili, Abdullah S.; Park, Jun-Bom; Tiwari, Roshan V.; Repka, Michael A.

    2017-01-01

    The objective of this work was to use hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology to improve the physiochemical properties of lansoprazole (LNS) to prepare stable enteric coated LNS tablets. For the extrusion process, we chose Kollidon® 12 PF (K12) polymeric matrix. Lutrol® F 68 was selected as the plasticizer and magnesium oxide (MgO) as the alkalizer. With or without the alkalizer, LNS at 10% drug load was extruded with K12 and F68. LNS changed to the amorphous phase and showed better release compared to that of the pure crystalline drug. Inclusion of MgO improved LNS extrudability and release and resulted in over 80% drug release in the buffer stage. Hot-melt extruded LNS was physically and chemically stable after 12 months of storage. Both formulations were studied for compatibility with Eudragit® L 100-55. The optimized formulation was compressed into a tablet followed by coating process utilizing a pan coater using L 100-55 as an enteric coating polymer. In a two-step dissolution study, the release profile of the enteric coated LNS tablets in the acidic stage was less than 10% of the LNS, while that in the buffer stage was more than 80%. Drug content analysis revealed the LNS content to be 97%, indicating the chemical stability of the enteric coated tablet after storage for 6 months. HME, which has not been previously used for LNS, is a valuable technique to reduce processing time in the manufacture of enteric coated formulations of an acid-sensitive active pharmaceutical ingredient as compared to the existing methods. PMID:27486807

  13. Biomimetic mineralization of metal-organic frameworks as protective coatings for biomacromolecules

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Kang; Ricco, Raffaele; Doherty, Cara M.; Styles, Mark J.; Bell, Stephen; Kirby, Nigel; Mudie, Stephen; Haylock, David; Hill, Anita J.; Doonan, Christian J.; Falcaro, Paolo

    2015-06-01

    Enhancing the robustness of functional biomacromolecules is a critical challenge in biotechnology, which if addressed would enhance their use in pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and biostorage. Here we report a novel method, inspired by natural biomineralization processes, which provides unprecedented protection of biomacromolecules by encapsulating them within a class of porous materials termed metal-organic frameworks. We show that proteins, enzymes and DNA rapidly induce the formation of protective metal-organic framework coatings under physiological conditions by concentrating the framework building blocks and facilitating crystallization around the biomacromolecules. The resulting biocomposite is stable under conditions that would normally decompose many biological macromolecules. For example, urease and horseradish peroxidase protected within a metal-organic framework shell are found to retain bioactivity after being treated at 80 °C and boiled in dimethylformamide (153 °C), respectively. This rapid, low-cost biomimetic mineralization process gives rise to new possibilities for the exploitation of biomacromolecules.

  14. Off the Shelf Fouling Management

    PubMed Central

    Rittschof, Daniel

    2017-01-01

    This chapter tells the story of a research thread that identified and modified a pharmaceutical that could be a component of environmentally benign fouling management coatings. First, I present the background context of biofouling and how fouling is managed. The major target of the research is disrupting transduction of a complex process in all macrofouling organisms: metamorphosis. Using a bioassay directed approach we first identified a pharmaceutical candidate. Then, based on structure function studies coupled with laboratory and field bioassays, we simplified the molecule, eliminating halogens and aromatic rings to a pharmacophore that could be readily broken down by bacteria. Next, we did further structure function studies coupled to lab and field bioassays of modifications that enabled delivery of the molecule in a variety of coatings. The outcome is a different way of thinking about managing fouling and concepts in which molecules are designed to perform a function and then degrade. This work is discussed in the context of existing fouling management approaches and business models which use long-lived broad-spectrum biocides which have consequences for human, environmental health, and food security. PMID:28613232

  15. Measurements of the Diameter and Velocity Distributions of Atomized Tablet-Coating Solutions for Pharmaceutical Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osterday, Kathryn; Aliseda, Alberto; Lasheras, Juan

    2009-11-01

    The atomization of colloidal suspensions is of particular interest to the manufacturing of tablets and pills used as drug delivery systems by the pharmaceutical industry. At various stages in the manufacturing process, the tablets are coated with a spray of droplets produced by co-axial atomizers. The mechanisms of droplet size and spray formation in these types of atomizers are dominated by Kelvin-Helmholtz and Raleigh-Taylor instabilities for both low[1] and high[2] Ohnesorge numbers. We present detailed phase Doppler measurements of the Sauter Mean Diameter of the droplets produced by co-axial spray atomizers using water-based colloidal suspensions with solid concentrations ranging from fifteen to twenty percent and acetone-based colloidal suspensions with solid concentrations ranging from five to ten percent. Our results compare favorably with predictions by Aliseda's model. This suggests that the final size distribution is mainly determined by the instabilities caused by the sudden acceleration of the liquid interface. [1]Varga, C. M., et al. (2003) J. Fluid Mech. 497:405-434 [2]Aliseda, A. et al. (2008). J. Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 34(2), 161-175.

  16. Growth of near-infrared spectroscopy in pharmaceutical and medical sciences

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ciurczak, Emil W.

    2002-06-01

    Near-IR Spectroscopy (NIRS) is used extensively in the health services industries: medical research, pharmaceutical production, and bioprocessing. NIRS Is rugged, simple to operate, flexible, and relatively inexpensive. It may be used to monitor the progress biochemical reactions. It is used to control mixing, blending, drying, and coating in pharmaceutical production and is used for imaging and chemical determinations in living patients.

  17. 40 CFR 52.478 - Rules and Regulations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... truck manufacturing; (2) Coating of cans, coils, paper, fabric and vinyl, metal furniture, large... synthesized pharmaceutical products, pneumatic rubber tires, vegetable oil, synthetic organic chemicals... following VOC categories: (1) Coating of plastic parts (business machines and other); (2) Aerospace; (3...

  18. 40 CFR 52.478 - Rules and Regulations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... truck manufacturing; (2) Coating of cans, coils, paper, fabric and vinyl, metal furniture, large... synthesized pharmaceutical products, pneumatic rubber tires, vegetable oil, synthetic organic chemicals... following VOC categories: (1) Coating of plastic parts (business machines and other); (2) Aerospace; (3...

  19. 40 CFR 52.478 - Rules and Regulations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... truck manufacturing; (2) Coating of cans, coils, paper, fabric and vinyl, metal furniture, large... synthesized pharmaceutical products, pneumatic rubber tires, vegetable oil, synthetic organic chemicals... following VOC categories: (1) Coating of plastic parts (business machines and other); (2) Aerospace; (3...

  20. Generation of Microbubbles with Applications to Industry and Medicine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Javier; Sevilla, Alejandro; Martínez-Bazán, Carlos; Gordillo, José Manuel

    2015-01-01

    We provide a comprehensive and systematic description of the diverse microbubble generation methods recently developed to satisfy emerging technological, pharmaceutical, and medical demands. We first introduce a theoretical framework unifying the physics of bubble formation in the wide variety of existing types of generators. These devices are then classified according to the way the bubbling process is controlled: outer liquid flows (e.g., coflows, cross flows, and flow-focusing flows), acoustic forcing, and electric fields. We also address modern techniques developed to produce bubbles coated with surfactants and liquid shells. The stringent requirements to precisely control the bubbling frequency, the bubble size, and the properties of the coating make microfluidics the natural choice to implement such techniques.

  1. Polydopamine-coated capsules

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    White, Scott R.; Sottos, Nancy R.; Kang, Sen

    One aspect of the invention is a polymer material comprising a capsule coated with PDA. In certain embodiments, the capsule encapsulates a functional agent. The encapsulated functional agent may be an indicating agent, healing agent, protecting agent, pharmaceutical drug, food additive, or a combination thereof.

  2. Non-destructive evaluation of polymer coating structures on pharmaceutical pellets using full-field optical coherence tomography.

    PubMed

    Li, Chen; Zeitler, J Axel; Dong, Yue; Shen, Yao-Chun

    2014-01-01

    Full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) using a conventional light-emitting diode and a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor camera has been developed for characterising coatings on small pellet samples. A set of en-face images covering an area of 700 × 700 μm(2) was taken over a depth range of 166 μm. The three-dimensional structural information, such as the coating thickness and uniformity, was subsequently obtained by analysis of the recorded en-face images. Drug-loaded pharmaceutical sustained-release pellets with two coating layers and of a sub-millimetre diameter were studied to demonstrate the usefulness of the developed system. We have shown that both coatings can be clearly resolved and the thickness was determined to be 40 and 50 μm for the outer and inner coating layers, respectively. It was also found that the outer coating layer is relatively uniform, whereas the inner coating layer has many particle-like features. X-ray computed microtomography measurements carried out on the same pellet sample confirmed all these findings. The presented FF-OCT approach is inexpensive and has better spatial resolution compared with other non-destructive analysis techniques such as terahertz pulsed imaging, and is thus considered advantageous for the quantitative analysis of thin coatings on small pellet samples. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  3. Acoustic and Hydrodynamic Cavitations for Nano CaCO3 Synthesis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sonawane, Shirish H.; Kulkarni, Ravindra D.

    Calcium carbonate is a common inorganic compound known as limestone. Calcium carbonate has many applications in industries such as medicine, agriculture, paint plastic and surface coatings etc. The vast majority of calcium carbonate used in industry is extracted by mining process. Pure calcium carbonate (e.g. for food or pharmaceutical use), is synthesized by passing carbon dioxide into a solution of calcium hydroxide slurry. In this process calcium carbonate precipitates out, and this grade of product is referred to as precipitate calcium carbonate (abbreviated as PCC).

  4. Towards more reliable automated multi-dose dispensing: retrospective follow-up study on medication dose errors and product defects.

    PubMed

    Palttala, Iida; Heinämäki, Jyrki; Honkanen, Outi; Suominen, Risto; Antikainen, Osmo; Hirvonen, Jouni; Yliruusi, Jouko

    2013-03-01

    To date, little is known on applicability of different types of pharmaceutical dosage forms in an automated high-speed multi-dose dispensing process. The purpose of the present study was to identify and further investigate various process-induced and/or product-related limitations associated with multi-dose dispensing process. The rates of product defects and dose dispensing errors in automated multi-dose dispensing were retrospectively investigated during a 6-months follow-up period. The study was based on the analysis of process data of totally nine automated high-speed multi-dose dispensing systems. Special attention was paid to the dependence of multi-dose dispensing errors/product defects and pharmaceutical tablet properties (such as shape, dimensions, weight, scored lines, coatings, etc.) to profile the most suitable forms of tablets for automated dose dispensing systems. The relationship between the risk of errors in dose dispensing and tablet characteristics were visualized by creating a principal component analysis (PCA) model for the outcome of dispensed tablets. The two most common process-induced failures identified in the multi-dose dispensing are predisposal of tablet defects and unexpected product transitions in the medication cassette (dose dispensing error). The tablet defects are product-dependent failures, while the tablet transitions are dependent on automated multi-dose dispensing systems used. The occurrence of tablet defects is approximately twice as common as tablet transitions. Optimal tablet preparation for the high-speed multi-dose dispensing would be a round-shaped, relatively small/middle-sized, film-coated tablet without any scored line. Commercial tablet products can be profiled and classified based on their suitability to a high-speed multi-dose dispensing process.

  5. In-vitro evaluation of enteric coated insulin tablets containing absorption enhancer and enzyme inhibitor.

    PubMed

    Wong, Chun Y; Martinez, Jorge; Carnagarin, Revathy; Dass, Crispin R

    2017-03-01

    The aim of this study was to develop an enteric coated insulin tablet formulation using polymers, absorption enhancer and enzyme inhibitor, which protect the tablets in acidic pH and enhance systemic bioavailability. In this study, the influence of coating by cellulose acetate hydrogen phthalate solution and chosen excipients on Glut-4 transporter translocation in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells was examined. Following the determination of optimum number of coating layers, two dissolution buffers such as 0.01 m hydrochloric acid, pH 2, and 50 mm phosphate, pH 7.4, were employed to determine the in-vitro release of insulin. Insulin was protected by the coating during the dissolution process. Five (5-CL) coating layers and eight (8-CL) coating layers had minimal insulin release in hydrochloric acid, but not three (3-CL) coating layers. Glut-4 translocation in C2C12 cells was promoted by the chosen excipients. No detrimental metabolic effects were observed in these cells. To date, limited studies combine the overall effectiveness of multiple excipients. Our study showed that the coated tablets have an immediate release effect in phosphate buffer. In Glut-4 translocation assay, insulin was still functional after releasing from the tablet. Such tablet formulation can be potentially beneficial to type 1 diabetes patients. © 2017 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

  6. Enteric coated magnetic HPMC capsules evaluated in human gastrointestinal tract by AC biosusceptometry.

    PubMed

    Corá, Luciana A; Romeiro, Fernando G; Paixão, Fabiano C; Américo, Madileine F; Oliveira, Ricardo B; Baffa, Oswaldo; Miranda, José Ricardo A

    2006-08-01

    To employ the AC Biosusceptometry (ACB) technique to evaluate in vitro and in vivo characteristics of enteric coated magnetic hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules and to image the disintegration process. HPMC capsules filled with ferrite (MnFe2O4) and coated with Eudragit were evaluated using USP XXII method and administered to fasted volunteers. Single and multisensor ACB systems were used to characterize the gastrointestinal (GI) motility and to determine gastric residence time (GRT), small intestinal transit time (SITT) and orocaecal transit time (OCTT). Mean disintegration time (t50) was quantified from 50% increase of pixels in the imaging area. In vitro and in vivo performance of the magnetic HPMC capsules as well as the disintegration process were monitored using ACB systems. The mean disintegration time (t50) calculated for in vitro was 25+/-5 min and for in vivo was 13+/-5 min. In vivo also were determined mean values for GRT (55+/-19 min), SITT (185+/-82 min) and OCTT (240+/-88 min). AC Biosusceptometry is a non-invasive technique originally proposed to monitoring pharmaceutical dosage forms orally administered and to image the disintegration process.

  7. Dry coating of micronized API powders for improved dissolution of directly compacted tablets with high drug loading.

    PubMed

    Han, Xi; Ghoroi, Chinmay; Davé, Rajesh

    2013-02-14

    Motivated by our recent study showing improved flow and dissolution rate of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) powders (20 μm) produced via simultaneous micronization and surface modification through continuous fluid energy milling (FEM) process, the performance of blends and direct compacted tablets with high drug loading is examined. Performance of 50 μm API powders dry coated without micronization is also considered for comparison. Blends of micronized, non-micronized, dry coated or uncoated API powders at 30, 60 and 70% drug loading, are examined. The results show that the blends containing dry coated API powders, even micronized ones, have excellent flowability and high bulk density compared to the blends containing uncoated API, which are required for direct compaction. As the drug loading increases, the difference between dry coated and uncoated blends is more pronounced, as seen in the proposed bulk density-FFC phase map. Dry coating led to improved tablet compactibility profiles, corresponding with the improvements in blend compressibility. The most significant advantage is in tablet dissolution where for all drug loadings, the t(80) for the tablets with dry coated APIs was well under 5 min, indicating that this approach can produce nearly instant release direct compacted tablets at high drug loadings. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Ultrasound-assisted powder-coating technique to improve content uniformity of low-dose solid dosage forms.

    PubMed

    Genina, Natalja; Räikkönen, Heikki; Antikainen, Osmo; Heinämäki, Jyrki; Yliruusi, Jouko

    2010-09-01

    An ultrasound-assisted powder-coating technique was used to produce a homogeneous powder formulation of a low-dose active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The powdered particles of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC; Avicel® PH-200) were coated with a 4% m/V aqueous solution of riboflavin sodium phosphate, producing a uniform drug layer on the particle surfaces. It was possible to regulate the amount of API in the treated powder. The thickness of the API layer on the surface of the MCC particles increased near linearly as the number of coating cycles increased, allowing a precise control of the drug content. The tablets (n = 950) prepared from the coated powder showed significantly improved weight and content uniformity in comparison with the reference tablets compressed from a physical binary powder mixture. This was due to the coated formulation remaining uniform during the entire tabletting process, whereas the physical mixture of the powders was subject to segregation. In conclusion, the ultrasound-assisted technique presented here is an effective tool for homogeneous drug coating of powders of irregular particle shape and broad particle size distribution, improving content uniformity of low-dose API in tablets, and consequently, ensuring the safe delivery of a potent active substance to patients.

  9. Rheology of Coating Materials and Their Coating Characteristics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grabsch, C.; Grüner, S.; Otto, F.; Sommer, K.

    2008-07-01

    Lots of particles used in the pharmaceutical and the food industry are coated to protect the core material. But almost no investigations about the coating material behavior do exist. In this study the focus was on the rheological material properties of fat based coating materials. Rotational shear experiments to determine the viscosity of a material were compared to oscillatory shear tests to get information about the vicoelastic behavior of the coating materials. At the liquid state the viscosity and the viscoelastic properties showed a good analogy. The viscoelastic properties of the solid coating materials yielded differences between materials that have the same properties at the liquid state.

  10. 75 FR 59973 - Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Control of Volatile...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-29

    ...; Cleaning of high precision optics; Stripping; Janitorial cleaning; cleaning of resin, coating, ink, and... laboratories; Cleaning operations in medical device or pharmaceutical manufacturing; and Cleaning operations related to performance or quality assurance testing of coatings, inks, or adhesives. COMAR 26.11.19.09-1...

  11. Novel coatings for stir bar sorptive extraction to determine pharmaceuticals and personal care products in environmental waters by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Gilart, Núria; Miralles, Núria; Marcé, Rosa Maria; Borrull, Francesc; Fontanals, Núria

    2013-04-24

    Two new commercially available polar coatings for stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), consisting of polyacrylate (PA) with a proportion of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) (Acrylate Twister(®)) and PEG modified silicone (EG Silicone Twister(®)), were evaluated and compared with the classic coating based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS Twister(®)) for the extraction of a group of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater samples. The SBSE parameters, such as sample pH, agitation speed, extraction temperature, extraction time, desorption solvent and time, were optimised in order to achieve suitable sorption of the target analytes. The EG Silicone coating enabled more efficient extraction of some polar compounds as well as improving the sorption of apolar compounds, in comparison with the other two coatings. Finally, the method of SBSE followed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using the EG Silicone coating was validated achieving good linearity (r(2)>0.994, except for CBZ (r(2)>0.989)), precision (%RSD<17%) and low limits of quantification (LOQs) (20-40 ng L(-1)). The SBSE/LC-MS/MS methodology was applied for the determination of PPCPs in wastewater samples. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Controlling the Release of Indomethacin from Glass Solutions Layered with a Rate Controlling Membrane Using Fluid-Bed Processing. Part 2: The Influence of Formulation Parameters on Drug Release.

    PubMed

    Dereymaker, Aswin; Pelgrims, Jirka; Engelen, Frederik; Adriaensens, Peter; Van den Mooter, Guy

    2017-04-03

    This study aimed to investigate the pharmaceutical performance of an indomethacin-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) glass solution applied using fluid bed processing as a layer on inert sucrose spheres and subsequently top-coated with a release rate controlling membrane consisting of either ethyl cellulose or Eudragit RL. The implications of the addition of a pore former (PVP) and the coating medium (ethanol or water) on the diffusion and release behavior were also considered. In addition, the role of a charge interaction between drug and controlled release polymer on the release was investigated. Diffusion experiments pointed to the influence of pore former concentration, rate controlling polymer type, and coating solvent on the permeability of the controlled release membranes. This can be translated to drug release tests, which show the potential of diffusion tests as a preliminary screening test and that diffusion is the main factor influencing release. Drug release tests also showed the effect of coating layer thickness. A charge interaction between INDO and ERL was demonstrated, but this had no negative effect on drug release. The higher diffusion and release observed in ERL-based rate controlling membranes was explained by a higher hydrophilicity, compared to EC.

  13. Investigation into the Effect of Ethylcellulose Viscosity Variation on the Drug Release of Metoprolol Tartrate and Acetaminophen Extended Release Multiparticulates-Part I.

    PubMed

    Mehta, R; Teckoe, J; Schoener, C; Workentine, S; Ferrizzi, D; Rajabi-Siahboomi, A

    2016-12-01

    Ethylcellulose is one of the most commonly used polymers to develop reservoir type extended release multiparticulate dosage forms. For multiparticulate extended release dosage forms, the drug release is typically governed by the properties of the barrier membrane coating. The ICH Pharmaceutical Development Guideline (ICH Q8) requires an understanding of the influence of critical material attributes and critical process parameters on the drug release of a pharmaceutical product. Using this understanding, it is possible to develop robust formulations with consistent drug release characteristics. Critical material attributes for ethylcellulose were evaluated, and polymer molecular weight variation (viscosity) was considered to be the most critical attribute that can impact drug release. To investigate the effect of viscosity variation within the manufacturer's specifications of ethylcellulose, extended release multiparticulate formulations of two model drugs, metoprolol tartrate and acetaminophen, were developed using ETHOCEL™ as the rate controlling polymer. Quality by Design (QbD) samples of ETHOCEL Std. 10, 20, and 100 Premium grades representing the low, medium, and high molecular weight (viscosity) material were organically coated onto drug layered multiparticulates to a 15% weight gain (WG). The drug release was found to be similar (f 2  > 50) for both metoprolol tartrate and acetaminophen multiparticulates at different coating weight gains of ethylcellulose, highlighting consistent and robust drug release performance. The use of ETHOCEL QbD samples also serves as a means to develop multiparticulate dosage formulations according to regulatory guidelines.

  14. Impact of a heterogeneous liquid droplet on a dry surface: application to the pharmaceutical industry.

    PubMed

    Bolleddula, D A; Berchielli, A; Aliseda, A

    2010-09-15

    Droplet impact has been studied for over a hundred years dating back to the pioneering work of Worthington. In fact, much of his ingenuity contributed to modern day high speed photography. Over the past 40 years significant contributions in theoretical, numerical, and experimental work have been made. Droplet impact is a problem of fundamental importance due to the wealth of applications involved, namely, spray coating, spray painting, delivery of agricultural chemicals, spray cooling, inkjet printing, soil erosion due to rain drop impact, and turbine wear. Here we highlight one specific application, spray coating. Although most studies have focused their efforts on low viscosity Newtonian fluids, many industrial applications such as spray coating utilize more viscous and complex rheology liquids. Determining dominant effects and quantifying their behavior for colloidal suspensions and polymer solutions remains a challenge and thus has eluded much effort. In the last decade, it has been shown that introducing polymers to Newtonian solutions inhibits the rebounding of a drop upon impact, Bergeron et al. Furthermore Bartolo et al. concluded that the normal stress component of the elongational viscosity was responsible for the rebounding inhibition of polymer based non-Newtonian solutions. We aim to uncover the drop impact dynamics of highly viscous Newtonian and complex rheology liquids used in pharmaceutical coating processes. The generation and impact of drops of mm and microm size drops of coating liquids and glycerol/water mixtures on tablet surfaces are systematically studied over a range of We approximately O(1-300), Oh approximately O(10(-2)-1), and Re approximately O(1-700). We extend the range of Oh to values above 1, which are not available to previous studies of droplet impacts. Outcomes reveal that splashing and rebounding are completely inhibited and the role of wettability is negligible in the early stages of impact. The maximum spreading diameter of the drop is compared with three models demonstrating reasonable agreement. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. FDTD-based quantitative analysis of terahertz wave detection for multilayered structures.

    PubMed

    Tu, Wanli; Zhong, Shuncong; Shen, Yaochun; Zhou, Qing; Yao, Ligang

    2014-10-01

    Experimental investigations have shown that terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) is able to quantitatively characterize a range of multilayered media (e.g., biological issues, pharmaceutical tablet coatings, layered polymer composites, etc.). Advanced modeling of the interaction of terahertz radiation with a multilayered medium is required to enable the wide application of terahertz technology in a number of emerging fields, including nondestructive testing. Indeed, there have already been many theoretical analyses performed on the propagation of terahertz radiation in various multilayered media. However, to date, most of these studies used 1D or 2D models, and the dispersive nature of the dielectric layers was not considered or was simplified. In the present work, the theoretical framework of using terahertz waves for the quantitative characterization of multilayered media was established. A 3D model based on the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is proposed. A batch of pharmaceutical tablets with a single coating layer of different coating thicknesses and different refractive indices was modeled. The reflected terahertz wave from such a sample was computed using the FDTD method, assuming that the incident terahertz wave is broadband, covering a frequency range up to 3.5 THz. The simulated results for all of the pharmaceutical-coated tablets considered were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results obtained using a commercial TPI system. In addition, we studied a three-layered medium to mimic the occurrence of defects in the sample.

  16. Multifunctional biocompatible coatings on magnetic nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bychkova, A. V.; Sorokina, O. N.; Rosenfeld, M. A.; Kovarski, A. L.

    2012-11-01

    Methods for coating formation on magnetic nanoparticles used in biology and medicine are considered. Key requirements to the coatings are formulated, namely, biocompatibility, stability, the possibility of attachment of pharmaceutical agents, and the absence of toxicity. The behaviour of nanoparticle/coating nanosystems in the body including penetration through cellular membranes and the excretion rates and routes is analyzed. Parameters characterizing the magnetic properties of these systems and their magnetic controllability are described. Factors limiting the applications of magnetically controlled nanosystems for targeted drug delivery are discussed. The bibliography includes 405 references.

  17. Low temperature and UV curable sol-gel coatings for long lasting optical fiber biosensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Otaduy, D.; Villar, A.; Gomez-Herrero, E.; Goitandia, A. M.; Gorritxategi, E.; Quintana, I.

    2010-04-01

    The use of optical fibers as sensing element is increasing in clinical, pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Excellent light delivery, long interaction length, low cost and ability not only to excite the target molecules but also to capture the emitted light from the targets are the hallmarks of optical fiber as biosensors. In biosensors based on fiber optics the interaction with the analyte can occur within an element of the optical fiber. One of the techniques for this kind of biosensors is to remove the fiber optic cladding and substitute it for biological coatings that will interact with the parameter to sensorize. The deposition of these layers can be made by sol-gel technology. The sol-gel technology is being increasingly used mainly due to the high versatility to tailor their optical features. Incorporation of suitable chemical and biochemical sensing agents have allowed determining pH, gases, and biochemical species, among others. Nonetheless, the relatively high processing temperatures and short lifetime values mean severe drawbacks for a successful exploitation of sol-gel based coated optical fibres. With regard to the latter, herein we present the design, preparation and characterization of novel sol-gel coated optical fibres. Low temperature and UV curable coating formulations were optimized to achieve a good adhesion and optical performance. The UV photopolymerizable formulation was comprised by glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GLYMO), Tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and an initiator. While the thermoset coating was prepared by using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, GLYMO, and TEOS as main reagents. Both curable sol-gel coated fibres were analysed by FTIR, SEM and optical characterization. Furthermore, in the present work a new technique for silica cladding removal has been developed by ultra-short pulses laser processing, getting good dimensional accuracy and surface integrity.

  18. Applying quality by design (QbD) concept for fabrication of chitosan coated nanoliposomes.

    PubMed

    Pandey, Abhijeet P; Karande, Kiran P; Sonawane, Raju O; Deshmukh, Prashant K

    2014-03-01

    In the present investigation, a quality by design (QbD) strategy was successfully applied to the fabrication of chitosan-coated nanoliposomes (CH-NLPs) encapsulating a hydrophilic drug. The effects of the processing variables on the particle size, encapsulation efficiency (%EE) and coating efficiency (%CE) of CH-NLPs (prepared using a modified ethanol injection method) were investigated. The concentrations of lipid, cholesterol, drug and chitosan; stirring speed, sonication time; organic:aqueous phase ratio; and temperature were identified as the key factors after risk analysis for conducting a screening design study. A separate study was designed to investigate the robustness of the predicted design space. The particle size, %EE and %CE of the optimized CH-NLPs were 111.3 nm, 33.4% and 35.2%, respectively. The observed responses were in accordance with the predicted response, which confirms the suitability and robustness of the design space for CH-NLP formulation. In conclusion, optimization of the selected key variables will help minimize the problems related to size, %EE and %CE that are generally encountered when scaling up processes for NLP formulations. The robustness of the design space will help minimize both intra-batch and inter-batch variations, which are quite common in the pharmaceutical industry.

  19. [Study of Interaction between Fluorinated Coating Glass and the Medicines].

    PubMed

    Kawano, Yayoi; Otsu, Saki; Bamba, Takao; Hanawa, Takehisa

    2017-11-01

     The adsorption of active pharmaceutical ingredients on the surface of medical devices such as polyvinl chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and glass often prevent the acuurate dose of drug. At dispensing of pharmaceuticals, mètre glass (MG) has been widely used for dispensing syrup. When measuring the viscous syrup, it often takes long time to dispense the accurate volume due to their adhesiveness on the glass surface. In this study, we investigate the adhesion of various syrups to MG made with uncoated glass or glass with a strongly hydrophobic silicone or fluorinated coating in terms of the following formulation parameters: viscosity, surface tension, contact angle, and surface free energy. The contact angles for syrups on the coated glass surfaces were significantly higher than those on the uncoated glass surface. In addition, the relationship between surface tension and contact angle was examined. We found that the contact angle was independent of surface tension for the uncoated glass, while it increased with increasing surface tension for the coated glasses. These results can be explained as follows: the silicone or fluorinated coatings inhibit the hydrogen bonding that usually takes place between water and silanol and siloxane groups at glass surfaces. The coatings reduced the surface free energy and increased the hydrophobicity of the glass, reduced its wettability by the syrups, and thus reduced the adhesion loss for the syrups. It was considered that as for the hydrophobic action, properties of matter of sample influence the coated device by coating in order that it is reinforced.

  20. Controlled release liquid dosage formulation

    DOEpatents

    Benton, Ben F.; Gardner, David L.

    1989-01-01

    A liquid dual coated dosage formulation sustained release pharmaceutic having substantial shelf life prior to ingestion is disclosed. A dual coating is applied over controlled release cores to form dosage forms and the coatings comprise fats melting at less than approximately 101.degree. F. overcoated with cellulose acetate phthalate or zein. The dual coated dosage forms are dispersed in a sugar based acidic liquid carrier such as high fructose corn syrup and display a shelf life of up to approximately at least 45 days while still retaining their release profiles following ingestion. Cellulose acetate phthalate coated dosage form cores can in addition be dispersed in aqueous liquids of pH <5.

  1. Bioinspired polydopamine sheathed nanofibers for high-efficient in vivo solid-phase microextraction of pharmaceuticals in fish muscle.

    PubMed

    Xu, Jianqiao; Huang, Shuyao; Wu, Rongben; Jiang, Ruifen; Zhu, Fang; Wang, Jing; Ouyang, Gangfeng

    2015-03-17

    In this study, electrospun nanofibers were used as solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber coatings after substituting the water-soluble sheath of the emulsion electrospun polystyrene (PS)@Plurinic F-127 core-sheath nanofibers with biocompatible and water-stable polydopamine (PDA) and subsequently being appropriately cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to enhance the strength of the electrospun architecture. The novel custom-made PS@PDA-GA coating was wettable in aqueous solutions and thus exhibited much higher extraction efficiency than the nonsheathed PS nanofiber coating and the thicker polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating. The novel coating also possessed excellent stability (relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 7.3% for six sampling-desorption cycles), interfiber reproducibility (RSDs less than 14.3%), and antibiofouling ability, which were beneficial for in vivo sampling. The PS@PDA-GA fiber was used to monitor pharmaceuticals in dorsal-epaxial muscle of living fish, and satisfactory sensitivities with the limits of detection in the range of 1.1 (mefenamic acid) to 8.9 (fluoxetine) ng·g(-1) and comparable accuracies to liquid extraction were achieved. In general, this study explored a convenient and effective method to sheath nanofibers for high-efficient in vivo SPME of analytes of interest in semisolid tissues.

  2. Comprehensive study of solid pharmaceutical tablets in visible, near infrared (NIR), and longwave infrared (LWIR) spectral regions using a rapid simultaneous ultraviolet/visible/NIR (UVN) + LWIR laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy linear arrays detection system and a fast acousto-optic tunable filter NIR spectrometer.

    PubMed

    Yang, Clayton S C; Jin, Feng; Swaminathan, Siva R; Patel, Sita; Ramer, Evan D; Trivedi, Sudhir B; Brown, Ei E; Hommerich, Uwe; Samuels, Alan C

    2017-10-30

    This is the first report of a simultaneous ultraviolet/visible/NIR and longwave infrared laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (UVN + LWIR LIBS) measurement. In our attempt to study the feasibility of combining the newly developed rapid LWIR LIBS linear array detection system to existing rapid analytical techniques for a wide range of chemical analysis applications, two different solid pharmaceutical tablets, Tylenol arthritis pain and Bufferin, were studied using both a recently designed simultaneous UVN + LWIR LIBS detection system and a fast AOTF NIR (1200 to 2200 nm) spectrometer. Every simultaneous UVN + LWIR LIBS emission spectrum in this work was initiated by one single laser pulse-induced micro-plasma in the ambient air atmosphere. Distinct atomic and molecular LIBS emission signatures of the target compounds measured simultaneously in UVN (200 to 1100 nm) and LWIR (5.6 to 10 µm) spectral regions are readily detected and identified without the need to employ complex data processing. In depth profiling studies of these two pharmaceutical tablets without any sample preparation, one can easily monitor the transition of the dominant LWIR emission signatures from coating ingredients gradually to the pharmaceutical ingredients underneath the coating. The observed LWIR LIBS emission signatures provide complementary molecular information to the UVN LIBS signatures, thus adding robustness to identification procedures. LIBS techniques are more surface specific while NIR spectroscopy has the capability to probe more bulk materials with its greater penetration depth. Both UVN + LWIR LIBS and NIR absorption spectroscopy have shown the capabilities of acquiring useful target analyte spectral signatures in comparable short time scales. The addition of a rapid LWIR spectroscopic probe to these widely used optical analytical methods, such as NIR spectroscopy and UVN LIBS, may greatly enhance the capability and accuracy of the combined system for a comprehensive analysis.

  3. Improved properties of fine active pharmaceutical ingredient powder blends and tablets at high drug loading via dry particle coating.

    PubMed

    Kunnath, Kuriakose; Huang, Zhonghui; Chen, Liang; Zheng, Kai; Davé, Rajesh

    2018-05-30

    It has been shown that dry coating cohesive active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with nano-silica can improve packing and flow of their blends, facilitating high speed direct compression tableting. This paper examines the broader scope and generality of previous work by examining three fine APIs; micronized Acetaminophen (mAPAP), coarse Acetaminophen (cAPAP) and micronized Ibuprofen (mIBU), and considers dry coating with both hydrophobic or hydrophilic nano-silica to examine the effect not only on packing density and flow of their blends, but also dissolution and tensile strength of their tablets. The impact of the excipient size on blend and tablet properties are also investigated, indicating blend flow is most improved when matching API particle size with excipient particle size. In all cases where the API is dry coated, the blend packing and flow improve, so as to suggest such high drug loaded blends could enable direct compression. Using dry coated API along with finer excipients in blends lead to improved hardness of the corresponding tablets. Interestingly, dissolution profiles show dry coated API tablets generally have faster dissolution rates, regardless of silica hydrophilicity, suggesting API powder deagglomeration via nano-silica coating plays a crucial role. The most significant conclusion is that, although there are differences in properties of blends that depend on the API, hydrophobic or hydrophilic nano-silica coating, as well as large or fine excipients, in all cases, dry coating of APIs significantly improves the possibility of using the specific blend at high drug loading in direct compression tableting. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. 40 CFR Appendix A to Part 122 - NPDES Primary Industry Categories

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... coating Copper forming Electrical and electronic components Electroplating Explosives manufacturing... chemicals manufacturing Paint and ink formulation Pesticides Petroleum refining Pharmaceutical preparations...

  5. 40 CFR Appendix A to Part 122 - NPDES Primary Industry Categories

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... coating Copper forming Electrical and electronic components Electroplating Explosives manufacturing... chemicals manufacturing Paint and ink formulation Pesticides Petroleum refining Pharmaceutical preparations...

  6. 40 CFR Appendix A to Part 122 - NPDES Primary Industry Categories

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... coating Copper forming Electrical and electronic components Electroplating Explosives manufacturing... chemicals manufacturing Paint and ink formulation Pesticides Petroleum refining Pharmaceutical preparations...

  7. 40 CFR Appendix A to Part 122 - NPDES Primary Industry Categories

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... coating Copper forming Electrical and electronic components Electroplating Explosives manufacturing... chemicals manufacturing Paint and ink formulation Pesticides Petroleum refining Pharmaceutical preparations...

  8. The effect of suspended particles coated by humic acid on the toxicity of pharmaceuticals, estrogens, and phenolic compounds.

    PubMed

    Ra, Jin Sung; Oh, Seok-Young; Lee, Byung Cheun; Kim, Sang Don

    2008-02-01

    The sorption characteristics of 10 organic chemicals, categorized as pharmaceuticals, estrogens and phenols, onto synthetic suspended particle (i.e., alumina) coated with humic acid were investigated according to their octanol-water partition coefficient (K(ow)). Chemical analyses were performed with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of particles on the toxicity reduction were evaluated using bioassay tests, using Daphnia magna and Vibrio fisheri for phenols and pharmaceuticals, and the human breast cancer cell MCF-7 for estrogens. Sorption studies revealed that 22 and 38% of octylphenol and pentachlorophenol, respectively, were removed by suspended particle, whereas 2,4-dichlorophenol was not removed, which was directly proportional to the logK(ow) value. Similar to the sorption tests, suspended particles significantly reduced the acute toxicities of octylphenol and pentachlorophenol to D. magna and V. fisheri (p<0.01), but there was no significant difference in the toxicity of 2,4-dichlorophenol to D. magna (p=0.8374). Pharmaceuticals, such as ibuprofen, gemfibrozil and tolfenamic acid, showed no discernible sorption to the suspended particle, with the exception of diclofenac, which revealed 11% sorption. For estrogens, such as estrone, 17beta-estradiol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol, the results indicated no reduction in the sorption test. This may be attributed to the polar interaction by functional groups in sorption between pharmaceuticals and estrogens and suspended particles. In the bioassays, presence of suspended particles did not significantly modify the toxicity of pharmaceuticals (regardless of their K(ow) values) to D. magna, V. fisheri or E-screen.

  9. Coated microneedle arrays for transcutaneous delivery of live virus vaccines

    PubMed Central

    Vrdoljak, Anto; McGrath, Marie G.; Carey, John B.; Draper, Simon J.; Hill, Adrian V.S.; O’Mahony, Conor; Crean, Abina M.; Moore, Anne C.

    2016-01-01

    Vaccines are sensitive biologics that require continuous refrigerated storage to maintain their viability. The vast majority of vaccines are also administered using needles and syringes. The need for cold chain storage and the significant logistics surrounding needle-and-syringe vaccination is constraining the success of immunization programs. Recombinant live viral vectors are a promising platform for the development of vaccines against a number of infectious diseases, however these viruses must retain infectivity to be effective. Microneedles offer an effective and painless method for delivery of vaccines directly into skin that in the future could provide solutions to current vaccination issues. Here we investigated methods of coating live recombinant adenovirus and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors onto solid microneedle arrays. An effective spray-coating method, using conventional pharmaceutical processes, was developed, in tandem with suitable sugar-based formulations, which produces arrays with a unique coating of viable virus in a dry form around the shaft of each microneedle on the array. Administration of live virus-coated microneedle arrays successfully resulted in virus delivery, transcutaneous infection and induced an antibody or CD8+ T cell response in mice that was comparable to that obtained by needle-and-syringe intradermal immunization. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful vaccination with recombinant live viral vectored vaccines coated on microneedle delivery devices. PMID:22245683

  10. Coated microneedle arrays for transcutaneous delivery of live virus vaccines.

    PubMed

    Vrdoljak, Anto; McGrath, Marie G; Carey, John B; Draper, Simon J; Hill, Adrian V S; O'Mahony, Conor; Crean, Abina M; Moore, Anne C

    2012-04-10

    Vaccines are sensitive biologics that require continuous refrigerated storage to maintain their viability. The vast majority of vaccines are also administered using needles and syringes. The need for cold chain storage and the significant logistics surrounding needle-and-syringe vaccination is constraining the success of immunization programs. Recombinant live viral vectors are a promising platform for the development of vaccines against a number of infectious diseases, however these viruses must retain infectivity to be effective. Microneedles offer an effective and painless method for delivery of vaccines directly into skin that in the future could provide solutions to current vaccination issues. Here we investigated methods of coating live recombinant adenovirus and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors onto solid microneedle arrays. An effective spray-coating method, using conventional pharmaceutical processes, was developed, in tandem with suitable sugar-based formulations, which produces arrays with a unique coating of viable virus in a dry form around the shaft of each microneedle on the array. Administration of live virus-coated microneedle arrays successfully resulted in virus delivery, transcutaneous infection and induced an antibody or CD8(+) T cell response in mice that was comparable to that obtained by needle-and-syringe intradermal immunization. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful vaccination with recombinant live viral vectored vaccines coated on microneedle delivery devices. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. High-Throughput Synthetic Chemistry Enabled by Organic Solvent Disintegrating Tablet.

    PubMed

    Li, Tingting; Xu, Lei; Xing, Yanjun; Xu, Bo

    2017-01-17

    Synthetic chemistry remains a time- and labor-intensive process of inherent hazardous nature. Our organic solvent disintegrating tablet (O-Tab) technology has shown potential to make industrial/synthetic chemistry more efficient. As is the case with pharmaceutical tablets, our reagent-containing O-Tabs are mechanically strong, but disintegrate rapidly when in contact with reaction media (organic solvents). For O-Tabs containing sensitive chemicals, they can be further coated to insulate them from air and moisture. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Application of process tomography in gas-solid fluidised beds in different scales and structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, H. G.; Che, H. Q.; Ye, J. M.; Tu, Q. Y.; Wu, Z. P.; Yang, W. Q.; Ocone, R.

    2018-04-01

    Gas-solid fluidised beds are commonly used in particle-related processes, e.g. for coal combustion and gasification in the power industry, and the coating and granulation process in the pharmaceutical industry. Because the operation efficiency depends on the gas-solid flow characteristics, it is necessary to investigate the flow behaviour. This paper is about the application of process tomography, including electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) and microwave tomography (MWT), in multi-scale gas-solid fluidisation processes in the pharmaceutical and power industries. This is the first time that both ECT and MWT have been applied for this purpose in multi-scale and complex structure. To evaluate the sensor design and image reconstruction and to investigate the effects of sensor structure and dimension on the image quality, a normalised sensitivity coefficient is introduced. In the meantime, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis based on a computational particle fluid dynamic (CPFD) model and a two-phase fluid model (TFM) is used. Part of the CPFD-TFM simulation results are compared and validated by experimental results from ECT and/or MWT. By both simulation and experiment, the complex flow hydrodynamic behaviour in different scales is analysed. Time-series capacitance data are analysed both in time and frequency domains to reveal the flow characteristics.

  13. Recent trends and future of pharmaceutical packaging technology

    PubMed Central

    Zadbuke, Nityanand; Shahi, Sadhana; Gulecha, Bhushan; Padalkar, Abhay; Thube, Mahesh

    2013-01-01

    The pharmaceutical packaging market is constantly advancing and has experienced annual growth of at least five percent per annum in the past few years. The market is now reckoned to be worth over $20 billion a year. As with most other packaged goods, pharmaceuticals need reliable and speedy packaging solutions that deliver a combination of product protection, quality, tamper evidence, patient comfort and security needs. Constant innovations in the pharmaceuticals themselves such as, blow fill seal (BFS) vials, anti-counterfeit measures, plasma impulse chemical vapor deposition (PICVD) coating technology, snap off ampoules, unit dose vials, two-in-one prefilled vial design, prefilled syringes and child-resistant packs have a direct impact on the packaging. The review details several of the recent pharmaceutical packaging trends that are impacting packaging industry, and offers some predictions for the future. PMID:23833515

  14. Preparation and characterization of directly compactible layer-by-layer nanocoated cellulose.

    PubMed

    Strydom, Schalk J; Otto, Daniel P; Liebenberg, Wilna; Lvov, Yuri M; de Villiers, Melgardt M

    2011-02-14

    Microcrystalline cellulose is a commonly used direct compression tablet diluent and binder. It is derived from purified α-cellulose in an environmentally unfriendly process that involves mineral acid catalysed hydrolysis. In this study Kraft softwood fibers was nanocoated using a layer-by-layer self-assembling process. Powder flow and compactibility results showed that the application of nano-thin polymer layers on the fibers turned non-flowing, non-compacting cellulose into powders that can be used in the direct compression of tablets. The powder flow properties and tableting indices of compacts compressed from these nanocoated microfibers were similar or better than that of directly compactible microcrystalline cellulose powders. Cellulose microfibers coated with four PSS/PVP bilayers had the best compaction properties while still producing tablets that were able to absorb water and disintegrate and did not retard the dissolution of a model drug acetaminophen. The advantages of nanocoating rather than traditional pharmaceutical coating are that it add less than 1% to the weight of the fibers and allows control of the molecular properties of the surface and the thickness of the coat to within a few nanometers. This process is potentially friendlier to the environment because of the type and quantity of materials used. Also, it does not involve acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and neutralization of depolymerized cellulose. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Drop Printing of Pharmaceuticals: Effect of Molecular Weight on PEG Coated-Naproxen/PEG3350 Solid Dispersions

    PubMed Central

    Hsu, Hsin-Yun; Toth, Scott; Simpson, Garth J.; Harris, Michael T.

    2016-01-01

    Solid dispersions have been used to enhance the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). However, the solid state phase, compositional uniformity, and scale-up problems are issues that need to be addressed. To allow for highly controllable products, the Drop Printing (DP) technique can provide precise dosages and predictable compositional uniformity of APIs in two/three dimensional structures. In this study, DP was used to prepare naproxen (NAP)/polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG3350) solid dispersions with PEG coatings of different molecular weights (MW). A comparison of moisture-accelerated crystallization inhibition by different PEG coatings was assessed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were performed to characterize the morphology and quantify the apparent crystallinity of NAP within the solid dispersions. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to measure the water content within each sample. The results suggest that the moisture-accelerated crystallization inhibition capability of the PEG coatings increased with increasing MW of the PEG coating. Besides, to demonstrate the flexibility of DP technology on manufacturing formulation, multilayer tablets with different PEG serving as barrier layers were also constructed, and their dissolution behavior was examined. By applying DP and appropriate materials, it is possible to design various carrier devices used to control the release dynamics of the API. PMID:27041744

  16. Drop Printing of Pharmaceuticals: Effect of Molecular Weight on PEG Coated-Naproxen/PEG3350 Solid Dispersions.

    PubMed

    Hsu, Hsin-Yun; Toth, Scott; Simpson, Garth J; Harris, Michael T

    2015-12-01

    Solid dispersions have been used to enhance the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). However, the solid state phase, compositional uniformity, and scale-up problems are issues that need to be addressed. To allow for highly controllable products, the Drop Printing (DP) technique can provide precise dosages and predictable compositional uniformity of APIs in two/three dimensional structures. In this study, DP was used to prepare naproxen (NAP)/polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG3350) solid dispersions with PEG coatings of different molecular weights (MW). A comparison of moisture-accelerated crystallization inhibition by different PEG coatings was assessed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were performed to characterize the morphology and quantify the apparent crystallinity of NAP within the solid dispersions. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to measure the water content within each sample. The results suggest that the moisture-accelerated crystallization inhibition capability of the PEG coatings increased with increasing MW of the PEG coating. Besides, to demonstrate the flexibility of DP technology on manufacturing formulation, multilayer tablets with different PEG serving as barrier layers were also constructed, and their dissolution behavior was examined. By applying DP and appropriate materials, it is possible to design various carrier devices used to control the release dynamics of the API.

  17. 40 CFR 52.50 - Identification of plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 10062 Section 335-3-6-.11 Surface Coating 10/15/96 6/6/97; 62 FR 30991 Section 335-3-6-.12 Solvent Metal... Section 335-3-6-.18 Manufacture of Synthesized Pharmaceutical Products 10/15/96 6/6/97; 62 FR 30991...-.32 Surface Coating 10/15/96 6/6/97; 62 FR 30991 Section 335-3-6-.33 Solvent Metal Cleaning 6/22/89 3...

  18. 40 CFR 52.50 - Identification of plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 10062 Section 335-3-6-.11 Surface Coating 10/15/96 6/6/97; 62 FR 30991 Section 335-3-6-.12 Solvent Metal... Section 335-3-6-.18 Manufacture of Synthesized Pharmaceutical Products 10/15/96 6/6/97; 62 FR 30991...-.32 Surface Coating 10/15/96 6/6/97; 62 FR 30991 Section 335-3-6-.33 Solvent Metal Cleaning 6/22/89 3...

  19. FDTD-based computed terahertz wave propagation in multilayer medium structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tu, Wan-li; Zhong, Shun-cong; Yao, Hai-zi; Shen, Yao-chun

    2013-08-01

    The terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum spans the frequency range of 0.1THz~10THz, which means it sandwiches between the mid-infrared (IR) and the millimeter/ microwave. With the development and commercialization of terahertz pulsed spectroscopy (TPS) and terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) systems, terahertz technologies have been widely used in the sensing and imaging fields. It allows high quality cross-sectional images from within scattering media to be obtained nondestructively. Characterizing the interaction of terahertz radiation with multilayer medium structures is critical for the development of nondestructive testing technology. Currently, there was much experimental investigation of using TPI for the characterization of terahertz radiation in materials (e.g., pharmaceutical tablet coatings), but there were few theoretical researches on propagation of terahertz radiation in multilayer medium structures. Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) algorithm is a proven method for electromagnetic scattering theory, which analyzes continuous electromagnetic problems by employing finite difference and obtains electromagnetic field value at the sampling point to approach the actual continuous solutions. In the present work, we investigated the propagation of terahertz radiation in multilayer medium structures based on FDTD method. The model of multilayer medium structures under the THz frequency plane wave incidence was established, and the reflected radiation properties were recorded and analyzed. The terahertz radiation used was broad-band in the frequency up to 2 THz. A batch of single layer coated pharmaceutical tablets, whose coating thickness in the range of 40~100μm, was computed by FDTD method. We found that the simulation results on pharmaceutical tablet coatings were in good agreement with the experimental results obtained using a commercial system (TPI imaga 2000, TeraView, Cambridge, UK) , demonstrating its usefulness in simulating and analyzing terahertz responses from a multilayered sample.

  20. Monitoring simultaneous photocatalytic-ozonation of mixture of pharmaceuticals in the presence of immobilized TiO2 nanoparticles using MCR-ALS: Identification of intermediates and multi-response optimization approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fathinia, Mehrangiz; Khataee, Alireza; Naseri, Abdolhosein; Aber, Soheil

    2015-02-01

    The present study has focused on the degradation of a mixture of three pharmaceuticals, i.e. methyldopa (MDP), nalidixic acid (NAD) and famotidine (FAM) which were quantified simultaneously during photocatalytic-ozonation process. The experiments were conducted in a semi-batch reactor where TiO2 nanoparticles (crystallites mean size 8 nm) were immobilized on ceramic plates irradiated by UV-A light in the proximity of oxygen and/or ozone. The surface morphology and roughness of the bare and TiO2-coated ceramic plates were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). An analytical methodology was successfully developed based on both recording ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra during the degradation process and a data analysis using multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). This methodology enabled the researchers to obtain the concentration and spectral profiles of the chemical compounds which were involved in the process. A central composite design was used to study the effect of several factors on multiple responses namely MDP removal (Y1), NAD removal (Y2) and FAM removal (Y3) in the simultaneous photocatalytic-ozonation of these pharmaceuticals. A multi-response optimization procedure based on global desirability of the factors was used to simultaneously maximize Y1, Y2 and Y3. The results of the global desirability revealed that 8 mg/L MAD, 8 mg/L NAD, 8 mg/L FAM, 6 L/h ozone flow rate and a 30 min-reaction time were the best conditions under which the optimized values of various responses were Y1 = 95.03%, Y2 = 84.93% and Y3 = 99.15%. Also, the intermediate products of pharmaceuticals generated in the photocatalytic-ozonation process were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

  1. Physicochemical characterization of 3,6-diHydroxyflavone binding BSA immobilized on PEG-coated silver nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Voicescu, Mariana; Ionescu, Sorana; Calderon-Moreno, Jose M.; Nistor, Cristina L.

    2017-02-01

    Studies based on silver nanoparticles (SNPs) and polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are mainly in the pharmaceutical field, with PEG as good "vehicle" to transport protein-based drugs. In this work, physicochemical characteristics of 3,6-diHydroxyflavone (3,6-diHF) binding bovine serum albumin (BSA) on PEG (Tween20, L64, and Myrj52)-coated SNPs have been investigated by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. These interactions give rise to the formation of intermolecular and intramolecular H bonds. As a subject of interest, the effect of temperature (30-60 °C) on the H bonds was studied by steady-state fluorescence. The size distribution and zeta potential of SNPs were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the spherical nature of particles with average diameter 40-80 nm. The structure, stability, dynamics, and conformational changes in adsorbed BSA protein on the PEG-coated SNPs surface have been also investigated by steady-state/lifetime fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The results have relevance in the oxidative stress and drug delivery processes.

  2. Nano/micro/meso scale interactions in mechanics of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akseli, Ilgaz

    Oral administration in form tablets has been the most common method for delivering drug to the human systemic blood circulation accurately and reproducibly due to its established manufacturing methods and reliability as well as cost. The mechanical criteria for a successful powder-to-tablet processing are good flowability, compressibility and compactibility that are closely related to the mechanical and adhesion properties of the particles and particle strength. In this thesis, air-coupled acoustic and ultrasonic techniques are presented and demonstrated as noncontact and nondestructive methods for physical (mechanical) integrity monitoring and mechanical characterization of tablets. A testing and characterization experimental platform for defect detection, coating thickness and mechanical property determination of tablets was also developed. The presented air-coupled technique was based on the analysis of the transient vibrational responses of a tablet in both temporal and spectral domains. The contact ultrasonic technique was based on the analysis of the propagation speed of an acoustic pulse launched into a tablet and its reflection from the coat-core interface of the tablet. In defect monitoring, the ultimate objective is to separate defective tablets from nominal ones. In the case of characterization, to extract the coating layer thicknesses and mechanical properties of the tablets from a subset of the measured resonance frequencies, an iterative computational procedure was demonstrated. In the compaction monitoring experiments, an instrumented punch and a cylindrical die were employed to extract the elasticity properties of tablets during compaction. To study the effect of compaction kinetics on tablet properties and defect, finite element analyses of single layer and bilayer tablets were performed. A noncontact work-of-adhesion technique was also demonstrated to determine the work-of-adhesion of pharmaceutical powder particles.

  3. Hot-melt extruded filaments based on pharmaceutical grade polymers for 3D printing by fused deposition modeling.

    PubMed

    Melocchi, Alice; Parietti, Federico; Maroni, Alessandra; Foppoli, Anastasia; Gazzaniga, Andrea; Zema, Lucia

    2016-07-25

    Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a 3D printing technique based on the deposition of successive layers of thermoplastic materials following their softening/melting. Such a technique holds huge potential for the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and is currently under extensive investigation. Challenges in this field are mainly related to the paucity of adequate filaments composed of pharmaceutical grade materials, which are needed for feeding the FDM equipment. Accordingly, a number of polymers of common use in pharmaceutical formulation were evaluated as starting materials for fabrication via hot melt extrusion of filaments suitable for FDM processes. By using a twin-screw extruder, filaments based on insoluble (ethylcellulose, Eudragit(®) RL), promptly soluble (polyethylene oxide, Kollicoat(®) IR), enteric soluble (Eudragit(®) L, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate) and swellable/erodible (hydrophilic cellulose derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol, Soluplus(®)) polymers were successfully produced, and the possibility of employing them for printing 600μm thick disks was demonstrated. The behavior of disks as barriers when in contact with aqueous fluids was shown consistent with the functional application of the relevant polymeric components. The produced filaments were thus considered potentially suitable for printing capsules and coating layers for immediate or modified release, and, when loaded with active ingredients, any type of dosage forms. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Impact of a complex fluid droplet on wettable and non wettable surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bolleddula, Daniel; Aliseda, Alberto

    2008-11-01

    The impact of liquid droplets is a phenomenon prevalent in many natural and industrial processes. Such events include rain drops, fuel injection, and ink-jet printing. To date, research in atomization and droplet impact has been focused on Newtonian fluids. In the coating of pharmaceutical tablets, the coating solutions contain polymers, surfactants, and large concentrations of insoluble solids in suspension which inherently exhibit non-Newtonian behavior. In this work, we will present ongoing droplet impact experiments using complex rheology fluids under a wide range of Weber and Ohnesorge numbers. Both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces are been studied, and the effect of surface roughness has also been considered. We will describe the limits of bouncing, spreading, and splashing for these complex fluids. We will also discuss quantitative information such as spreading rates and contact angle measurements on wettable and non-wettable surfaces obtained from high speed images.

  5. Sustainable design and manufacturing of multifunctional polymer nanocomposite coatings: A multiscale systems approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Jie

    Polymer nanocomposites have a great potential to be a dominant coating material in a wide range of applications in the automotive, aerospace, ship-making, construction, and pharmaceutical industries. However, how to realize design sustainability of this type of nanostructured materials and how to ensure the true optimality of the product quality and process performance in coating manufacturing remain as a mountaintop area. The major challenges arise from the intrinsic multiscale nature of the material-process-product system and the need to manipulate the high levels of complexity and uncertainty in design and manufacturing processes. This research centers on the development of a comprehensive multiscale computational methodology and a computer-aided tool set that can facilitate multifunctional nanocoating design and application from novel function envisioning and idea refinement, to knowledge discovery and design solution derivation, and further to performance testing in industrial applications and life cycle analysis. The principal idea is to achieve exceptional system performance through concurrent characterization and optimization of materials, product and associated manufacturing processes covering a wide range of length and time scales. Multiscale modeling and simulation techniques ranging from microscopic molecular modeling to classical continuum modeling are seamlessly coupled. The tight integration of different methods and theories at individual scales allows the prediction of macroscopic coating performance from the fundamental molecular behavior. Goal-oriented design is also pursued by integrating additional methods for bio-inspired dynamic optimization and computational task management that can be implemented in a hierarchical computing architecture. Furthermore, multiscale systems methodologies are developed to achieve the best possible material application towards sustainable manufacturing. Automotive coating manufacturing, that involves paint spay and curing, is specifically discussed in this dissertation. Nevertheless, the multiscale considerations for sustainable manufacturing, the novel concept of IPP control, and the new PPDE-based optimization method are applicable to other types of manufacturing, e.g., metal coating development through electroplating. It is demonstrated that the methodological development in this dissertation can greatly facilitate experimentalists in novel material invention and new knowledge discovery. At the same time, they can provide scientific guidance and reveal various new opportunities and effective strategies for sustainable manufacturing.

  6. Noninvasive authentication of pharmaceutical products through packaging using spatially offset Raman spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Eliasson, Charlotte; Matousek, Pavel

    2007-02-15

    We demonstrate the use of spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) in the identification of counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets and capsules through different types of packaging. The technique offers a substantially higher sensitivity than that available from conventional backscattering Raman spectroscopy. The approach is particularly beneficial in situations where the conventional Raman backscattering method is hampered or fails because of excessive surface Raman or fluorescence signals emanating from the packaging, capsule shell, or tablet coating contaminating the much weaker subsurface Raman signals of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients held in the product. It is demonstrated that such interfering signals can be effectively suppressed by SORS.

  7. Photocured epoxy/graphene nanocomposites with enhanced water vapor barrier properties

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Periolatto, M.; Spena, P. Russo; Sangermano, M.

    A transparent, water vapor barrier film made of an epoxy resin and graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by photopolymerization process. The epoxy/GO film with just 0.05 wt% GO gives a 93% WVTR reduction with respect to the pristine polymer, reaching barrier properties better than other polymer composites containing higher amounts of graphene. The excellent water vapor barrier is attributed to the good dispersion of GO in the polymer matrix. Moreover, GO significantly enhances the toughness and the damping capacity of the epoxy resins. The hybrid film can have potential applications in anticorrosive coatings, electronic devices, pharmaceuticals and food packaging.

  8. Photocured epoxy/graphene nanocomposites with enhanced water vapor barrier properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Periolatto, M.; Sangermano, M.; Spena, P. Russo

    2016-05-01

    A transparent, water vapor barrier film made of an epoxy resin and graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by photopolymerization process. The epoxy/GO film with just 0.05 wt% GO gives a 93% WVTR reduction with respect to the pristine polymer, reaching barrier properties better than other polymer composites containing higher amounts of graphene. The excellent water vapor barrier is attributed to the good dispersion of GO in the polymer matrix. Moreover, GO significantly enhances the toughness and the damping capacity of the epoxy resins. The hybrid film can have potential applications in anticorrosive coatings, electronic devices, pharmaceuticals and food packaging.

  9. Crosslinked polymeric ionic liquids as solid-phase microextraction sorbent coatings for high performance liquid chromatography.

    PubMed

    Yu, Honglian; Merib, Josias; Anderson, Jared L

    2016-03-18

    Neat crosslinked polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) sorbent coatings for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) compatible with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are reported for the first time. Six structurally different PILs were crosslinked to nitinol supports and applied for the determination of select pharmaceutical drugs, phenolics, and insecticides. Sampling conditions including sample solution pH, extraction time, desorption solvent, desorption time, and desorption solvent volume were optimized using design of experiment (DOE). The developed PIL sorbent coatings were stable when performing extractions under acidic pH and remained intact in various organic desorption solvents (i.e., methanol, acetonitrile, acetone). The PIL-based sorbent coating polymerized from the IL monomer 1-vinyl-3-(10-hydroxydecyl) imidazolium chloride [VC10OHIM][Cl] and IL crosslinker 1,12-di(3-vinylbenzylimidazolium) dodecane dichloride [(VBIM)2C12] 2[Cl] exhibited superior extraction performance compared to the other studied PILs. The extraction efficiency of pharmaceutical drugs and phenolics increased when the film thickness of the PIL-based sorbent coating was increased while many insecticides were largely unaffected. Satisfactory analytical performance was obtained with limits of detection (LODs) ranging from 0.2 to 2 μg L(-1) for the target analytes. The accuracy of the analytical method was examined by studying the relative recovery of analytes in real water samples, including tap water and lake water, with recoveries varying from 50.2% to 115.9% and from 48.8% to 116.6%, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. 40 CFR 52.50 - Identification of plan.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... Coating 10/15/96 6/6/97; 62 FR 30991 Section 335-3-6-.12 Solvent Metal Cleaning 10/15/96 06/6/97; 62 FR... Synthesized Pharmaceutical Products 10/15/96 6/6/97; 62 FR 30991 Section 335-3-6-.19 Reserved Section 335-3-6... Sources 6/22/89 3/19/90; 55 FR 10062 Section 335-3-6-.32 Surface Coating 10/15/96 6/6/97; 62 FR 30991...

  11. Halloysite clay nanotubes for controlled delivery of chemically active agents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abdullayev, Elshard

    In this work we explored the capabilities of halloysite nanotubes as capsules for encapsulation and controlled delivery of the chemically and biologically active substances. Halloysite is a two-layered aluminosilicate which has a predominantly hollow tubular structure in the submicron range and is chemically similar to kaolinite [1, 2]. In the first section of this work, we analyzed the structure of the halloysite nanotubes as well as its capability to encapsulate and deliver biologically and chemically active agents, similarities and differences between release characteristics of different agents and how these differences relate with their chemical structure. Models were used to describe the release characteristics of the active agents. Study of the interaction between loaded agents and halloysite nanotubes provides better understanding of the release characteristics of the loaded agents and how halloysite can be implemented for technological and medical applications. The second part of the work deals with self-healing coatings produced on the basis of halloysite nanotubes loaded with corrosion inhibitors. Self-healing coatings are one of the effective methods to protect metals from corrosion and deterioration. The difference between self-healing coatings and the usual coatings is the ability of the first to recover after the formation of the damages due to external or internal stresses. High efficiency of the self- healing coatings produced by halloysite nanotubes were demonstrated on 110 Copper alloys and 2024 aluminum alloys. Controlled delivery of the corrosion inhibitors with additional encapsulation of the halloysite nanotubes by synthesizing stoppers at tube endings was also demonstrated. Additional encapsulation of the halloysite nanotubes may be necessary when slow release of the loaded agents is required or rapid convection of the liquid in the surrounding environment takes place (since this may cause rapid release of the loaded agents without additional encapsulation). The third part of this work deals with pharmaceutical applications of the halloysite nanotubes. Toxicity analysis was performed by using MCF-7 and HeLa cells since this is the main issue to be considered before using halloysite for any technological and medical applications. Halloysite nanotubes were readily taken up by the cells and cells survived for a reasonably long time after uptake indicating the biocompatible nature of the halloysite nanotubes. The possibility to encapsulate glycerol, a skin moisturizing agent, was also demonstrated for pharmaceutical applications. It was shown that halloysite has a huge capability for encapsulating a wide range of pharmaceuticals and effectively deliver over a long time range which may increase the quality of pharmaceutical products.

  12. Gelatin Nano-coating for Inhibiting Surface Crystallization of Amorphous Drugs.

    PubMed

    Teerakapibal, Rattavut; Gui, Yue; Yu, Lian

    2018-01-05

    Inhibit the fast surface crystallization of amorphous drugs with gelatin nano-coatings. The free surface of amorphous films of indomethacin or nifedipine was coated by a gelatin solution (type A or B) and dried. The coating's effect on surface crystallization was evaluated. Coating thickness was estimated from mass change after coating. For indomethacin (weak acid, pK a  = 4.5), a gelatin coating of either type deposited at pH 5 and 10 inhibited its fast surface crystal growth. The coating thickness was 20 ± 10 nm. A gelatin coating deposited at pH 3, however, provided no protective effect. These results suggest that an effective gelatin coating does not require that the drug and the polymer have opposite charges. The ineffective pH 3 coating might reflect the poor wetting of indomethacin's neutral, hydrophobic surface by the coating solution. For nifedipine (weak base, pK a  = 2.6), a gelatin coating of either type deposited at pH 5 inhibited its fast surface crystal growth. Gelatin nano-coatings can be conveniently applied to amorphous drugs from solution to inhibit fast surface crystallization. Unlike strong polyelectrolyte coatings, a protective gelatin coating does not require strict pairing of opposite charges. This could make gelatin coating a versatile, pharmaceutically acceptable coating for stabilizing amorphous drugs.

  13. Gastrointestinal transit and disintegration of enteric coated magnetic tablets assessed by ac biosusceptometry.

    PubMed

    Corá, Luciana A; Romeiro, Fernando G; Américo, Madileine F; Oliveira, Ricardo Brandt; Baffa, Oswaldo; Stelzer, Murilo; Miranda, José Ricardo de Arruda

    2006-01-01

    The oral administration is a common route in the drug therapy and the solid pharmaceutical forms are widely used. Although much about the performance of these formulations can be learned from in vitro studies using conventional methods, evaluation in vivo is essential in product development. The knowledge of the gastrointestinal transit and how the physiological variables can interfere with the disintegration and drug absorption is a prerequisite for development of dosage forms. The aim of this work was to employing the ac biosusceptometry (ACB) to monitoring magnetic tablets in the human gastrointestinal tract and to obtain the magnetic images of the disintegration process in the colonic region. The ac biosusceptometry showed accuracy in the quantification of the gastric residence time, the intestinal transit time and the disintegration time (DT) of the magnetic formulations in the human gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, ac biosusceptometry is a non-invasive technique, radiation-free and harmless to the volunteers, as well as an important research tool in the pharmaceutical, pharmacological and physiological investigations.

  14. Coaxial twin-fluid atomization with pattern air gas streams

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hei Ng, Chin; Aliseda, Alberto

    2010-11-01

    Coaxial twin-fluid atomization has numerous industrial applications, most notably fuel injection and spray coating. In the coating process of pharmaceutical tablets, the coaxial atomizing air stream is accompanied by two diametrically opposed side jets that impinge on the liquid/gas coaxial jets at an angle to produce an elliptical shape of the spray's cross section. Our study focuses on the influence of these side jets on the break up process and on the droplet velocity and diameter distribution along the cross section. The ultimate goal is to predict the size distribution and volume flux per unit area in the spray. With this predictive model, an optimal atomizing air/pattern air ratio can be found to achieve the desired coating result. This model is also crucial in scaling up the laboratory setup to production level. We have performed experiments with different atomized liquids, such as water and glycerine-water mixtures, that allow us to establish the effect of liquid viscosity, through the Ohnesorge number, in the spray characteristics. The gas Reynolds number of our experiments ranges from 9000 to 18000 and the Weber number ranges from 400 to 1600. We will present the effect of pattern air in terms of the resulting droplets size, droplet number density and velocity at various distances downstream of the nozzle where the effect of pattern air is significant.

  15. Reducing bacteria and macrophage density on nanophase hydroxyapatite coated onto titanium surfaces without releasing pharmaceutical agents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhardwaj, Garima; Yazici, Hilal; Webster, Thomas J.

    2015-04-01

    Reducing bacterial density on titanium implant surfaces has been a major concern because of the increasing number of nosocomial infections. Controlling the inflammatory response post implantation has also been an important issue for medical devices due to the detrimental effects of chronic inflammation on device performance. It has recently been demonstrated that manipulating medical device surface properties including chemistry, roughness and wettability can control both infection and inflammation. Here, we synthesized nanophase (that is, materials with one dimension in the nanoscale) hydroxyapatite coatings on titanium to reduce bacterial adhesion and inflammatory responses (as measured by macrophage functions) and compared such results to bare titanium and plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite titanium coated surfaces used clinically today. This approach is a pharmaceutical-free approach to inhibit infection and inflammation due to the detrimental side effects of any drug released in the body. Here, nanophase hydroxyapatite was synthesized in sizes ranging from 110-170 nm and was subsequently coated onto titanium samples using electrophoretic deposition. Results indicated that smaller nanoscale hydroxyapatite features on titanium surfaces alone decreased bacterial attachment in the presence of gram negative (P. aeruginosa), gram positive (S. aureus) and ampicillin resistant gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria as well as were able to control inflammatory responses; properties which should lead to their further investigation for improved medical applications.

  16. Medical implants and methods of making medical implants

    DOEpatents

    Shaw, Wendy J; Yonker, Clement R; Fulton, John L; Tarasevich, Barbara J; McClain, James B; Taylor, Doug

    2014-09-16

    A medical implant device having a substrate with an oxidized surface and a silane derivative coating covalently bonded to the oxidized surface. A bioactive agent is covalently bonded to the silane derivative coating. An implantable stent device including a stent core having an oxidized surface with a layer of silane derivative covalently bonded thereto. A spacer layer comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG) is covalently bonded to the layer of silane derivative and a protein is covalently bonded to the PEG. A method of making a medical implant device including providing a substrate having a surface, oxidizing the surface and reacting with derivitized silane to form a silane coating covalently bonded to the surface. A bioactive agent is then covalently bonded to the silane coating. In particular instances, an additional coating of bio-absorbable polymer and/or pharmaceutical agent is deposited over the bioactive agent.

  17. Universal Coatings Based on Zwitterionic-Dopamine Copolymer Microgels.

    PubMed

    Vatankhah-Varnosfaderani, Mohammad; Hu, Xiaobo; Li, Qiaoxi; Adelnia, Hossein; Ina, Maria; Sheiko, Sergei S

    2018-06-05

    Multifunctional coatings that adhere to chemically distinct substrates are vital in many industries, including automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, construction, petrochemical, biomedical, and pharmaceutical. We design well-defined, nearly monodisperse microgels that integrate hydrophobic dopamine methacrylamide monomers and hydrophilic zwitterionic monomers. The dopamine functionalities operate as both intraparticle cross-linkers and interfacial binders, respectively providing mechanical strength of the coatings and their strong adhesion to different substrates. In tandem, the zwitterionic moieties enable surface hydration to empower antifouling and antifogging properties. Drop-casting of microgel suspensions in ambient as well as humid environments facilitates rapid film formation and tunable roughness through regulation of cross-linking density and deposition conditions.

  18. Performance Stability of Silicone Oxide-Coated Plastic Parenteral Vials.

    PubMed

    Weikart, Christopher M; Pantano, Carlo G; Shallenberger, Jeff R

    2017-01-01

    A new packaging system was developed for parenteral pharmaceuticals that combines the best attributes of plastic and glass without their respective drawbacks. This technological advancement is based on the synergy between high-precision injection-molded plastics and plasma coating technology. The result is a shatter-resistant, optically clear, low-particulate, and chemically durable packaging system. The demand for this product is driven by the expanding market, regulatory constraints, and product recalls for injectable drugs and biologics packaged in traditional glass materials. It is shown that this new packaging system meets or exceeds the important performance characteristics of glass, especially in eliminating the glass delamination and breakage that has been observed in many products. The new packaging system is an engineered, multilayer, glass-coated plastic composite that provides a chemically stable contact surface and oxygen barrier performance that exceeds a 2 year shelf life requirement. Evaluation of the coating system characteristics and performance stability to chemical, temperature, and mechanical extremes are reported herein. LAY ABSTRACT: A new packaging system for parenteral pharmaceuticals was developed that combines the best attributes of plastic and glass without their respective drawbacks. This technological advancement is based on the synergy between high-precision injection-molded plastics and plasma coating technology. The result is a shatter-resistant, optically clear, low-particulate, and chemically durable packaging system. It is shown that this new packaging system meets or exceeds the important performance characteristics of glass, especially in eliminating the glass delamination and breakage that has been observed in many products. The new packaging system is an engineered, multilayer, glass-coated plastic composite that provides a chemically stable contact surface and oxygen barrier performance that exceeds a 2 year shelf life requirement. Evaluation of the coating system characteristics and performance stability to chemical, temperature, and mechanical extremes are reported herein. © PDA, Inc. 2017.

  19. Enzyme-catalyzed modifications of polysaccharides and poly(ethylene glycol)

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Polysaccharides are used extensively in various industrial applications, such as food, adhesives, coatings, construction, paper, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. Many polysaccharide structures need to be modified in order to improve their end-use properties; these are mostly done through chemica...

  20. Selection of solubility parameters for characterization of pharmaceutical excipients.

    PubMed

    Adamska, Katarzyna; Voelkel, Adam; Héberger, Károly

    2007-11-09

    The solubility parameter (delta(2)), corrected solubility parameter (delta(T)) and its components (delta(d), delta(p), delta(h)) were determined for series of pharmaceutical excipients by using inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied for the selection of the solubility parameters which assure the complete characterization of examined materials. Application of PCA suggests that complete description of examined materials is achieved with four solubility parameters, i.e. delta(2) and Hansen solubility parameters (delta(d), delta(p), delta(h)). Selection of the excipients through PCA of their solubility parameters data can be used for prediction of their behavior in a multi-component system, e.g. for selection of the best materials to form stable pharmaceutical liquid mixtures or stable coating formulation.

  1. Efficient optical resolution of amino acid by alanine racemaze chiral analogue supported on mesoporous carbon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jang, D.; Kim, K.; Park, D.; Kim, G.

    2012-09-01

    Optically pure D-amino acids are industrially important chiral building blocks for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, and drug intermediates. Chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic-resolution processes have recently been developed for deracemization of amino acids. S-ARCA would be a good candidate for the selective adsorption of D amino acid through the imine formation reaction. The organic phase containing S-ARCA adsorbent, TPPC or Ionic Liquid (as a phase transfer catalyst) in MC were coated on the surfaces of mesoporous carbon C-SBA-15(CMK). The aqueous solution of racemic D/L-amino acid and NaOH were added to the carbon support coated with ARCA. The D/L ratios on ARCA and in solution were determined with increasing reaction time. S-ARCA has a unique property for the selective adsorption of D- amino acid (up to 90% selcetivity) in the racemic mixture. The fixed bed reactor containing ARCA/carbon support was also adopted successfully for the selective separation of amino acid.

  2. Optimized water vapor permeability of sodium alginate films using response surface methodology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Qing; Xu, Jiachao; Gao, Xin; Fu, Xiaoting

    2013-11-01

    The water vapor permeability (WVP) of films is important when developing pharmaceutical applications. Films are frequently used as coatings, and as such directly influence the quality of the medicine. The optimization of processing conditions for sodium alginate films was investigated using response surface methodology. Single-factor tests and Box-Behnken experimental design were employed. WVP was selected as the response variable, and the operating parameters for the single-factor tests were sodium alginate concentration, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) concentration and CaCl2 solution immersion time. The coefficient of determination ( R 2) was 0.97, indicating statistical significance. A minimal WVP of 0.389 8 g·mm/(m2·h·kPa) was achieved under the optimum conditions. These were found to be a sodium alginate concentration, CMC concentration and CaCl2 solution immersion time at 8.04%, 0.13%, and 12 min, respectively. This provides a reference for potential applications in manufacturing film-coated hard capsule shells.

  3. [Nano-particles--pharmaceutical "dwarves" with know-how].

    PubMed

    Ziegler, Andreas S

    2008-12-01

    Self-cleaning surface coatings, tooth paste with repair effect, mini fuel cells and extremely small data memories, which contain the knowledge of whole libraries: After "micro" in the 1980ies and "electronic" in the 1990ies, "nano" is the technological keyword of this decade. The new nano-materials fascinate laymen and experts alike. Also in pharmacy the advance into dimensions unattainable so far, paved the way for the formulation of new pharmaceutical preparations. The nanotechnology offers innovative answers to previously unresolved galenic and/or biopharmaceutical questions and offers unexpected possibilities for drug targeting.

  4. Printing medicines as orodispersible dosage forms: Effect of substrate on the printed micro-structure.

    PubMed

    Planchette, C; Pichler, H; Wimmer-Teubenbacher, M; Gruber, M; Gruber-Woelfler, H; Mohr, S; Tetyczka, C; Hsiao, W-K; Paudel, A; Roblegg, E; Khinast, J

    2016-07-25

    We present our recent advancements in developing a viable manufacturing process for printed medicine. Our approach involves using a non-contact printing system that incorporates both piezoelectric- and solenoid valve-based inkjet printing technologies, to deliver both active and inactive pharmaceutical materials onto medical-graded orodispersible films. By using two complimentary inkjet technologies, we were able to dispense an extensive range of fluids, from aqueous drug solutions to viscous polymer coating materials. Essentially, we demonstrate printing of a wide range of formulations for patient-ready, orodispersible drug dosage forms, without the risk of drug degradation by ink heating and of substrate damages (by contact printing). In addition, our printing process has been optimized to ensure that the drug doses can be loaded onto the orally dissolvable films without introducing defects, such as holes or tears, while retaining a smooth surface texture that promotes patient adherence and allows for uniform post-coatings. Results show that our platform technology can address key issues in manufacturing orodispersible drug dosage forms and bring us closer to delivering personalized and precision medicine to targeted patient populations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Progress in terahertz nondestructive testing: A review

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhong, Shuncong

    2018-05-01

    Terahertz (THz) waves, whose frequencies range between microwave and infrared, are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. A gap exists in THz literature because investigating THz waves is difficult due to the weak characteristics of the waves and the lack of suitable THz sources and detectors. Recently, THz nondestructive testing (NDT) technology has become an interesting topic. This review outlines several typical THz devices and systems and engineering applications of THz NDT techniques in composite materials, thermal barrier coatings, car paint films, marine protective coatings, and pharmaceutical tablet coatings. THz imaging has higher resolution but lower penetration than ultrasound imaging. This review presents the significance and advantages provided by the emerging THz NDT technique.

  6. Imparting pharmaceutical applications to the surface of fabrics for wound and skin care by ultrasonic waves.

    PubMed

    Gedanken, Aharon; Perkas, Nina; Perelshtein, Ilana; Lipovsky, Anat

    2017-12-29

    The review, reports on the functionalization of textiles for the treatment of wounds and skin diseases such as acne. In view of the growing demand for high-quality textiles, much research is focused on the creation of antimicrobial finishings for fabrics, in order to protect customers from pathogenic or odor-generating microorganisms. We present coatings from inorganic, organic and biochemical nanoparticles (NPs) on surfaces that impart the ability to kill bacteria, avoid biofilm formation and speed up the recovery of wounds. In all three cases, sonochemistry is used for immobilizing the nanoparticles on the surfaces. The Introduction broadly covers the progress of nanotechnology in the fields of wound and skin care. The first section of this review outlines the mechanism of the ultrasound-assisted deposition of nanoparticles on textiles. The coating can be performed by an in-situ process in which the nanoparticles are formed and subsequently thrown onto the surface of the fabrics at a very high speed. This approach was used in depositing metal-oxide NPs such as ZnO, CuO and Zn-CuO or the organic NPs of tannic acid, chitosan, etc. on textiles. In addition, the sonochemical process can be used as a "throwing stone" technique, namely, previously synthesized or commercially purchased NPs can be placed in the sonication bath and sonicated in the presence of the fabric. This section will also outline why sonochemical deposition on textiles is considered the best coating technique. The second section will discuss new applications of the sonochemically-coated textiles in killing bacteria, avoiding biofilm formation and more. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  7. Optimising the in vitro and in vivo performance of oral cocrystal formulations via spray coating.

    PubMed

    Serrano, Dolores R; Walsh, David; O'Connell, Peter; Mugheirbi, Naila A; Worku, Zelalem Ayenew; Bolas-Fernandez, Francisco; Galiana, Carolina; Dea-Ayuela, Maria Auxiliadora; Healy, Anne Marie

    2018-03-01

    Engineering of pharmaceutical cocrystals is an advantageous alternative to salt formation for improving the aqueous solubility of hydrophobic drugs. Although, spray drying is a well-established scale-up technique in the production of cocrystals, several issues can arise such as sublimation or stickiness due to low glass transition temperatures of some organic molecules, making the process very challenging. Even though, fluidised bed spray coating has been successfully employed in the production of amorphous drug-coated particles, to the best of our knowledge, it has never been employed in the production of cocrystals. The feasibility of this technique was proven using three model cocrystals: sulfadimidine (SDM)/4-aminosalicylic acid (4ASA), sulfadimidine/nicotinic acid (NA) and ibuprofen (IBU)/ nicotinamide (NAM). Design of experiments were performed to understand the critical formulation and process parameters that determine the formation of either cocrystal or coamorphous systems for SDM/4ASA. The amount and type of binder played a key role in the overall solid state and in vitro performance characteristics of the cocrystals. The optimal balance between high loading efficiencies and high degree of crystallinity was achieved only when a binder: cocrystal weight ratio of 5:95 or 10:90 was used. The cocrystal coated beads showed an improved in vitro-in vivo performance characterised by: (i) no tendency to aggregate in aqueous media compared to spray dried formulations, (ii) enhanced in vitro activity (1.8-fold greater) against S. aureus, (iii) larger oral absorption and bioavailability (2.2-fold higher C max ), (iv) greater flow properties and (v) improved chemical stability than cocrystals produced by other methods derived from the morphology and solid nature of the starter cores. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Atomic layer deposition on polymer fibers and fabrics for multifunctional and electronic textiles

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Brozena, Alexandra H.; Oldham, Christopher J.; Parsons, Gregory N., E-mail: gnp@ncsu.edu

    Textile materials, including woven cotton, polymer knit fabrics, and synthetic nonwoven fiber mats, are being explored as low-cost, flexible, and light-weight platforms for wearable electronic sensing, communication, energy generation, and storage. The natural porosity and high surface area in textiles is also useful for new applications in environmental protection, chemical decontamination, pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing, catalytic support, tissue regeneration, and others. These applications raise opportunities for new chemistries, chemical processes, biological coupling, and nanodevice systems that can readily combine with textile manufacturing to create new “multifunctional” fabrics. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has a unique ability to form highly uniform andmore » conformal thin films at low processing temperature on nonuniform high aspect ratio surfaces. Recent research shows how ALD can coat, modify, and otherwise improve polymer fibers and textiles by incorporating new materials for viable electronic and other multifunctional capabilities. This article provides a current overview of the understanding of ALD coating and modification of textiles, including current capabilities and outstanding problems, with the goal of providing a starting point for further research and advances in this field. After a brief introduction to textile materials and current textile treatment methods, the authors discuss unique properties of ALD-coated textiles, followed by a review of recent electronic and multifunctional textiles that use ALD coatings either as direct functional components or as critical nucleation layers for active materials integration. The article concludes with possible future directions for ALD on textiles, including the challenges in materials, manufacturing, and manufacturing integration that must be overcome for ALD to reach its full potential in electronic and other emerging multifunctional textile systems.« less

  9. Physical aging in pharmaceutical polymers and the effect on solid oral dosage form stability.

    PubMed

    Kucera, Shawn A; Felton, Linda A; McGinity, James W

    2013-12-05

    The application of a polymeric film to a solid oral dosage form can be an effective technique to modify drug release. Most polymers used for such purposes are amorphous in nature and are subject to physical aging. This physical aging phenomenon has been shown to cause changes not only in the mechanical and drug release properties of polymeric films, but also the permeability of these films due to a densification and decrease in free volume of the polymer as the material relaxes to an equilibrated thermodynamic state. Temperature, humidity, and additional excipients in the coating formulations have been shown to influence the aging process. This review article discusses the process of physical aging in films prepared from aqueous dispersions, describes various analytical techniques that can be used to investigate the aging process, and highlights strategies to prevent such aging. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Supercritical fluid technology for enhanced drug delivery and heterogeneous catalysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pathak, Pankaj

    In recent years there has been great interest in the properties of supercritical fluids (SCFs) and applications of supercritical fluid technology in chemistry, material sciences and many other areas. In our laboratory, we have applied supercritical fluid namely CO2, as a medium for pharmaceutical processing and also for heterogeneous catalysis. The method used for pharmaceutical processing is based on the Rapid Expansion of supercritical solutions into a liquid SOLVent (RESOLV). We have used this method for the preparation of nanoparticles from various anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen and Naproxen), anti-fungal (Amphotericin B) and anti-cancer (Paclitaxel) drugs. The anticancer drug nanoparticle formulations were further used for in vitro biological evaluation. In this dissertation, results from the preparation, characterization and biological evaluation of nanoscale drug particles are reported. The effect of experimental conditions on the properties of the nanoparticles prepared via our RESOLV method is discussed. In addition we have used supercritical CO2 as a medium for photoreduction of CO2 using dispersed TiO 2 or metal coated-TiO2 nanoparticles encapsulated in nanoscale cavities of perfluorinated ionomer membranes. These catalytic films are also stable chemically and photochemically, reusable in repeated reactions. The results from the characterization of the nanoparticles and the use of films using different catalysts are presented and discussed.

  11. Grewia gum as a potential aqueous film coating agent. I: Some physicochemical characteristics of fractions of grewia gum

    PubMed Central

    Ogaji, Ikoni J.; Okafor, Ignatius S.; Hoag, Stephen W.

    2013-01-01

    Background: Grewia gum has received attention as a polymeric pharmaceutical excipient in the recent times, being employed as a suspending, film coating, mucoadhesive, and binding agent. The low aqueous solubility, however, has limited its characterization and application. Objective: The purpose of this study was to fractionate and evaluate some physicochemical properties of the gum. Materials and Methods: Aqueous dispersion of the gum was treated at 80°C for 30 min in the presence of sodium chloride and was subsequently fractionated by successively centrifuging it at 3445 rpm for 30 min. Skeletal density, solubility, particle size, and rheological as well as thermal characteristics of the fractions were evaluated. The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and near infrared (NIR) profiles of the fractions were also investigated. The solubility of the gum increased up to fourfold while the viscosity decreased from 244 to as low as70 cP at 40 rpm with some fractions. Results: Grewia gum and the fractions showed good thermal stability exhibiting no thermal events, but charred irreversibly at 297°C irrespective of the fraction. The molecular weight averages by weight and by number of the fractions were between 233,100 and 235,000. The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra showed broad peaks. The NMR and NIR spectra suggested the presence of –OH and –OCH3 functional groups in this gum. Conclusion: The fractionation improved solubility and facilitated further investigations on its characteristics that may have implication on its processing, application, and optimization as a potential pharmaceutical excipient. PMID:23559825

  12. THz spectroscopy: An emerging technology for pharmaceutical development and pharmaceutical Process Analytical Technology (PAT) applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Huiquan; Khan, Mansoor

    2012-08-01

    As an emerging technology, THz spectroscopy has gained increasing attention in the pharmaceutical area during the last decade. This attention is due to the fact that (1) it provides a promising alternative approach for in-depth understanding of both intermolecular interaction among pharmaceutical molecules and pharmaceutical product quality attributes; (2) it provides a promising alternative approach for enhanced process understanding of certain pharmaceutical manufacturing processes; and (3) the FDA pharmaceutical quality initiatives, most noticeably, the Process Analytical Technology (PAT) initiative. In this work, the current status and progress made so far on using THz spectroscopy for pharmaceutical development and pharmaceutical PAT applications are reviewed. In the spirit of demonstrating the utility of first principles modeling approach for addressing model validation challenge and reducing unnecessary model validation "burden" for facilitating THz pharmaceutical PAT applications, two scientific case studies based on published THz spectroscopy measurement results are created and discussed. Furthermore, other technical challenges and opportunities associated with adapting THz spectroscopy as a pharmaceutical PAT tool are highlighted.

  13. A spatially offset Raman spectroscopy method for non-destructive detection of gelatin-encapsulated powders

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Non-destructive subsurface detection of encapsulated, coated, or seal-packaged foods and pharmaceuticals can help prevent distribution and consumption of counterfeit or hazardous products. This study used a Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) method to detect and identify urea, ibuprofen, and...

  14. Quantitative analysis of visible surface defect risk in tablets during film coating using terahertz pulsed imaging.

    PubMed

    Niwa, Masahiro; Hiraishi, Yasuhiro

    2014-01-30

    Tablets are the most common form of solid oral dosage produced by pharmaceutical industries. There are several challenges to successful and consistent tablet manufacturing. One well-known quality issue is visible surface defects, which generally occur due to insufficient physical strength, causing breakage or abrasion during processing, packaging, or shipping. Techniques that allow quantitative evaluation of surface strength and the risk of surface defect would greatly aid in quality control. Here terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) was employed to evaluate the surface properties of core tablets with visible surface defects of varying severity after film coating. Other analytical methods, such as tensile strength measurements, friability testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were used to validate TPI results. Tensile strength and friability provided no information on visible surface defect risk, whereas the TPI-derived unique parameter terahertz electric field peak strength (TEFPS) provided spatial distribution of surface density/roughness information on core tablets, which helped in estimating tablet abrasion risk prior to film coating and predicting the location of the defects. TPI also revealed the relationship between surface strength and blending condition and is a nondestructive, quantitative approach to aid formulation development and quality control that can reduce visible surface defect risk in tablets. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Hydrogel Nanoparticles from Supercritical Technology for Pharmaceutical and Seismological Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hemingway, Melinda Graham

    This research focuses on hydrogel nanoparticle formation using miniemulsion polymerization and supercritical carbon dioxide. Hydrogel nanopowder is produced by a novel combination of inverse miniemulsion polymerization and supercritical drying (MPSD) methods. Three drying methods of miniemulsions are examined: (1) a conventional freeze drying technique, and (2) two supercritical drying techniques: (2a) supercritical fluid injection into miniemulsions, and (2b) the polymerized miniemulsion injection into supercritical fluid. Method 2b can produce non-agglomerated hydrogel nanoparticles that are free of solvent or surfactant (Chapter 2). The optimized MPSD method was applied for producing an extended release drug formulation with mucoadhesive properties. Drug nanoparticles of mesalamine, were produced using supercritical antisolvent technology and encapsulation within two hydrogels, polyacrylamide and poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide). The encapsulation efficiency and release profile of drug nanoparticles is compared with commercial ground mesalamine particles. The loading efficiency is influenced by morphological compatibility (Chapter 3). The MPSD method was extended for encapsulation of zinc oxide nanoparticles for UV protection in sunscreens (Chapter 4). ZnO was incorporated into the inverse miniemulsion during polymerization. The effect of process parameters are examined on absorbency of ultraviolet light and transparency of visible light. For use of hydrogel nanoparticles in a seismological application, delayed hydration is needed. Supercritical methods extend MPSD so that a hydrophobic coating can be applied on the particle surface (Chapter 5). Multiple analysis methods and coating materials were investigated to elucidate compatibility of coating material to polyacrylamide hydrogel. Coating materials of poly(lactide), poly(sulphone), poly(vinyl acetate), poly(hydroxybutyrate), Geluice 50-13, Span 80, octadecyltrichlorosilane, and perfluorobutane sulfate (PFBS) were tested, out of which Gelucire, perfluorobutane sulfate, and poly(vinyl acetate) materials were able to provide some coating and perfluorobutane sulfate, poly(lactide), poly(vinyl acetate) delayed hydration of hydrogel particles, but not to a sufficient extent. The interactions of the different materials with the hydrogel are examined based on phenomena observed during the production processes and characterization of the particles generated. This work provides understanding into the interactions of polyacrylamide hydrogel particles both internally by encapsulation and externally by coating.

  16. Preliminary Evaluation of Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) Packing Materials for Flight Medication Dispenser (FMD) Technology Development

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Du, Brian; Daniels, Vernie; Crady, Camille; Putcha, Lakshmi

    2010-01-01

    With the advent of longer duration space missions, pharmaceutical use in space has increased. During the first 33 space shuttle missions, crew members took more than 500 individual doses of 31 different medications . Anecdotal reports from crew members described medications as generally "well tolerated" and "effective". However, reported use of increased medication doses and discrepancies in ground vs. flight efficacy may result from reduced potency or altered bioavailability due to changes in chemical and/or physical parameters of pharmaceutical stability. Based on preliminary results from a ground-based irradiation and an inflight study on pharmaceutical stability, three susceptible medications, Amoxicillin/Clavulanate and Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim antibiotics tablets and promethazine (PMZ), an antihistamine were selected for testing using two types of Oliver-Tolas bags, TPC-1475(Clear) and TPF-0599B (Foil) for radiation Shielding effectiveness. The material composition of the bags included aluminum coated Mylar sheathing coated with multifunctional nanocomposities based on polyethylene with dispersed boron-rich nanophases. Two bags of each medication were irradiated for different time intervals with 14.6 rad/min to achieve 0.1 Gy, 1 Gy and 10 Gy of cumulative radiation dose. Active pharmaceutical content (API) in each medication was determined and results analyzed. No significant difference in API content was observed between control and irradiated samples for both antibiotic tablets suggesting both types of bags may offer protection against gamma radiation; results with PMZ were inconclusive. These preliminary results suggest that Oliver-Tolas TPL-1475 and TPF-0599B materials may possess characteristics suitable for protection against ionizing radiation and can be considered for designing and further testing of FMD technology.

  17. Optical fiber extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI)-based biosensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Elster, Jennifer L.; Jones, Mark E.; Evans, Mishell K.; Lenahan, Shannon M.; Boyce, Christopher A.; Velander, William H.; VanTassell, Roger

    2000-05-01

    A novel system incorporating optical fiber extrinsic Fabry- Perot interferometric (EFPI)-based sensors for rapid detection of biological targets is presented. With the appropriate configuration, the EFPI senor is able to measure key environmental parameters by monitoring the interferometric fringes resulting from an optical path differences of reflected signals. The optical fiber EFPI sensor has been demonstrated for strain, pressure, and temperature measurements and can be readily modified for refractive index measurements by allowing solutions to flow into an open cavity. The sensor allows for highly sensitive, real-time, refractive index measurements and by applying affinity coatings containing ligands within this cavity, specific binding of target molecules can be accomplished. As target molecules bind to the coating, there is an increased density within the film, causing a measurable refractive index change that correlates to the concentration of detected target molecules. This sensor platform offers enhanced sensing capabilities for clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical screening, environmental monitoring, food pathogen detection, biological warfare agent detection, and industrial bioprocessing. Promising applications also exist for process monitoring within the food/beverage, petroleum, and chemical industry.

  18. Solubility parameters of hypromellose acetate succinate and plasticization in dry coating procedures.

    PubMed

    Klar, Fabian; Urbanetz, Nora Anne

    2016-10-01

    Solubility parameters of HPMCAS have not yet been investigated intensively. On this account, total and three-dimensional solubility parameters of HPMCAS were determined by using different experimental as well as computational methods. In addition, solubility properties of HPMCAS in a huge number of solvents were tested and a Teas plot for HPMCAS was created. The total solubility parameter of about 24 MPa(0.5) was confirmed by various procedures and compared with values of plasticizers. Twenty common pharmaceutical plasticizers were evaluated in terms of their suitability for supporting film formation of HPMCAS under dry coating conditions. Therefore, glass transition temperatures of mixtures of polymer and plasticizers were inspected and film formation of potential ones was further investigated in dry coating of pellets. Contact angles of plasticizers on HPMCAS were determined in order to give a hint of achievable coating efficiencies in dry coating, but none was found to spread on HPMCAS. A few common substances, e.g. dimethyl phthalate, glycerol monocaprylate, and polyethylene glycol 400, enabled plasticization of HPMCAS; however, only triethyl citrate and triacetin were found to be suitable for use in dry coating. Addition of acetylated monoglycerides to triacetin increased coating efficiency, which was likewise previously demonstrated for triethyl citrate.

  19. Methodical evaluation and improvement of matrix compatible PDMS-overcoated coating for direct immersion solid phase microextraction gas chromatography (DI-SPME-GC)-based applications.

    PubMed

    Souza-Silva, Érica A; Gionfriddo, Emanuela; Shirey, Robert; Sidisky, Len; Pawliszyn, Janusz

    2016-05-12

    The main quest for the implementation of direct SPME to complex matrices has been the development of matrix compatible coatings that provide sufficient sensitivity towards the target analytes. In this context, we present here a thorough evaluation of PDMS-overcoated fibers suitable for simultaneous extraction of different polarities analytes, while maintaining adequate matrix compatibility. For this, eleven analytes were selected, from various application classes (pesticides, industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals) and with a wide range of log P values (ranging from 1.43 to 6). The model matrix chosen was commercial Concord grape juice, which is rich in pigments such as anthocyanins, and contains approximately 20% of sugar (w/w). Two types of PDMS, as well as other intrinsic factors associated with the PDMS-overcoated fiber fabrication are studied. The evaluation showed that the PDMS-overcoated fibers considerably slowed down the coating fouling process during direct immersion in complex matrices of high sugar content. Longevity differences could be seen between the two types of PDMS tested, with a proprietary Sylgard(®) giving superior performance because of lesser amount of reactive groups and enhanced hydrophobicity. Conversely, the thickness of the outer layer did not seem to have a significant effect on the fiber lifetime. We also demonstrate that the uniformity of the overcoated PDMS layer is paramount to the achievement of reliable data and extended fiber lifetime. Employing the optimum overcoated fiber, limits of detection (LOD) in the range of 0.2-1.3 ng/g could be achieved. Additional improvement is attainable by introducing washing of the coatings after desorption, so that any carbon build-up (fouling) left on the coating surface after thermal desorption can be removed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Poly(meth)acrylate-based coatings.

    PubMed

    Nollenberger, Kathrin; Albers, Jessica

    2013-12-05

    Poly(meth)acrylate coatings for pharmaceutical applications were introduced in 1955 with the launch of EUDRAGIT(®) L and EUDRAGIT(®) S, two types of anionic polymers. Since then, by introducing various monomers into their polymer chains and thus altering their properties, diverse forms with specific characteristics have become available. Today, poly(meth)acrylates function in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract and/or release the drug in a time-controlled manner. This article reviews the properties of various poly(meth)acrylates and discusses formulation issues as well as application possibilities. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Industrial Applications of Terahertz Imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zeitler, J. Axel; Shen, Yao-Chun

    This chapter gives a concise overview of potential industrial applications for terahertz imaging that have been reported over the past decade with a discussion of the major advantages and limitations of each approach. In the second half of the chapter we discuss in more detail how terahertz imaging can be used to investigate the microstructure of pharmaceutical dosage forms. A particular focus in this context is the nondestructive measurement of the coating thickness of polymer coated tablets, both by means of high resolution offline imaging in research and development as well as for in-line quality control during production.

  2. Chiral capillary electrophoresis and nuclear magnetic resonance investigation on the structure-enantioselectivity relationship in synthetic cyclopeptides as chiral selectors.

    PubMed

    De Lorenzi, E; Massolini, G; Molinari, P; Galbusera, C; Longhi, R; Marinzi, C; Consonni, R; Chiari, M

    2001-04-01

    In the present work, synthetic cyclohexa- and cycloheptapeptides previously singled out by a combinatorial chemistry approach have been evaluated as chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis. By applying the countercurrent migration technique and employing a new adsorbed coating, a series of dinitrophenyl amino acids as well as some chiral compounds of pharmaceutical interest have been evaluated for enantiorecognition. The results thus obtained led to a deeper investigation of the chiral discrimination process, by carrying out nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies on selected cyclopeptide-analyte complexes. These studies shed light on the chemical groups involved in the analyte-selector interaction and provided useful information for a wider application of these cyclopeptides in the separation of other drug enantiomers.

  3. Solvent-free melting techniques for the preparation of lipid-based solid oral formulations.

    PubMed

    Becker, Karin; Salar-Behzadi, Sharareh; Zimmer, Andreas

    2015-05-01

    Lipid excipients are applied for numerous purposes such as taste masking, controlled release, improvement of swallowability and moisture protection. Several melting techniques have evolved in the last decades. Common examples are melt coating, melt granulation and melt extrusion. The required equipment ranges from ordinary glass beakers for lab scale up to large machines such as fluid bed coaters, spray dryers or extruders. This allows for upscaling to pilot or production scale. Solvent free melt processing provides a cost-effective, time-saving and eco-friendly method for the food and pharmaceutical industries. This review intends to give a critical overview of the published literature on experiences, formulations and challenges and to show possibilities for future developments in this promising field. Moreover, it should serve as a guide for selecting the best excipients and manufacturing techniques for the development of a product with specific properties using solvent free melt processing.

  4. Growth and modelling of spherical crystalline morphologies of molecular materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shalev, O.; Biswas, S.; Yang, Y.; Eddir, T.; Lu, W.; Clarke, R.; Shtein, M.

    2014-10-01

    Crystalline, yet smooth, sphere-like morphologies of small molecular compounds are desirable in a wide range of applications but are very challenging to obtain using common growth techniques, where either amorphous films or faceted crystallites are the norm. Here we show solvent-free, guard flow-assisted organic vapour jet printing of non-faceted, crystalline microspheroids of archetypal small molecular materials used in organic electronic applications. We demonstrate how process parameters control the size distribution of the spheroids and propose an analytical model and a phase diagram predicting the surface morphology evolution of different molecules based on processing conditions, coupled with the thermophysical and mechanical properties of the molecules. This experimental approach opens a path for exciting applications of small molecular organic compounds in optical coatings, textured surfaces with controlled wettability, pharmaceutical and food substance printing and others, where thick organic films and particles with high surface area are needed.

  5. Stokes's Cradle: Newton's Cradle with Liquid Coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Donahue, C. M.; Hrenya, C. M.; Davis, R. H.

    2010-07-01

    Granular flows involving liquid-coated solids are ubiquitous in nature (pollen capture, avalanches) and industry (filtration, pharmaceutical mixing). In this Letter, three-body collisions between liquid-coated spheres are investigated experimentally using a “Stokes’s cradle,” which resembles the popular desktop toy Newton’s cradle (NC). Surprisingly, previous work shows that every possible outcome was observed in the Stokes’s cradle except the traditional NC outcome. Here, we experimentally achieve NC via guidance from a theory, which revealed that controlling the liquid-bridge volume connecting two target particles is the key in attaining the NC outcome. These three-body experiments also provide direct evidence that the fluid resistance upon rebound cannot be completely neglected due to presumed cavitation; this resistance also influences two-body systems yet cannot be isolated experimentally in such systems.

  6. Improving the API dissolution rate during pharmaceutical hot-melt extrusion I: Effect of the API particle size, and the co-rotating, twin-screw extruder screw configuration on the API dissolution rate.

    PubMed

    Li, Meng; Gogos, Costas G; Ioannidis, Nicolas

    2015-01-15

    The dissolution rate of the active pharmaceutical ingredients in pharmaceutical hot-melt extrusion is the most critical elementary step during the extrusion of amorphous solid solutions - total dissolution has to be achieved within the short residence time in the extruder. Dissolution and dissolution rates are affected by process, material and equipment variables. In this work, we examine the effect of one of the material variables and one of the equipment variables, namely, the API particle size and extruder screw configuration on the API dissolution rate, in a co-rotating, twin-screw extruder. By rapidly removing the extruder screws from the barrel after achieving a steady state, we collected samples along the length of the extruder screws that were characterized by polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the amount of undissolved API. Analyses of samples indicate that reduction of particle size of the API and appropriate selection of screw design can markedly improve the dissolution rate of the API during extrusion. In addition, angle of repose measurements and light microscopy images show that the reduction of particle size of the API can improve the flowability of the physical mixture feed and the adhesiveness between its components, respectively, through dry coating of the polymer particles by the API particles. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  7. Life cycle analysis within pharmaceutical process optimization and intensification: case study of active pharmaceutical ingredient production.

    PubMed

    Ott, Denise; Kralisch, Dana; Denčić, Ivana; Hessel, Volker; Laribi, Yosra; Perrichon, Philippe D; Berguerand, Charline; Kiwi-Minsker, Lioubov; Loeb, Patrick

    2014-12-01

    As the demand for new drugs is rising, the pharmaceutical industry faces the quest of shortening development time, and thus, reducing the time to market. Environmental aspects typically still play a minor role within the early phase of process development. Nevertheless, it is highly promising to rethink, redesign, and optimize process strategies as early as possible in active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) process development, rather than later at the stage of already established processes. The study presented herein deals with a holistic life-cycle-based process optimization and intensification of a pharmaceutical production process targeting a low-volume, high-value API. Striving for process intensification by transfer from batch to continuous processing, as well as an alternative catalytic system, different process options are evaluated with regard to their environmental impact to identify bottlenecks and improvement potentials for further process development activities. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  8. Structural changes of polymer-coated microgranules and excipients on tableting investigated by microtomography using synchrotron X-ray radiation.

    PubMed

    Kajihara, Ryusuke; Noguchi, Shuji; Iwao, Yasunori; Suzuki, Yoshio; Terada, Yasuko; Uesugi, Kentaro; Itai, Shigeru

    2015-03-15

    Multiple-unit tablets consisting of polymer-coated microgranules and excipients have a number of advantageous pharmaceutical properties. Polymer-coated microgranules are known to often lose their functionality because of damage to the polymer coating caused by tableting, and the mechanism of polymer coating damage as well as the structural changes of excipients upon tableting had been investigated but without in-situ visualization and quantitative analysis. To elucidate the mechanism of coating damage, the internal structures of multiple-unit tablets were investigated by X-ray computed microtomography using synchrotron X-rays. Cross sectional images of the tablets with sub-micron spatial resolution clearly revealed that void spaces remained around the compressed excipient particles in the tablets containing an excipient composed of cellulose and lactose (Cellactose(®) 80), whereas much smaller void spaces remained in the tablets containing an excipient made of sorbitol (Parteck(®) SI 150). The relationships between the void spaces and the physical properties of the tablets such as hardness and disintegration were investigated. Damage to the polymer coating in tablets was found mainly where polymer-coated microgranules were in direct contact with each other in both types of tablets, which could be attributed to the difference in hardness of excipient particles and the core of the polymer-coated microgranules. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceuticals and pesticides by carbon doped-TiO2 coated on zeolites under solar light irradiation.

    PubMed

    An, Ye; de Ridder, David Johannes; Zhao, Chun; Schoutteten, Klaas; Bussche, Julie Vanden; Zheng, Huaili; Chen, Gang; Vanhaecke, Lynn

    2016-01-01

    To evaluate the performance of zeolite-supported carbon-doped TiO(2) composite catalysts toward target pollutants under solar light irradiation, the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of 18 pharmaceuticals and pesticides with distinguishing features (molecular size and volume, and photolysis) were investigated using mordenite zeolites with SiO(2)/Al(2)O(3) ratios of 18 and 240. Different quantities of carbon-doped TiO(2) were coated on the zeolites, and then the finished composite catalysts were tested in demineralized, surface, and hospital wastewater samples, respectively. The composite photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and surface area and porosity analyses. Results showed that a dispersed layer of carbon-doped TiO(2) is formed on the zeolite surface; this layer blocks the micropores of zeolites and reduces their surface area. However, these reductions did not significantly affect adsorption onto the zeolites. Our results demonstrated that zeolite-supported carbon-doped TiO(2) systems can effectively degrade 18 pharmaceuticals and pesticides in demineralized water under natural and simulated solar light irradiation. In surface and hospital wastewaters, zeolite-supported carbon-doped TiO(2) systems present excellent anti-interference capability against radical scavengers and competitive organics for pollutants removal, and higher pollutants adsorption on zeolites evidently enhances the removal rate of target pollutants in surface and hospital wastewater samples with a complicated matrix.

  10. Evaluation of Removal Mechanisms in a Graphene Oxide-Coated Ceramic Ultrafiltration Membrane for Retention of Natural Organic Matter, Pharmaceuticals, and Inorganic Salts.

    PubMed

    Chu, Kyoung Hoon; Fathizadeh, Mahdi; Yu, Miao; Flora, Joseph R V; Jang, Am; Jang, Min; Park, Chang Min; Yoo, Sung Soo; Her, Namguk; Yoon, Yeomin

    2017-11-22

    Functionalized graphene oxide (GO), derived from pure graphite via the modified Hummer method, was used to modify commercially available ceramic ultrafiltration membranes using the vacuum method. The modified ceramic membrane functionalized with GO (ceramic GO ) was characterized using a variety of analysis techniques and exhibited higher hydrophilicity and increased negative charge compared with the pristine ceramic membrane. Although the pure water permeability of the ceramic GO membrane (14.4-58.6 L/m 2 h/bar) was slightly lower than that of the pristine membrane (25.1-62.7 L/m 2 h/bar), the removal efficiencies associated with hydrophobic attraction and charge effects were improved significantly after GO coating. Additionally, solute transport in the GO nanosheets of the ceramic GO membrane played a vital role in the retention of target compounds: natural organic matter (NOM; humic acid and tannic acid), pharmaceuticals (ibuprofen and sulfamethoxazole), and inorganic salts (NaCl, Na 2 SO 4 , CaCl 2 , and CaSO 4 ). While the retention efficiencies of NOM, pharmaceuticals, and inorganic salts in the pristine membrane were 74.6%, 15.3%, and 2.9%, respectively, these increased to 93.5%, 51.0%, and 31.4% for the ceramic GO membrane. Consequently, the improved removal mechanisms of the membrane modified with functionalized GO nanosheets can provide efficient retention for water treatment under suboptimal environmental conditions of pH and ionic strength.

  11. Process monitoring and visualization solutions for hot-melt extrusion: a review.

    PubMed

    Saerens, Lien; Vervaet, Chris; Remon, Jean Paul; De Beer, Thomas

    2014-02-01

    Hot-melt extrusion (HME) is applied as a continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing process for the production of a variety of dosage forms and formulations. To ensure the continuity of this process, the quality of the extrudates must be assessed continuously during manufacturing. The objective of this review is to provide an overview and evaluation of the available process analytical techniques which can be applied in hot-melt extrusion. Pharmaceutical extruders are equipped with traditional (univariate) process monitoring tools, observing barrel and die temperatures, throughput, screw speed, torque, drive amperage, melt pressure and melt temperature. The relevance of several spectroscopic process analytical techniques for monitoring and control of pharmaceutical HME has been explored recently. Nevertheless, many other sensors visualizing HME and measuring diverse critical product and process parameters with potential use in pharmaceutical extrusion are available, and were thoroughly studied in polymer extrusion. The implementation of process analytical tools in HME serves two purposes: (1) improving process understanding by monitoring and visualizing the material behaviour and (2) monitoring and analysing critical product and process parameters for process control, allowing to maintain a desired process state and guaranteeing the quality of the end product. This review is the first to provide an evaluation of the process analytical tools applied for pharmaceutical HME monitoring and control, and discusses techniques that have been used in polymer extrusion having potential for monitoring and control of pharmaceutical HME. © 2013 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

  12. Wettability measurement apparatus for porous material using the modified Washburn method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thakker, Manish; Karde, Vikram; Shah, Dinesh O.; Shukla, Premal; Ghoroi, Chinmay

    2013-12-01

    In this work a cost-effective instrument for measuring the wettability of powder materials was designed and developed, which works on the modified Washburn method. The instrument measures the mass gain against time due to penetration of the liquid into the powder materials using a microbalance and LabVIEW-based data acquisition system. The wettability characteristic of different powders was determined from the contact angle using the modified Washburn equation. To demonstrate the performance of the developed instrument, the wettability of as-received corn starch and nano-coated corn starch powders was estimated with water as a test liquid. The corn starch powders coated with hydrophilic grade (Aerosil 200P) and hydrophobic grade (Aerosil R972) nanoparticles at different coating levels showed expected changes in their contact angle. Some of the results were also verified against the available standard instrument for wettability measurement and found to be consistent. The present configuration of the instrument costs about 500 US which is 15 to 20 times less than the available advanced models. The developed instrument is thus a cost-effective solution for wettability measurement which can be used for materials in food processing, pharmaceuticals, horticulture, textile manufacturing, civil engineering etc. The developed instrument is expected to help many small scale industries or research labs who cannot afford an expensive instrument for wettability studies.

  13. Real-time measurement system for tracking birefringence, weight, thickness, and surface temperature during drying of solution cast coatings and films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Unsal, E.; Drum, J.; Yucel, O.; Nugay, I. I.; Yalcin, B.; Cakmak, M.

    2012-02-01

    This paper describes the design and performance of a new instrument to track temporal changes in physical parameters during the drying behavior of solutions, as well as curing of monomers. This real-time instrument follows in-plane and out-of-plane birefringence, weight, thickness, and surface temperature during the course of solidification of coatings and films through solvent evaporation and thermal or photocuring in a controlled atmosphere. It is specifically designed to simulate behavior of polymer solutions inside an industrial size, continuous roll-to-roll solution casting line and other coating operations where resins are subjected to ultraviolet (UV) curing from monomer precursors. Controlled processing parameters include air speed, temperature, initial cast thickness, and solute concentration, while measured parameters are thickness, weight, film temperature, in-plane and out-of-plane birefringence. In this paper, we illustrate the utility of this instrument with solution cast and dried poly (amide-imide)/DMAc (Dimethylacetamide) solution, water based black paint, and organo-modified clay/NMP (N-Methylpyrrolidone) solution. In addition, the physical changes that take place during UV photo polymerization of a monomer are tracked. This instrument is designed to be generic and it can be used for tracking any drying/swelling/solidification systems including paper, foodstuffs such as; grains, milk as well as pharmaceutical thin paste and slurries.

  14. Comprehensive characterization of phenolic and other polar compounds in the seed and seed coat of avocado by HPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-MS.

    PubMed

    Figueroa, Jorge G; Borrás-Linares, Isabel; Lozano-Sánchez, Jesús; Segura-Carretero, Antonio

    2018-03-01

    Avocado seed and seed coat are important by-products from avocado industrialization, with important functional properties. The aim of the present study was to determine the phenolic profile and other polar compounds of avocado seed and seed coat using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and liquid chromatography coupled to Ultra-High-Definition Accurate-Mass Q-TOF. In this research 84 compounds were identified, within eight subclass group, among these 45 phenolic compounds were identified for first time in avocado seed. Condensed tannins, phenolic acids and flavonoids were the most representative groups in both samples. As far as we are concerned, this is the first time that avocado seed coat has been studied regarding its phenolic compounds using such a powerful instrumental technique. In addition, the radical-scavenging activities were analysed in order to estimate the antioxidant potential of extracts. These results point out that avocado seed and seed coat constitute a source of bioactive ingredients for its use in the food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical sector. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. FGF growth factor analogs

    DOEpatents

    Zamora, Paul O [Gaithersburg, MD; Pena, Louis A [Poquott, NY; Lin, Xinhua [Plainview, NY; Takahashi, Kazuyuki [Germantown, MD

    2012-07-24

    The present invention provides a fibroblast growth factor heparin-binding analog of the formula: ##STR00001## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, X, Y and Z are as defined, pharmaceutical compositions, coating compositions and medical devices including the fibroblast growth factor heparin-binding analog of the foregoing formula, and methods and uses thereof.

  16. Removal of pharmaceuticals from secondary effluents by an electro-peroxone process.

    PubMed

    Yao, Weikun; Wang, Xiaofeng; Yang, Hongwei; Yu, Gang; Deng, Shubo; Huang, Jun; Wang, Bin; Wang, Yujue

    2016-01-01

    This study compared the removal of pharmaceuticals from secondary effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) by conventional ozonation and the electro-peroxone (E-peroxone) process, which involves electrochemically generating H2O2 in-situ from O2 in sparged O2 and O3 gas mixture (i.e., ozone generator effluent) during ozonation. Several pharmaceuticals with kO3 ranging from <0.1 to 6.8 × 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) were spiked into four secondary effluents collected from different WWTPs, and then treated by ozonation and the E-peroxone process. Results show that both processes can rapidly remove ozone reactive pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and gemfibrozil), while the E-peroxone process can considerably accelerate the removal of ozone-refractory pharmaceuticals (e.g., ibuprofen and clofibric acid) via indirect oxidation with OH generated from the reaction of sparged O3 with electro-generated H2O2. Compared with ozonation, the E-peroxone process enhanced the removal kinetics of ozone-refractory pharmaceuticals in the four secondary effluents by ∼40-170%, and the enhancement was more pronounced in secondary effluents that had relatively lower effluent organic matter (EfOM). Due to its higher efficiency for removing ozone-refractory pharmaceuticals, the E-peroxone process reduced the reaction time and electrical energy consumption required to remove ≥90% of all spiked pharmaceuticals from the secondary effluents as compared to ozonation. These results indicate that the E-peroxone process may provide a simple and effective way to improve existing ozonation system for pharmaceutical removal from secondary effluents. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Biotransformation of pharmaceuticals by ammonia oxidizing bacteria in wastewater treatment processes.

    PubMed

    Xu, Yifeng; Yuan, Zhiguo; Ni, Bing-Jie

    2016-10-01

    Pharmaceutical residues could potentially pose detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health, with wastewater treatment being one of the major pathways for pharmaceuticals to enter into the environment. Enhanced removal of pharmaceuticals by ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) has been widely observed in wastewater treatment processes. This article reviews the current knowledge on the biotransformation of pharmaceuticals by AOB. The relationship between the pharmaceuticals removal and nitrification process was revealed. The important role of AOB-induced cometabolism on the biotransformation of pharmaceuticals as well as their transformation products and pathways was elucidated. Kinetics and mathematical models describing the biotransformation of pharmaceuticals by AOB were also reviewed. The results highlighted the high degradation capabilities of AOB toward some refractory pharmaceuticals, with their degradations being clearly related to the nitrification rate and their transformation products being identified, which may exhibit similar or higher ecotoxicological impacts compared to the parent compound. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Viscous drop collisions on surfaces of varying wettability

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bolleddula, Daniel; Berchielli, Al; Aliseda, Alberto

    2010-11-01

    We present an experimental study of increasingly viscous acetone rich and Newtonian equivalent liquid drops colliding on surfaces of varying wettability. This class of liquids applies directly to spray coating processes in pharmaceutical industries. The results from this study will elucidate the physics in a regime where resisting viscous forces and the restoring forces of capillarity are balanced, Oh˜ 1. Early spreading dynamics τ=Ut/D 1 indicate negligible dependence on contact angles while longer times demonstrate deviations from Tanner's law, D˜t^1/10. We will compare our results with recent theory to demonstrate the feasibility of modelling complex rheology spreading characteristics over short and long time scales. Preliminary results indicate an intermediate spreading regime following the inertial phase where the diameter, D˜t^n with 1/7 < n < 1/5.

  19. Extrusion-spheronization: process variables and characterization.

    PubMed

    Sinha, V R; Agrawal, M K; Agarwal, A; Singh, G; Ghai, D

    2009-01-01

    Multiparticulate systems have undergone great development in the past decade fueled by the better understanding of their multiple roles as a suitable delivery system. With the passage of time, significant advances have been made in the process of pelletization due to the incorporation of specialized techniques for their development. Extrusion-spheronization seems to be the most promising process for the optimum delivery of many potent drugs having high systemic toxicity. It also offers immense pharmaceutical applicability due to the benefits of high loading capacity of active ingredient(s), narrow size distribution, and cost-effectiveness. On application of a specific coat, these systems can also aid in site-specific delivery, thereby enhancing the bioavailability of many drugs. The current review focuses on the process of extrusion-spheronization and the operational (extruder types, screen pressure, screw speed, temperature, moisture content, spheronization load, speed and time) and formulation (excipients and drugs) variables, which may affect the quality of the final pellets. Various methods for the evaluation of the quality of the pellets with regard to the size distribution, shape, friability, granule strength, density, porosity, flow properties, and surface texture are discussed.

  20. Applications of Polymers as Pharmaceutical Excipients in Solid Oral Dosage Forms.

    PubMed

    Debotton, Nir; Dahan, Arik

    2017-01-01

    Over the last few decades, polymers have been extensively used as pharmaceutical excipients in drug delivery systems. Pharmaceutical polymers evolved from being simply used as gelatin shells comprising capsule to offering great formulation advantages including enabling controlled/slow release and specific targeting of drugs to the site(s) of action (the "magic bullets" concept), hence hold a significant clinical promise. Oral administration of solid dosage forms (e.g., tablets and capsules) is the most common and convenient route of drug administration. When formulating challenging molecules into solid oral dosage forms, polymeric pharmaceutical excipients permit masking undesired physicochemical properties of drugs and consequently, altering their pharmacokinetic profiles to improve the therapeutic effect. As a result, the number of synthetic and natural polymers available commercially as pharmaceutical excipients has increased dramatically, offering potential solutions to various difficulties. For instance, the different polymers may allow increased solubility, swellability, viscosity, biodegradability, advanced coatings, pH dependency, mucodhesion, and inhibition of crystallization. The aim of this article is to provide a wide angle prospect of the different uses of pharmaceutical polymers in solid oral dosage forms. The various types of polymeric excipients are presented, and their distinctive role in oral drug delivery is emphasized. The comprehensive know-how provided in this article may allow scientists to use these polymeric excipients rationally, to fully exploit their different features and potential influence on drug delivery, with the overall aim of making better drug products. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  1. Green Nanotechnology from Tea: Phytochemicals in Tea as Building Blocks for Production of Biocompatible Gold Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Nune, Satish K; Chanda, Nripen; Shukla, Ravi; Katti, Kavita; Kulkarni, Rajesh R; Thilakavathi, Subramanian; Mekapothula, Swapna; Kannan, Raghuraman; Katti, Kattesh V

    2009-06-01

    Phytochemicals occluded in tea have been extensively used as dietary supplements and as natural pharmaceuticals in the treatment of various diseases including human cancer. Results on the reduction capabilities of phytochemicals present in tea to reduce gold salts to the corresponding gold nanoparticles are presented in this paper. The phytochemicals present in tea serve the dual roles as effective reducing agents to reduce gold and also as stabilizers to provide robust coating on the gold nanoparticles in a single step. The Tea-generated gold nanoparticles (T-AuNPs), have demonstrated remarkable in vitro stability in various buffers including saline, histidine, HSA, and cysteine solutions. T-AuNPs with phytochemical coatings have shown significant affinity toward prostate (PC-3) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells. Results on the cellular internalization of T-AuNPs through endocytosis into the PC-3 and MCF-7 cells are presented. The generation of T-AuNPs follows all principles of green chemistry and have been found to be non toxic as assessed through MTT assays. No 'man made' chemicals, other than gold salts, are used in this true biogenic green nanotechnological process thus paving excellent opportunities for their applications in molecular imaging and therapy.

  2. Fabrication of controlled-release budesonide tablets via desktop (FDM) 3D printing.

    PubMed

    Goyanes, Alvaro; Chang, Hanah; Sedough, Daniel; Hatton, Grace B; Wang, Jie; Buanz, Asma; Gaisford, Simon; Basit, Abdul W

    2015-12-30

    The aim of this work was to explore the feasibility of using fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing (3DP) technology with hot melt extrusion (HME) and fluid bed coating to fabricate modified-release budesonide dosage forms. Budesonide was sucessfully loaded into polyvinyl alcohol filaments using HME. The filaments were engineered into capsule-shaped tablets (caplets) containing 9mg budesonide using a FDM 3D printer; the caplets were then overcoated with a layer of enteric polymer. The final printed formulation was tested in a dynamic dissolution bicarbonate buffer system, and two commercial budesonide products, Cortiment® (Uceris®) and Entocort®, were also investigated for comparison. Budesonide release from the Entocort® formulation was rapid in conditions of the upper small intestine while release from the Cortiment® product was more delayed and very slow. In contrast, the new 3D printed caplet formulation started to release in the mid-small intestine but release then continued in a sustained manner throughout the distal intestine and colon. This work has demonstrated the potential of combining FDM 3DP with established pharmaceutical processes, including HME and film coating, to fabricate modified release oral dosage forms. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  3. Occurrence of pharmaceuticals in a municipal wastewater treatment plant: mass balance and removal processes.

    PubMed

    Gao, Pin; Ding, Yunjie; Li, Hui; Xagoraraki, Irene

    2012-06-01

    Occurrence and removal efficiencies of fifteen pharmaceuticals were investigated in a conventional municipal wastewater treatment plant in Michigan. Concentrations of these pharmaceuticals were determined in both wastewater and sludge phases by a high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer. Detailed mass balance analysis was conducted during the whole treatment process to evaluate the contributing processes for pharmaceutical removal. Among the pharmaceuticals studied, demeclocycline, sulfamerazine, erythromycin and tylosin were not detected in the wastewater treatment plant influent. Other target pharmaceuticals detected in wastewater were also found in the corresponding sludge phase. The removal efficiencies of chlortetracycline, tetracycline, sulfamerazine, acetaminophen and caffeine were >99%, while doxycycline, oxytetracycline, sulfadiazine and lincomycin exhibited relatively lower removal efficiencies (e.g., <50%). For sulfamethoxazole, the removal efficiency was approximately 90%. Carbamazepine manifested a net increase of mass, i.e. 41% more than the input from the influent. Based on the mass balance analysis, biotransformation is believed to be the predominant process responsible for the removal of pharmaceuticals (22% to 99%), whereas contribution of sorption to sludge was relatively insignificant (7%) for the investigated pharmaceuticals. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Pharmaceutical quality by design: product and process development, understanding, and control.

    PubMed

    Yu, Lawrence X

    2008-04-01

    The purpose of this paper is to discuss the pharmaceutical Quality by Design (QbD) and describe how it can be used to ensure pharmaceutical quality. The QbD was described and some of its elements identified. Process parameters and quality attributes were identified for each unit operation during manufacture of solid oral dosage forms. The use of QbD was contrasted with the evaluation of product quality by testing alone. The QbD is a systemic approach to pharmaceutical development. It means designing and developing formulations and manufacturing processes to ensure predefined product quality. Some of the QbD elements include: Defining target product quality profile; Designing product and manufacturing processes; Identifying critical quality attributes, process parameters, and sources of variability; Controlling manufacturing processes to produce consistent quality over time. Using QbD, pharmaceutical quality is assured by understanding and controlling formulation and manufacturing variables. Product testing confirms the product quality. Implementation of QbD will enable transformation of the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) review of abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) into a science-based pharmaceutical quality assessment.

  5. Thermodynamic signature of secondary nano-emulsion formation by isothermal titration calorimetry.

    PubMed

    Fotticchia, Iolanda; Fotticchia, Teresa; Mattia, Carlo Andrea; Netti, Paolo Antonio; Vecchione, Raffaele; Giancola, Concetta

    2014-12-09

    The stabilization of oil in water nano-emulsions by means of a polymer coating is extremely important; it prolongs the shelf life of the product and makes it suitable for a variety of applications ranging from nutraceutics to cosmetics and pharmaceutics. To date, an effective methodology to assess the best formulations in terms of thermodynamic stability has yet to be designed. Here, we perform a complete physicochemical characterization based on isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) compared to conventional dynamic light scattering (DLS) to identify polymer concentration domains that are thermodynamically stable and to define the degree of stability through thermodynamic functions depending upon any relevant parameter affecting the stability itself, such as type of polymer coating, droplet distance, etc. For instance, the method was proven by measuring the energetics in the case of two different biopolymers, chitosan and poly-L-lysine, and for different concentrations of the emulsion coated with poly-L-lysine.

  6. Use of bicarbonate buffer systems for dissolution characterization of enteric-coated proton pump inhibitor tablets.

    PubMed

    Shibata, Hiroko; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Izutsu, Ken-Ichi; Goda, Yukihiro

    2016-04-01

    The aim of this study was to assess the effects of buffer systems (bicarbonate or phosphate at different concentrations) on the in vitro dissolution profiles of commercially available enteric-coated tablets. In vitro dissolution tests were conducted using an USP apparatus II on 12 enteric-coated omeprazole and rabeprazole tablets, including innovator and generic formulations in phosphate buffers, bicarbonate buffers and a media modified Hanks (mHanks) buffer. Both omeprazole and rabeprazole tablets showed similar dissolution profiles among products in the compendial phosphate buffer system. However, there were large differences between products in dissolution lag time in mHanks buffer and bicarbonate buffers. All formulations showed longer dissolution lag times at lower concentrations of bicarbonate or phosphate buffers. The dissolution rank order of each formulation differed between mHanks buffer and bicarbonate buffers. A rabeprazole formulation coated with a methacrylic acid copolymer showed the shortest lag time in the high concentration bicarbonate buffer, suggesting varied responses depending on the coating layer and buffer components. Use of multiple dissolution media during in vitro testing, including high concentration bicarbonate buffer, would contribute to the efficient design of enteric-coated drug formulations. © 2016 Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.

  7. A solid-state NMR method to determine domain sizes in multi-component polymer formulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schlagnitweit, Judith; Tang, Mingxue; Baias, Maria; Richardson, Sara; Schantz, Staffan; Emsley, Lyndon

    2015-12-01

    Polymer domain sizes are related to many of the physical properties of polymers. Here we present a solid-state NMR experiment that is capable of measuring domain sizes in multi-component mixtures. The method combines selective excitation of carbon magnetization to isolate a specific component with proton spin diffusion to report on domain size. We demonstrate the method in the context of controlled release formulations, which represents one of today's challenges in pharmaceutical science. We show that we can measure domain sizes of interest in the different components of industrial pharmaceutical formulations at natural isotopic abundance containing various (modified) cellulose derivatives, such as microcrystalline cellulose matrixes that are film-coated with a mixture of ethyl cellulose (EC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC).

  8. How do tablet properties influence swallowing behaviours?

    PubMed

    Yamamoto, Shinya; Taniguchi, Hiroshige; Hayashi, Hirokazu; Hori, Kazuhiro; Tsujimura, Takanori; Nakamura, Yuki; Sato, Hideaki; Inoue, Makoto

    2014-01-01

    Behavioural performance of tablet swallowing was evaluated with different tablet conditions in terms of size, number and surface coating. Four different types of tablets were prepared: small or large, and with or without a surface coating. Fourteen normal male adults were instructed to swallow the prepared tablets with 15 ml of water. The number of tablets in one trial was changed from one to three. To evaluate swallowing and tablet transport, electromyographic activity was recorded in the left suprahyoid muscles, and videofluorographic images were examined. All tablet conditions (size, number and surface coating) affected the swallowing performance in terms of total number of swallows, electromyographic burst patterns and location of remaining tablets. Increases in the size and number of tablets increased the number of swallows and electromyographic burst area and duration. In addition, all of these parameters increased while swallowing tablets without a coating compared with tablets with a coating. Location of the remaining tablets was mainly within the mouth. This study only clarified the normal pattern of tablet swallowing under several conditions in healthy subjects, but the results may facilitate comprehensive evaluation and treatment planning in terms of administering medication to dysphagic patients. © 2013 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

  9. Spatial distribution and removal performance of pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater treatment plants in China.

    PubMed

    Liu, Hou-Qi; Lam, James C W; Li, Wen-Wei; Yu, Han-Qing; Lam, Paul K S

    2017-05-15

    Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are an important source of pharmaceuticals released into the environment. Understanding how various pharmaceuticals are distributed and handled in WWTPs is a prerequisite to optimize their abatement. Here we investigated the spatial distribution and removal efficiencies pharmaceuticals in China's WWTPs. A total of 35 pharmaceuticals in wastewater samples from 12 WWTPs at different cities of China were analyzed. Among these detected pharmaceuticals, caffeine showed the highest concentration (up to 1775.98ngL -1 ) in the WWTP influent. In addition, there were significant regional differences in pharmaceutical distribution with higher influent concentrations of total pharmaceuticals detected in WWTPs in the northern cities than the southern ones. The state-of-the-art treatment processes were generally inefficient in removing pharmaceuticals. Only 14.3% of pharmaceuticals were removed effectively (mean removal efficiency>70%), while 51.4% had a removal rate of below 30%. The anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (AAO)-membrane bioreactor (MBR) integrated process and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) showed better performance than the AAO and oxidation ditch (OD) processes. Ofloxacin, erythromycin-H 2 O, clarithromycin, roxithromycin and sulfamethoxazole in WWTP effluents exhibited a high or medium ecological risk and deserved special attention. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. A Review on Advanced Treatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Y.; Qi, P. S.; Liu, Y. Z.

    2017-05-01

    The composition of pharmaceutical wastewater is complex, which is high concentration of organic matter, microbial toxicity, high salt, and difficult to biodegrade. After secondary treatment, there are still trace amounts of suspended solids and dissolved organic matter. To improve the quality of pharmaceutical wastewater effluent, advanced treatment is essential. In this paper, the classification of the pharmaceutical technology was introduced, and the characteristics of pharmaceutical wastewater effluent quality were summarized. The methods of advanced treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater were reviewed afterwards, which included coagulation and sedimentation, flotation, activated carbon adsorption, membrane separation, advanced oxidation processes, membrane separation and biological treatment. Meanwhile, the characteristics of each process were described.

  11. Shock wave driven microparticles for pharmaceutical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Menezes, V.; Takayama, K.; Gojani, A.; Hosseini, S. H. R.

    2008-10-01

    Ablation created by a Q-switched Nd:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser beam focusing on a thin aluminum foil surface spontaneously generates a shock wave that propagates through the foil and deforms it at a high speed. This high-speed foil deformation can project dry micro- particles deposited on the anterior surface of the foil at high speeds such that the particles have sufficient momentum to penetrate soft targets. We used this method of particle acceleration to develop a drug delivery device to deliver DNA/drug coated microparticles into soft human-body targets for pharmaceutical applications. The device physics has been studied by observing the process of particle acceleration using a high-speed video camera in a shadowgraph system. Though the initial rate of foil deformation is over 5 km/s, the observed particle velocities are in the range of 900-400 m/s over a distance of 1.5-10 mm from the launch pad. The device has been tested by delivering microparticles into liver tissues of experimental rats and artificial soft human-body targets, modeled using gelatin. The penetration depths observed in the experimental targets are quite encouraging to develop a future clinical therapeutic device for treatments such as gene therapy, treatment of cancer and tumor cells, epidermal and mucosal immunizations etc.

  12. Pharmaceutical supply chain risk assessment in Iran using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and simple additive weighting (SAW) methods.

    PubMed

    Jaberidoost, Mona; Olfat, Laya; Hosseini, Alireza; Kebriaeezadeh, Abbas; Abdollahi, Mohammad; Alaeddini, Mahdi; Dinarvand, Rassoul

    2015-01-01

    Pharmaceutical supply chain is a significant component of the health system in supplying medicines, particularly in countries where main drugs are provided by local pharmaceutical companies. No previous studies exist assessing risks and disruptions in pharmaceutical companies while assessing the pharmaceutical supply chain. Any risks affecting the pharmaceutical companies could disrupt supply medicines and health system efficiency. The goal of this study was the risk assessment in pharmaceutical industry in Iran considering process's priority, hazard and probability of risks. The study was carried out in 4 phases; risk identification through literature review, risk identification in Iranian pharmaceutical companies through interview with experts, risk analysis through a questionnaire and consultation with experts using group analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method and rating scale (RS) and risk evaluation of simple additive weighting (SAW) method. In total, 86 main risks were identified in the pharmaceutical supply chain with perspective of pharmaceutical companies classified in 11 classes. The majority of risks described in this study were related to the financial and economic category. Also financial management was found to be the most important factor for consideration. Although pharmaceutical industry and supply chain were affected by current political conditions in Iran during the study time, but half of total risks in the pharmaceutical supply chain were found to be internal risks which could be fixed by companies, internally. Likewise, political status and related risks forced companies to focus more on financial and supply management resulting in less attention to quality management.

  13. Enhanced pharmaceutical removal from water in a three step bio-ozone-bio process.

    PubMed

    de Wilt, Arnoud; van Gijn, Koen; Verhoek, Tom; Vergnes, Amber; Hoek, Mirit; Rijnaarts, Huub; Langenhoff, Alette

    2018-07-01

    Individual treatment processes like biological treatment or ozonation have their limitations for the removal of pharmaceuticals from secondary clarified effluents with high organic matter concentrations (i.e. 17 mg TOC/L). These limitations can be overcome by combining these two processes for a cost-effective pharmaceutical removal. A three-step biological-ozone-biological (BO 3 B) treatment process was therefore designed for the enhanced pharmaceutical removal from wastewater effluent. The first biological step removed 38% of ozone scavenging TOC, thus proportionally reducing the absolute ozone input for the subsequent ozonation. Complementariness between biological and ozone treatment, i.e. targeting different pharmaceuticals, resulted in cost-effective pharmaceutical removal by the overall BO 3 B process. At a low ozone dose of 0.2 g O 3 /g TOC and an HRT of 1.46 h in the biological reactors, the removal of 8 out of 9 pharmaceuticals exceeded 85%, except for metoprolol (60%). Testing various ozone doses and HRTs revealed that pharmaceuticals were ineffectively removed at 0.1 g O3/g TOC and an HRT of 0.3 h. At HRTs of 0.47 and 1.46 h easily and moderately biodegradable pharmaceuticals such as caffeine, gemfibrozil, ibuprofen, naproxen and sulfamethoxazole were over 95% removed by biological treatment. The biorecalcitrant carbamazepine was completely ozonated at a dose of 0.4 g O 3 /g TOC. Ozonation products are likely biodegraded in the last biological reactor as a 17% TOC removal was found. No appreciable acute toxicity towards D. magna, P. subcapitata and V. fischeri was found after exposure to the influents and effluents of the individual BO 3 B reactors. The BO 3 B process is estimated to increase the yearly wastewater treatment tariff per population equivalent in the Netherlands by less than 10%. Overall, the BO 3 B process is a cost-effective treatment process for the removal of pharmaceuticals from secondary clarified effluents. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  14. Advanced oxidation process-mediated removal of pharmaceuticals from water: A review.

    PubMed

    Kanakaraju, Devagi; Glass, Beverley D; Oelgemöller, Michael

    2018-08-01

    Pharmaceuticals, which are frequently detected in natural and wastewater bodies as well as drinking water have attracted considerable attention, because they do not readily biodegrade and may persist and remain toxic. As a result, pharmaceutical residues pose on-going and potential health and environmental risks. To tackle these emerging contaminants, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as photo-Fenton, sonolysis, electrochemical oxidation, radiation and ozonation etc. have been applied to remove pharmaceuticals. These processes utilize the high reactivity of hydroxyl radicals to progressively oxidize organic compounds to innocuous products. This review provides an overview of the findings from recent studies, which have applied AOPs to degrade pharmaceutical compounds. Included is a discussion that links various factors of TiO 2 -mediated photocatalytic treatment to its effectiveness in degrading pharmaceutical residues. This review furthermore highlights the success of AOPs in the removal of pharmaceuticals from different water matrices and recommendations for future studies are outlined. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Terahertz Technology: A Boon to Tablet Analysis

    PubMed Central

    Wagh, M. P.; Sonawane, Y. H.; Joshi, O. U.

    2009-01-01

    The terahertz gap has a frequency ranges from ∼0.3 THz to ∼10 THz in the electromagnetic spectrum which is in between microwave and infrared. The terahertz radiations are invisible to naked eye. In comparison with x-ray they are intrinsically safe, non-destructive and non-invasive. Terahertz spectroscopy enables 3D imaging of structures and materials, and the measurement of the unique spectral fingerprints of chemical and physical forms. Terahertz radiations are produced by a dendrimer based high power terahertz source and spectroscopy technologies. It resolves many of the questions left unanswered by complementary techniques, such as optical imaging, Raman and infrared spectra. In the pharmaceutical industries it enables nondestructive, internal, chemical analysis of tablets, capsules, and other dosage forms. Tablet coatings are a major factor in drug bioavailability. Therefore tablet coatings integrity and uniformity are of crucial importance to quality. Terahertz imaging gives an unparalleled certainty about the integrity of tablet coatings and the matrix performance of tablet cores. This article demonstrates the potential of terahertz pulse imaging for the analysis of tablet coating thickness by illustrating the technique on tablets. PMID:20490288

  16. Cell-polymer interactions of fluorescent polystyrene latex particles coated with thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) or grafted with poly(ethylene oxide)-macromonomer.

    PubMed

    Vihola, Henna; Marttila, Anna-Kaisa; Pakkanen, Jukka S; Andersson, Mirja; Laukkanen, Antti; Kaukonen, Ann Marie; Tenhu, Heikki; Hirvonen, Jouni

    2007-10-01

    Cell-polymer interactions of thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) or poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) coated particles with RAW264.7 macrophages and intestinal Caco-2 cells were evaluated. Nanosized particles were prepared by modifying the surface of fluorescent polystyrene (FPS) particles with the thermosensitive polymer gels or with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-macromonomer grafts. The particles were characterized by IR-spectroscopy for functional groups, light scattering for size distribution and zeta-potential for surface charge. Effects of temperature and polymer coating/grafting on the cellular interactions were evaluated by cell association/uptake and visualized by confocal scanning microscope. PEO and PNIPAM inhibited the polymer-cell contact by steric repulsion, evidenced by weak attachment of the particles. PVCL-coated FPS was adsorbed on the cells more strongly, especially at 37 degrees C, because of more hydrophobic nature at higher temperatures. The results suggest feasibility of the PNIPAM and PVCL for biotechnological/pharmaceutical applications, as the cell-particle interactions may be modified by size, surface charge, hydrophobicity, steric repulsion and temperature.

  17. Review on Physicochemical, Chemical, and Biological Processes for Pharmaceutical Wastewater

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Zhenchen; Yang, Ping

    2018-02-01

    Due to the needs of human life and health, pharmaceutical industry has made great progress in recent years, but it has also brought about severe environmental problems. The presence of pharmaceuticals in natural waters which might pose potential harm to the ecosystems and humans raised increasing concern worldwide. Pharmaceuticals cannot be effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) owing to the complex composition, high concentration of organic contaminants, high salinity and biological toxicity of pharmaceutical wastewater. Therefore, the development of efficient methods is needed to improve the removal effect of pharmaceuticals. This review provides an overview on three types of treatment technologies including physicochemical, chemical and biological processes and their advantages and disadvantages respectively. In addition, the future perspectives of pharmaceutical wastewater treatment are given.

  18. Dropwise additive manufacturing of pharmaceutical products for melt-based dosage forms.

    PubMed

    Içten, Elçin; Giridhar, Arun; Taylor, Lynne S; Nagy, Zoltan K; Reklaitis, Gintaras V

    2015-05-01

    The US Food and Drug Administration introduced the quality by design approach and process analytical technology guidance to encourage innovation and efficiency in pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, and quality assurance. As part of this renewed emphasis on the improvement of manufacturing, the pharmaceutical industry has begun to develop more efficient production processes with more intensive use of online measurement and sensing, real-time quality control, and process control tools. Here, we present dropwise additive manufacturing of pharmaceutical products (DAMPP) as an alternative to conventional pharmaceutical manufacturing methods. This mini-manufacturing process for the production of pharmaceuticals utilizes drop on demand printing technology for automated and controlled deposition of melt-based formulations onto edible substrates. The advantages of drop-on-demand technology, including reproducible production of small droplets, adjustable drop sizing, high placement accuracy, and flexible use of different formulations, enable production of individualized dosing even for low-dose and high-potency drugs. In this work, DAMPP is used to produce solid oral dosage forms from hot melts of an active pharmaceutical ingredient and a polymer. The dosage forms are analyzed to show the reproducibility of dosing and the dissolution behavior of different formulations. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  19. Correlating Coating Characteristics with the Performance of Drug-Coated Balloons – A Comparative In Vitro Investigation of Own Established Hydrogel- and Ionic Liquid-Based Coating Matrices

    PubMed Central

    Kaule, Sebastian; Minrath, Ingo; Stein, Florian; Kragl, Udo; Schmidt, Wolfram; Schmitz, Klaus-Peter; Sternberg, Katrin; Petersen, Svea

    2015-01-01

    Drug-coated balloons (DCB), which have emerged as a therapeutic alternative to drug-eluting stents in percutaneous cardiovascular intervention, are well described with regard to clinical efficacy and safety within a number of clinical studies. In vitro studies elucidating the correlation between coating additive and DCB performance are however rare but considered important for the understanding of DCB requirements and the improvement of established DCB. In this regard, we examined three different DCB-systems, which were developed in former studies based on the ionic liquid cetylpyridinium salicylate, the body-own hydrogel hyaluronic acid and the pharmaceutically well-established hydrogel polyvinylpyrrolidone, considering coating morphology, coating thickness, drug-loss, drug-transfer to the vessel wall, residual drug-concentration on the balloon surface and entire drug-load during simulated use in an in vitro vessel model. Moreover, we investigated particle release of the different DCB during simulated use and determined the influence of the three coatings on the mechanical behavior of the balloon catheter. We could show that coating characteristics can be indeed correlated with the performance of DCB. For instance, paclitaxel incorporation in the matrix can reduce the drug wash-off and benefit a high drug transfer. Additionally, a thin coating with a smooth surface and high but delayed solubility can reduce drug wash-off and decrease particle burden. As a result, we suggest that it is very important to characterize DCB in terms of mentioned properties in vitro in addition to their clinical efficacy in order to better understand their function and provide more data for the clinicians to improve the tool of DCB in coronary angioplasty. PMID:25734818

  20. Evaluation of risk and benefit in thermal effusivity sensor for monitoring lubrication process in pharmaceutical product manufacturing.

    PubMed

    Uchiyama, Jumpei; Kato, Yoshiteru; Uemoto, Yoshifumi

    2014-08-01

    In the process design of tablet manufacturing, understanding and control of the lubrication process is important from various viewpoints. A detailed analysis of thermal effusivity data in the lubrication process was conducted in this study. In addition, we evaluated the risk and benefit in the lubrication process by a detailed investigation. It was found that monitoring of thermal effusivity detected mainly the physical change of bulk density, which was changed by dispersal of the lubricant and the coating powder particle by the lubricant. The monitoring of thermal effusivity was almost the monitoring of bulk density, thermal effusivity could have a high correlation with tablet hardness. Moreover, as thermal effusivity sensor could detect not only the change of the conventional bulk density but also the fractional change of thermal conductivity and thermal capacity, two-phase progress of lubrication process could be revealed. However, each contribution of density, thermal conductivity, or heat capacity to thermal effusivity has the risk of fluctuation by formulation. After carefully considering the change factor with the risk to be changed by formulation, thermal effusivity sensor can be a useful tool for monitoring as process analytical technology, estimating tablet hardness and investigating the detailed mechanism of the lubrication process.

  1. Evaluation of stir-bar sorptive extraction coupled with thermal desorption GC-MS for the detection of leachables from polymer single use systems to drugs.

    PubMed

    Scherer, Nicole; Marcseková, Klaudia; Posset, Tobias; Winter, Gerhard

    2018-04-15

    Stir-bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) in combination with thermal desorption and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) is widely accepted as the gold-standard analysis method for trace amounts of organic substances, including leachables in aqueous matrices. Meanwhile, as far as pharmaceutical quality control in protein-based parenteral drugs is concerned, the use of SBSE analysis remains unexplored. Previous studies reported a strong influence of the matrix on the method's recovery. The scope of the present work was to fill in the unexplored territory in a threefold manner 1) by quantifying the effects that various matrices commonly found in pharmaceutical processing have on the recovery, 2) by comparing between different coating materials for stir bar (namely between polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material and ethylene-glycol (EG)-PDMS), and 3) by proposing a preparation step for stir-bar to mitigate inhibitory effects. The current study shows no inhibition of SBSE by protein matrices (p > 0.15). Further the influence of various drug matrices on the recovery of leachables with a log K o/w  ≥ 3.6 is negligible (-3.9 to 3.8%). In contrast, the inhibition effect caused by an alkaline media led to a recovery decrease of -42.9%. For leachables with a log K o/w  < 3.6, the relative recovery in the presence of various proteins ranged from -72.8% to 15.6%, depending on the excipients of the drug product and not on the protein itself. The highest loss in sensitivity was observed when the excipient benzyl alcohol was present in the drug. Nonetheless, the limit of detection for the tested leachables in the inhibitory matrices was still below 3 μg/L (ppb). Additionally, SBSE was observed to be quantitatively reliable in all tested drug matrices for concentrations from 0.005 to 0.1 mg/mL (r 2  > 0.992). On average, the conventional PDMS coating resulted in a 28-fold higher signal-to-noise ratio compared to EG-PDMS. Furthermore, a broader range of leachables was detectable with the PDSM coating. Preceding stir-bar preparation consisting of a simple soaking step improved the enrichment by 14%, effectively lowering the limit of detection. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. [Research advances in secondary development of Chinese patent medicines based on quality by design concept].

    PubMed

    Gong, Xing-Chu; Chen, Teng; Qu, Hai-Bin

    2017-03-01

    Quality by design (QbD) concept is an advanced pharmaceutical quality control concept. The application of QbD concept in the research and development of pharmaceutical processes of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) mainly contains five parts, including the definition of critical processes and their evaluation criteria, the determination of critical process parameters and critical material attributes, the establishment of quantitative models, the development of design space, as well as the application and continuous improvement of control strategy. In this work, recent research advances in QbD concept implementation methods in the secondary development of Chinese patent medicines were reviewed, and five promising fields of the implementation of QbD concept were pointed out, including the research and development of TCM new drugs and Chinese medicine granules for formulation, modeling of pharmaceutical processes, development of control strategy based on industrial big data, strengthening the research of process amplification rules, and the development of new pharmaceutical equipment.. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

  3. [Quality by design approaches for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing of Chinese medicine].

    PubMed

    Xu, Bing; Shi, Xin-Yuan; Wu, Zhi-Sheng; Zhang, Yan-Ling; Wang, Yun; Qiao, Yan-Jiang

    2017-03-01

    The pharmaceutical quality was built by design, formed in the manufacturing process and improved during the product's lifecycle. Based on the comprehensive literature review of pharmaceutical quality by design (QbD), the essential ideas and implementation strategies of pharmaceutical QbD were interpreted. Considering the complex nature of Chinese medicine, the "4H" model was innovated and proposed for implementing QbD in pharmaceutical development and industrial manufacture of Chinese medicine product. "4H" corresponds to the acronym of holistic design, holistic information analysis, holistic quality control, and holistic process optimization, which is consistent with the holistic concept of Chinese medicine theory. The holistic design aims at constructing both the quality problem space from the patient requirement and the quality solution space from multidisciplinary knowledge. Holistic information analysis emphasizes understanding the quality pattern of Chinese medicine by integrating and mining multisource data and information at a relatively high level. The batch-to-batch quality consistence and manufacturing system reliability can be realized by comprehensive application of inspective quality control, statistical quality control, predictive quality control and intelligent quality control strategies. Holistic process optimization is to improve the product quality and process capability during the product lifecycle management. The implementation of QbD is useful to eliminate the ecosystem contradictions lying in the pharmaceutical development and manufacturing process of Chinese medicine product, and helps guarantee the cost effectiveness. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

  4. Toward Higher QA: From Parametric Release of Sterile Parenteral Products to PAT for Other Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms.

    PubMed

    Hock, Sia Chong; Constance, Neo Xue Rui; Wah, Chan Lai

    2012-01-01

    Pharmaceutical products are generally subjected to end-product batch testing as a means of quality control. Due to the inherent limitations of conventional batch testing, this is not the most ideal approach for determining the pharmaceutical quality of the finished dosage form. In the case of terminally sterilized parenteral products, the limitations of conventional batch testing have been successfully addressed with the application of parametric release (the release of a product based on control of process parameters instead of batch sterility testing at the end of the manufacturing process). Consequently, there has been an increasing interest in applying parametric release to other pharmaceutical dosage forms, beyond terminally sterilized parenteral products. For parametric release to be possible, manufacturers must be capable of designing quality into the product, monitoring the manufacturing processes, and controlling the quality of intermediates and finished products in real-time. Process analytical technology (PAT) has been thought to be capable of contributing to these prerequisites. It is believed that the appropriate use of PAT tools can eventually lead to the possibility of real-time release of other pharmaceutical dosage forms, by-passing the need for end-product batch testing. Hence, this literature review attempts to present the basic principles of PAT, introduce the various PAT tools that are currently available, present their recent applications to pharmaceutical processing, and explain the potential benefits that PAT can bring to conventional ways of processing and quality assurance of pharmaceutical products. Last but not least, current regulations governing the use of PAT and the manufacturing challenges associated with PAT implementation are also discussed. Pharmaceutical products are generally subjected to end-product batch testing as a means of quality control. Due to the inherent limitations of conventional batch testing, this is not the most ideal approach. In the case of terminally sterilized parenteral products, these limitations have been successfully addressed with the application of parametric release (the release of a product based on control of process parameters instead of batch sterility testing at the end of the manufacturing process). Consequently, there has been an increasing interest in applying parametric release to other pharmaceutical dosage forms. With the advancement of process analytical technology (PAT), it is possible to monitor the manufacturing processes closely. This will eventually enable quality control of the intermediates and finished products, and thus their release in real-time. Hence, this literature review attempts to present the basic principles of PAT, introduce the various PAT tools that are currently available, present their recent applications to pharmaceutical processing, and explain the potential benefits that PAT can bring to conventional ways of processing and quality assurance of pharmaceutical products. It will also discuss the current regulations governing the use of PAT and the manufacturing challenges associated with the implementation of PAT.

  5. The application of ink-jet technology for the coating and loading of drug-eluting stents.

    PubMed

    Tarcha, Peter J; Verlee, Donald; Hui, Ho Wah; Setesak, Jeff; Antohe, Bogdan; Radulescu, Delia; Wallace, David

    2007-10-01

    The combination of drugs with devices, where locally delivered drugs elute from the device, has demonstrated distinct advantages over therapies involving systemic or local drugs and devices administered separately. Drug-eluting stents are most notable. Ink jet technology offers unique advantages for the coating of very small medical devices with drugs and drug-coating combinations, especially in cases where the active pharmaceutical agent is very expensive to produce and wastage is to be minimized. For medical devices such as drug-containing stents, the advantages of ink-jet technology result from the controllable and reproducible nature of the droplets in the jet stream and the ability to direct the stream to exact locations on the device surfaces. Programmed target deliveries of 100 microg drug, a typical dose for a small stent, into cuvettes gave a standard deviation (SD) of dose of 0.6 microg. Jetting on coated, uncut stent tubes exhibited 100% capture efficiency with a 1.8 microg SD for a 137 microg dose. In preliminary studies, continuous jetting on stents can yield efficiencies up to 91% and coefficients of variation as low as 2%. These results indicate that ink-jet technology may provide significant improvement in drug loading efficiency over conventional coating methods.

  6. S-SIMS and MetA-SIMS study of organic additives in thin polymer coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Adriaensen, L.; Vangaever, F.; Lenaerts, J.; Gijbels, R.

    2006-07-01

    In the present study a methodology for TOF-S-SIMS measurements is developed to gain information on the distribution of molecules on and in polymer coatings (thickness ˜100 μm). Experiments were carried out on model systems consisting of one or more additive-containing polyvinylbutyral coatings. Several organic additives were selected: carbocyanine dyes, basonyl blue and the pharmaceutical risperidone. The additives have been measured as pure compounds on a Si substrate to obtain good reference spectra. After optimisation of the sample preparation method, the coatings were embedded in epoxy resin and stored in an oven (60 °C) for 24 h. Cross-sections were made by means of a microtome. S-SIMS spectra were taken on the prepared cross-sections before and after Au was deposited on the sample surface. Compared to the untreated samples, the Au covered samples give rise to more intense secondary ion signals. Generally, signals of the intact cations were more intense than those of the fragment ions. Apart from mass spectra, images of the additive distribution in the coatings could also be acquired by recording structural ion signals. It was possible to make secondary ion images of the additive molecule ions with a (sub)-micrometer lateral resolution.

  7. Effect of photocatalytic and hydrophobic coatings on brewery surface microorganisms.

    PubMed

    Priha, O; Laakso, J; Tapani, K; Levänen, E; Kolari, M; Mäntylä, T; Storgårds, E

    2011-11-01

    The aim of this study was to determine whether process hygiene in the beverage industry could be improved by applying new coating techniques to process surfaces. Photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) and hydrophobic coatings applied to stainless steel with or without added antimicrobial compounds were studied in laboratory attachment tests and in a 15-month process study. No clear reductions in numbers of attached microbes were obtained with photocatalytic coatings, except for coatings to which silver had been added. These TiO(2)+Ag coatings reduced microbial coverage in laboratory studies and in some process samples. Hydrophobic coatings reduced the area coverage of microorganisms in 4-h laboratory studies but did not affect colony counts in laboratory or process studies. The surfaces had changed from hydrophobic into hydrophilic during the process study. The coatings did not mechanically fully withstand process conditions; part of the hydrophobic coatings had peeled off, most of the precipitated Ag had dissolved, and some of the TiO(2) coatings were damaged. In conclusion, functional coatings have potential for reducing microbial loads on beverage industry surfaces, but these coatings need further development.

  8. Development of novel antibiofouling materials from natural phenol compounds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chelikani, Rahul; Kim, Dong Shik

    2007-03-01

    Biofilms consist of a gelatinous matrix formed on a solid surface by microbial organisms.Biofilm is caused due to the adhesion of microbes to solid surfaces with production of extracellular polymers and the process of the biofilm formation is reffered to as biofouling.Biofouling causes serious problems in chemical, medical and pharmaceutical industries.Although there have been some antibiofouling materials developed over the years,no plausible results have been found yet.Natural polyphenolic compounds like flavanoids,cathechins have strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.Recently,apocynin,a phenol derivative,was polymerized to form oligomers,which can regulate intracellular pathways in cancer cells preventing cell proliferation and migration.These natural phenolic compounds have never been applied to solid surfaces to prevent biofouling.It is thought that probably because of the difficulty to crosslink them to form a stable coating.In this study,some novel polyphenolic compounds synthesized using enzymatic technique from cashew nut shell liquid,a cheap and renewable byproduct of the cashew industry are used as coating materials to prevent biofouling.The interaction of these materials with microbes preventing fouling on surfaces and the chemico-physical properties of the materials causing the antibiofouling effect will be discussed.It is critical to understand the antibiofouling mechanism of these materials for better design and application in various fields.

  9. Nanoporous Gold as a Neural Interface Coating: Effects of Topography, Surface Chemistry, and Feature Size

    DOE PAGES

    Chapman, Christopher A. R.; Chen, Hao; Stamou, Marianna; ...

    2015-02-23

    We report that designing neural interfaces that maintain close physical coupling of neurons to an electrode surface remains a major challenge for both implantable and in vitro neural recording electrode arrays. Typically, low-impedance nanostructured electrode coatings rely on chemical cues from pharmaceuticals or surface-immobilized peptides to suppress glial scar tissue formation over the electrode surface (astrogliosis), which is an obstacle to reliable neuron–electrode coupling. Nanoporous gold (np-Au), produced by an alloy corrosion process, is a promising candidate to reduce astrogliosis solely through topography by taking advantage of its tunable length scale. In the present in vitro study on np-Au’s interactionmore » with cortical neuron–glia co-cultures, we demonstrate that the nanostructure of np-Au achieves close physical coupling of neurons by maintaining a high neuron-to-astrocyte surface coverage ratio. Atomic layer deposition-based surface modification was employed to decouple the effect of morphology from surface chemistry. Additionally, length scale effects were systematically studied by controlling the characteristic feature size of np-Au through variations in the dealloying conditions. In conclusion, our results show that np-Au nanotopography, not surface chemistry, reduces astrocyte surface coverage while maintaining high neuronal coverage and may enhance neuron–electrode coupling through nanostructure-mediated suppression of scar tissue formation.« less

  10. Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals in Calgary's Wastewater and Related Surface Water.

    PubMed

    Chen, M; Cooper, V I; Deng, J; Amatya, P L; Ambrus, D; Dong, S; Stalker, N; Nadeau-Bonilla, C; Patel, J

    2015-05-01

    The influents/effluents from Calgary's water resource recovery facilities and the surface water were analyzed for pharmaceuticals in the present study. The median concentrations in the effluents for the 15 targeted pharmaceuticals were within the range of 0.006 to 3.32 ppb. Although the wastewater treatment facilities were not designed to remove pharmaceuticals, this study indicates that the wastewater treatment processes are effective in removing some of the pharmaceuticals from the aqueous phase. The removal rate estimated can be 99.5% for caffeine, whereas little or no removal was observed for carbamazepine. Biodegradation, chemical degradation, and sorption could be some of the mechanisms responsible for the removal of pharmaceuticals. The drug residues in downstream surface water could be associated with incomplete removal of pharmaceuticals during the treatment process and may lead to concerns in terms of potential impacts on the aquatic ecosystem. However, this study does not indicate any immediate risks to the downstream aquatic environment.

  11. Should ANVISA be permitted to reject pharmaceutical patent applications in Brazil?

    PubMed

    Mueller, Lisa L; Taketsuma Costa, Silvia Moreira

    2014-01-01

    Pharmaceutical manufacturers who seek new markets for expansion are particularly attracted to Brazil given its potential for growth and the expectation that it will be the fifth largest drug market by 2015. Given the significance of Brazil in the marketplace, strong patent protection for pharmaceutical products and processes is critical. In April 2013, a new workflow came into effect in Brazil which allows the National Sanitary Vigilance Agency (ANVISA), a government agency whose function is to protect public health, to examine and reject any patent application that claims a pharmaceutical product or process before any examination of the application by the Brazilian Patent Office. If a patent application is rejected by ANVISA, the application is returned to the Brazilian Patent Office and filed away, without any further examination, for an unknown period of time. Therefore, the examination of pharmaceutical product and process applications under this new workflow is problematic for local and global pharmaceutical manufacturers for multiple reasons.

  12. [Chinese medicine industry 4.0:advancing digital pharmaceutical manufacture toward intelligent pharmaceutical manufacture].

    PubMed

    Cheng, Yi-Yu; Qu, Hai-Bin; Zhang, Bo-Li

    2016-01-01

    A perspective analysis on the technological innovation in pharmaceutical engineering of Chinese medicine unveils a vision on "Future Factory" of Chinese medicine industry in mind. The strategy as well as the technical roadmap of "Chinese medicine industry 4.0" is proposed, with the projection of related core technology system. It is clarified that the technical development path of Chinese medicine industry from digital manufacture to intelligent manufacture. On the basis of precisely defining technical terms such as process control, on-line detection and process quality monitoring for Chinese medicine manufacture, the technical concepts and characteristics of intelligent pharmaceutical manufacture as well as digital pharmaceutical manufacture are elaborated. Promoting wide applications of digital manufacturing technology of Chinese medicine is strongly recommended. Through completely informationized manufacturing processes and multi-discipline cluster innovation, intelligent manufacturing technology of Chinese medicine should be developed, which would provide a new driving force for Chinese medicine industry in technology upgrade, product quality enhancement and efficiency improvement. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

  13. Evaluating the process parameters of the dry coating process using a 2(5-1) factorial design.

    PubMed

    Kablitz, Caroline Désirée; Urbanetz, Nora Anne

    2013-02-01

    A recent development of coating technology is dry coating, where polymer powder and liquid plasticizer are layered on the cores without using organic solvents or water. Several studies evaluating the process were introduced in literature, however, little information about the critical process parameters (CPPs) is given. Aim of the study was the investigation and optimization of CPPs with respect to one of the critical quality attributes (CQAs), the coating efficiency of the dry coating process in a rotary fluid bed. Theophylline pellets were coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate as enteric film former and triethyl citrate and acetylated monoglyceride as plasticizer. A 2(5-1) design of experiments (DOEs) was created investigating five independent process parameters namely coating temperature, curing temperature, feeding/spraying rate, air flow and rotor speed. The results were evaluated by multilinear regression using the software Modde(®) 7. It is shown, that generally, low feeding/spraying rates and low rotor speeds increase coating efficiency. High coating temperatures enhance coating efficiency, whereas medium curing temperatures have been found to be optimum in terms of coating efficiency. This study provides a scientific base for the design of efficient dry coating processes with respect to coating efficiency.

  14. Influence of process parameters on the effectiveness of photooxidative treatment of pharmaceuticals.

    PubMed

    Markic, Marinko; Cvetnic, Matija; Ukic, Sime; Kusic, Hrvoje; Bolanca, Tomislav; Bozic, Ana Loncaric

    2018-03-21

    In this study, UV-C/H 2 O 2 and UV-C/[Formula: see text] processes as photooxidative Advanced oxidation processes were applied for the treatment of seven pharmaceuticals, either already included in the Directive 2013/39/EU "watch list" (17α- ethynylestradiol, 17β-estradiol) or with potential to be added in the near future due to environmental properties and increasing consumption (azithromycin, carbamazepine, dexamethasone, erythromycin and oxytetracycline). The influence of process parameters (pH, oxidant concentration and type) on the pharmaceuticals degradation was studied through employed response surface modelling approach. It was established that degradation obeys first-order kinetic regime regardless structural differences and over entire range of studied process parameters. The results revealed that the effectiveness of UV-C/H 2 O 2 process is highly dependent on both initial pH and oxidant concentration. It was found that UV-C/[Formula: see text] process, exhibiting several times faster degradation of studied pharmaceuticals, is less sensitive to pH changes providing practical benefit to its utilization. The influence of water matrix on degradation kinetics of studied pharmaceuticals was studied through natural organic matter effects on single component and mixture systems.

  15. Decreased Staphylococcus aureus and increased osteoblast density on nanostructured electrophoretic-deposited hydroxyapatite on titanium without the use of pharmaceuticals.

    PubMed

    Mathew, Dennis; Bhardwaj, Garima; Wang, Qi; Sun, Linlin; Ercan, Batur; Geetha, Manisavagam; Webster, Thomas J

    2014-01-01

    Plasma-spray deposition of hydroxyapatite on titanium (Ti) has proven to be a suboptimal solution to improve orthopedic-implant success rates, as demonstrated by the increasing number of orthopedic revision surgeries due to infection, implant loosening, and a myriad of other reasons. This could be in part due to the high heat involved during plasma-spray deposition, which significantly increases hydroxyapatite crystal growth into the nonbiologically inspired micron regime. There has been a push to create nanotopographies on implant surfaces to mimic the physiological nanostructure of native bone and, thus, improve osteoblast (bone-forming cell) functions and inhibit bacteria functions. Among the several techniques that have been adopted to develop nanocoatings, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is an attractive, versatile, and effective material-processing technique. The in vitro study reported here aimed to determine for the first time bacteria responses to hydroxyapatite coated on Ti via EPD. There were six and three times more osteoblasts on the electrophoretic-deposited hydroxyapatite on Ti compared with Ti (control) and plasma-spray-deposited hydroxyapatite on Ti after 5 days of culture, respectively. Impressively, there were 2.9 and 31.7 times less Staphylococcus aureus on electrophoretic-deposited hydroxyapatite on Ti compared with Ti (control) and plasma-spray-deposited hydroxyapatite on Ti after 18 hours of culture, respectively. Compared with uncoated Ti and plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coated on Ti, the results provided significant promise for the use of EPD to improve bone-cell density and be used as an antibacterial coating without resorting to the use of antibiotics.

  16. Hot-melt co-extrusion: requirements, challenges and opportunities for pharmaceutical applications.

    PubMed

    Vynckier, An-Katrien; Dierickx, Lien; Voorspoels, Jody; Gonnissen, Yves; Remon, Jean Paul; Vervaet, Chris

    2014-02-01

    Co-extrusion implies the simultaneous hot-melt extrusion of two or more materials through the same die, creating a multi-layered extrudate. It is an innovative continuous production technology that offers numerous advantages over traditional pharmaceutical processing techniques. This review provides an overview of the co-extrusion equipment, material requirements and medical and pharmaceutical applications. The co-extrusion equipment needed for pharmaceutical production has been summarized. Because the geometrical design of the die dictates the shape of the final product, different die types have been discussed. As one of the major challenges at the moment is shaping the final product in a continuous way, an overview of downstream solutions for processing co-extrudates into drug products is provided. Layer adhesion, extrusion temperature and viscosity matching are pointed out as most important requirements for material selection. Examples of medical and pharmaceutical applications are presented and some recent findings considering the production of oral drug delivery systems have been summarized. Co-extrusion provides great potential for the continuous production of fixed-dose combination products which are gaining importance in pharmaceutical industry. There are still some barriers to the implementation of co-extrusion in the pharmaceutical industry. The optimization of downstream processing remains a point of attention. © 2013 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

  17. VUV absorption spectroscopy of bacterial spores and DNA components

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fiebrandt, Marcel; Lackmann, Jan-Wilm; Raguse, Marina; Moeller, Ralf; Awakowicz, Peter; Stapelmann, Katharina

    2017-01-01

    Low-pressure plasmas can be used to inactivate bacterial spores and sterilize goods for medical and pharmaceutical applications. A crucial factor are damages induced by UV and VUV radiation emitted by the plasma. To analyze inactivation processes and protection strategies of spores, absorption spectra of two B. subtilis strains are measured. The results indicate, that the inner and outer coat of the spore significantly contribute to the absorption of UV-C and also of the VUV, protecting the spore against radiation based damages. As the sample preparation can significantly influence the absorption spectra due to salt residues, the cleaning procedure and sample deposition is tested for its reproducibility by measuring DNA oligomers and pUC18 plasmid DNA. The measurements are compared and discussed with results from the literature, showing a strong decrease of the salt content enabling the detection of absorption structures in the samples.

  18. Raman spectroscopy as a process analytical technology for pharmaceutical manufacturing and bioprocessing.

    PubMed

    Esmonde-White, Karen A; Cuellar, Maryann; Uerpmann, Carsten; Lenain, Bruno; Lewis, Ian R

    2017-01-01

    Adoption of Quality by Design (QbD) principles, regulatory support of QbD, process analytical technology (PAT), and continuous manufacturing are major factors effecting new approaches to pharmaceutical manufacturing and bioprocessing. In this review, we highlight new technology developments, data analysis models, and applications of Raman spectroscopy, which have expanded the scope of Raman spectroscopy as a process analytical technology. Emerging technologies such as transmission and enhanced reflection Raman, and new approaches to using available technologies, expand the scope of Raman spectroscopy in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and now Raman spectroscopy is successfully integrated into real-time release testing, continuous manufacturing, and statistical process control. Since the last major review of Raman as a pharmaceutical PAT in 2010, many new Raman applications in bioprocessing have emerged. Exciting reports of in situ Raman spectroscopy in bioprocesses complement a growing scientific field of biological and biomedical Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy has made a positive impact as a process analytical and control tool for pharmaceutical manufacturing and bioprocessing, with demonstrated scientific and financial benefits throughout a product's lifecycle.

  19. The Effect of Surfactant Content over Cu-Ni Coatings Electroplated by the sc-CO₂ Technique.

    PubMed

    Chuang, Ho-Chiao; Sánchez, Jorge; Cheng, Hsiang-Yun

    2017-04-19

    Co-plating of Cu-Ni coatings by supercritical CO₂ (sc-CO₂) and conventional electroplating processes was studied in this work. 1,4-butynediol was chosen as the surfactant and the effects of adjusting the surfactant content were described. Although the sc-CO₂ process displayed lower current efficiency, it effectively removed excess hydrogen that causes defects on the coating surface, refined grain size, reduced surface roughness, and increased electrochemical resistance. Surface roughness of coatings fabricated by the sc-CO₂ process was reduced by an average of 10%, and a maximum of 55%, compared to conventional process at different fabrication parameters. Cu-Ni coatings produced by the sc-CO₂ process displayed increased corrosion potential of ~0.05 V over Cu-Ni coatings produced by the conventional process, and 0.175 V over pure Cu coatings produced by the conventional process. For coatings ~10 µm thick, internal stress developed from the sc-CO₂ process were ~20 MPa lower than conventional process. Finally, the preferred crystal orientation of the fabricated coatings remained in the (111) direction regardless of the process used or surfactant content.

  20. Cyclic peptides and their interaction with peptide coated surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Palmer, F.; Tünnemann, R.; Leipert, D.; Stingel, C.; Jung, G.; Hoffmann, V.

    2001-05-01

    Focusing on biochemical and pharmaceutical inhibitor systems the interaction of cyclic peptides with model peptides have been investigated by ATR-FTIR-spectroscopy. Information about the participation of special functional groups e.g. COOH, COO -, NH 3+ or peptide backbone was gathered by observing cyclohexapeptides (c(X 1LX 2LX 3)) which are interacting with covalently coated Si-ATR-crystals ( L-arginine, tripeptide I (aNS), tripeptide II (SNa)). To determine the interaction, further studies about the band sequence (1800-1500 cm -1) for non-adsorbed cyclohexapeptides and for the interaction with the silicon surface (SiOH) were necessary. The spectra of the interacting cyclohexapeptides with the SiOH-groups were treated like reference spectra for the evaluation of the peptide-peptide interaction. Based on these spectra, we can conclude that there is peptide-peptide interaction with the coating and not with the residual OH-groups. Determination of interaction mechanisms was done by spectra which represent adsorbed molecules only. The amount of adsorbed molecules was considerably less than a monolayer. Therefore the intensities of the spectra are about 10 -4 absorbance units. The spectra contain information about both changes of the coating and of the cyclohexapeptide.

  1. Pharmaceutical spray drying: solid-dose process technology platform for the 21st century.

    PubMed

    Snyder, Herman E

    2012-07-01

    Requirement for precise control of solid-dosage particle properties created with a scalable process technology are continuing to expand in the pharmaceutical industry. Alternate methods of drug delivery, limited active drug substance solubility and the need to improve drug product stability under room-temperature conditions are some of the pharmaceutical applications that can benefit from spray-drying technology. Used widely for decades in other industries with production rates up to several tons per hour, pharmaceutical uses for spray drying are expanding beyond excipient production and solvent removal from crystalline material. Creation of active pharmaceutical-ingredient particles with combinations of unique target properties are now more common. This review of spray-drying technology fundamentals provides a brief perspective on the internal process 'mechanics', which combine with both the liquid and solid properties of a formulation to enable high-throughput, continuous manufacturing of precision powder properties.

  2. Deconstructing the Drug Development Process: The New Face of Innovation

    PubMed Central

    Kaitin, KI

    2010-01-01

    Forged in the early 1960s, the paradigm for pharmaceutical innovation has remained virtually unchanged for nearly 50 years. During a period when most other research-based industries have made frequent and often sweeping modifications to their R&D processes, the pharmaceutical sector continues to utilize a drug development process that is slow, inefficient, risky, and expensive. Few who work in or follow the activities of the pharmaceutical industry question whether change is coming. They know that the pharmaceutical sector, as currently structured, is unable to deliver enough new products to market to generate revenues sufficient to sustain its own growth. Nearly all major drug developers are critically examining current R&D practices and, in some cases, considering a radical overhaul of their R&D models. But key questions remain. What will the landscape for pharmaceutical innovation look like in the future? And, who will develop tomorrow’s medicines? PMID:20130565

  3. Evaluation of a Novel Approach for Reducing Emissions of Pharmaceuticals to the Environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bean, Thomas G.; Bergstrom, Ed; Thomas-Oates, Jane; Wolff, Amy; Bartl, Peter; Eaton, Bob; Boxall, Alistair B. A.

    2016-10-01

    Increased interest over the levels of pharmaceuticals detected in the environment has led to the need for new approaches to manage their emissions. Inappropriate disposal of unused and waste medicines and release from manufacturing plants are believed to be important pathways for pharmaceuticals entering the environment. In situ treatment technologies, which can be used on-site in pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and at manufacturing plants, might provide a solution. In this study we explored the use of Pyropure, a microscale combined pyrolysis and gasification in situ treatment system for destroying pharmaceutical wastes. This involved selecting 17 pharmaceuticals, including 14 of the most thermally stable compounds currently in use and three of high environmental concern to determine the technology's success in waste destruction. Treatment simulation studies were done on three different waste types and liquid, solid, and gaseous emissions from the process were analyzed for parent pharmaceutical and known active transformation products. Gaseous emissions were also analyzed for NOx, particulates, dioxins, furans, and metals. Results suggest that Pyropure is an effective treatment process for pharmaceutical wastes: over 99 % of each study pharmaceutical was destroyed by the system without known active transformation products being formed during the treatment process. Emissions of the other gaseous air pollutants were within acceptable levels. Future uptake of the system, or similar in situ treatment approaches, by clinics, pharmacists, and manufacturers could help to reduce the levels of pharmaceuticals in the environment and reduce the economic and environmental costs of current waste management practices.

  4. Hot-melt extrusion--basic principles and pharmaceutical applications.

    PubMed

    Lang, Bo; McGinity, James W; Williams, Robert O

    2014-09-01

    Originally adapted from the plastics industry, the use of hot-melt extrusion has gained favor in drug delivery applications both in academia and the pharmaceutical industry. Several commercial products made by hot-melt extrusion have been approved by the FDA, demonstrating its commercial feasibility for pharmaceutical processing. A significant number of research articles have reported on advances made regarding the pharmaceutical applications of the hot-melt extrusion processing; however, only limited articles have been focused on general principles regarding formulation and process development. This review provides an in-depth analysis and discussion of the formulation and processing aspects of hot-melt extrusion. The impact of physicochemical properties of drug substances and excipients on formulation development using a hot-melt extrusion process is discussed from a material science point of view. Hot-melt extrusion process development, scale-up, and the interplay of formulation and process attributes are also discussed. Finally, recent applications of hot-melt extrusion to a variety of dosage forms and drug substances have also been addressed.

  5. Precision Optical Coatings for Large Space Telescope Mirrors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sheikh, David

    This proposal “Precision Optical Coatings for Large Space Telescope Mirrors” addresses the need to develop and advance the state-of-the-art in optical coating technology. NASA is considering large monolithic mirrors 1 to 8-meters in diameter for future telescopes such as HabEx and LUVOIR. Improved large area coating processes are needed to meet the future requirements of large astronomical mirrors. In this project, we will demonstrate a broadband reflective coating process for achieving high reflectivity from 90-nm to 2500-nm over a 2.3-meter diameter coating area. The coating process is scalable to larger mirrors, 6+ meters in diameter. We will use a battery-driven coating process to make an aluminum reflector, and a motion-controlled coating technology for depositing protective layers. We will advance the state-of-the-art for coating technology and manufacturing infrastructure, to meet the reflectance and wavefront requirements of both HabEx and LUVOIR. Specifically, we will combine the broadband reflective coating designs and processes developed at GSFC and JPL with large area manufacturing technologies developed at ZeCoat Corporation. Our primary objectives are to: Demonstrate an aluminum coating process to create uniform coatings over large areas with near-theoretical aluminum reflectance Demonstrate a motion-controlled coating process to apply very precise 2-nm to 5- nm thick protective/interference layers to large areas, Demonstrate a broadband coating system (90-nm to 2500-nm) over a 2.3-meter coating area and test it against the current coating specifications for LUVOIR/HabEx. We will perform simulated space-environment testing, and we expect to advance the TRL from 3 to >5 in 3-years.

  6. Process analytical technology in the pharmaceutical industry: a toolkit for continuous improvement.

    PubMed

    Scott, Bradley; Wilcock, Anne

    2006-01-01

    Process analytical technology (PAT) refers to a series of tools used to ensure that quality is built into products while at the same time improving the understanding of processes, increasing efficiency, and decreasing costs. It has not been widely adopted by the pharmaceutical industry. As the setting for this paper, the current pharmaceutical manufacturing paradigm and PAT guidance to date are discussed prior to the review of PAT principles and tools, benefits, and challenges. The PAT toolkit contains process analyzers, multivariate analysis tools, process control tools, and continuous improvement/knowledge management/information technology systems. The integration and implementation of these tools is complex, and has resulted in uncertainty with respect to both regulation and validation. The paucity of staff knowledgeable in this area may complicate adoption. Studies to quantitate the benefits resulting from the adoption of PAT within the pharmaceutical industry would be a valuable addition to the qualitative studies that are currently available.

  7. Advances in solid dosage form manufacturing technology.

    PubMed

    Andrews, Gavin P

    2007-12-15

    Currently, the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries are moving through a period of unparalleled change. Major multinational pharmaceutical companies are restructuring, consolidating, merging and more importantly critically assessing their competitiveness to ensure constant growth in an ever-more demanding market where the cost of developing novel products is continuously increasing. The pharmaceutical manufacturing processes currently in existence for the production of solid oral dosage forms are associated with significant disadvantages and in many instances provide many processing problems. Therefore, it is well accepted that there is an increasing need for alternative processes to dramatically improve powder processing, and more importantly to ensure that acceptable, reproducible solid dosage forms can be manufactured. Consequently, pharmaceutical companies are beginning to invest in innovative processes capable of producing solid dosage forms that better meet the needs of the patient while providing efficient manufacturing operations. This article discusses two emerging solid dosage form manufacturing technologies, namely hot-melt extrusion and fluidized hot-melt granulation.

  8. Factors affecting the dissipation of pharmaceuticals in freshwater sediments.

    PubMed

    Al-Khazrajy, Omar S A; Bergström, Ed; Boxall, Alistair B A

    2018-03-01

    Degradation is one of the key processes governing the impact of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. Most studies on the degradation of pharmaceuticals have focused on soil and sludge, with fewer exploring persistence in aquatic sediments. We investigated the dissipation of 6 pharmaceuticals from different therapeutic classes in a range of sediment types. Dissipation of each pharmaceutical was found to follow first-order exponential decay. Half-lives in the sediments ranged from 9.5 (atenolol) to 78.8 (amitriptyline) d. Under sterile conditions, the persistence of pharmaceuticals was considerably longer. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the relationships between half-lives of the pharmaceuticals, sediment physicochemical properties, and sorption coefficients for the compounds. Sediment clay, silt, and organic carbon content and microbial activity were the predominant factors related to the degradation rates of diltiazem, cimetidine, and ranitidine. Regression analysis failed to highlight a key property which may be responsible for observed differences in the degradation of the other pharmaceuticals. The present results suggest that the degradation rate of pharmaceuticals in sediments is determined by different factors and processes and does not exclusively depend on a single sediment parameter. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:829-838. © 2017 SETAC. © 2017 SETAC.

  9. Recent advances in the application of transmission Raman spectroscopy to pharmaceutical analysis.

    PubMed

    Buckley, Kevin; Matousek, Pavel

    2011-06-25

    This article reviews recent advances in transmission Raman spectroscopy and its applications, from the perspective of pharmaceutical analysis. The emerging concepts enable rapid non-invasive volumetric analysis of pharmaceutical formulations and could lead to many important applications in pharmaceutical settings, including quantitative bulk analysis of intact pharmaceutical tablets and capsules in quality and process control. Crown Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. The good pharmacy practice on Einstein Program at Paraisópolis Community

    PubMed Central

    de Oliveira, Lara Tânia de Assumpção Domingues Gonçalves; da Silva, Camila Pontes; Guedes, Maria das Vitorias; Sousa, Ana Célia de Oliveira; Sarno, Flávio

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT Objectives: To describe indicators and processes developed and implemented for pharmaceutical assistance at the Einstein Program at Paraisópolis Community pharmacy. Methods: This was a descriptive study of retrospective data from January 2012 to December 2015. Data were obtained from spreadsheets developed for monitoring the productivity and care quality provided at the pharmacy. The evaluated variables were pharmaceutical assistance to prescription, pharmaceutical intervention, orientation (standard and pharmaceutical) and pharmaceutical orientation rate. Results: The pharmacy assisted, on average, 2,308 prescriptions monthly, dispensing 4,871 items, including medications, materials and food supplements. Since March 2015, virtually, the pharmacist analyzed all prescriptions, prior to dispensing. In the analyzed period, there was an increase in monthly pharmaceutical interventions from 7 to 32 on average, and, although there was a decrease in the number of standard orientation, the pharmaceutical orientation had an increase, causing a rise of pharmaceutical orientation rate from 4 to 11%. Conclusion: The processes developed and implemented at the program pharmacy sought to follow the good pharmacy practice, and help patients to make the best use of their medications. PMID:27759833

  11. Investigation of Stainless Steel Corrosion in Ultrahigh-Purity Water and Steam Systems by Surface Analytical Techniques

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dong, Xia; Iacocca, Ronald G.; Bustard, Bethany L.; Kemp, Craig A. J.

    2010-02-01

    Stainless steel pipes with different degrees of rouging and a Teflon®-coated rupture disc with severe corrosion were thoroughly investigated by combining multiple surface analytical techniques. The surface roughness and iron oxide layer thickness increase with increasing rouge severity, and the chromium oxide layer coexists with the iron oxide layer in samples with various degrees of rouging. Unlike the rouging observed for stainless steel pipes, the fast degradation of the rupture disc was caused by a crevice corrosion environment created by perforations in the protective Teflon coating. This failure analysis clearly shows the highly corrosive nature of ultrapure water used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, and demonstrates some of the unexpected corrosion mechanisms that can be encountered in these environments.

  12. Defining pharmaceutical systems strengthening: concepts to enable measurement

    PubMed Central

    Hafner, Tamara; Lee, David; Aboagye-Nyame, Francis

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Pharmaceutical products are indispensable for improving health outcomes. An extensive body of work on access to and use of medicines has resulted in an assortment of tools measuring various elements of pharmaceutical systems. Until now however, there has been little attempt to conceptualize a pharmaceutical system as an entity and define its strengthening in a way that allows for measuring systems strengthening. The narrow focus of available tools limits their value in ascertaining which interventions result in stronger, more resilient systems. We sought to address this shortcoming by revisiting the current definitions, frameworks and assessment tools related to pharmaceutical systems. We conducted a comprehensive literature review and consulted with select pharmaceutical experts. On the basis of our review, we propose that a pharmaceutical system consists of all structures, people, resources, processes, and their interactions within the broader health system that aim to ensure equitable and timely access to safe, effective, quality pharmaceutical products and related services that promote their appropriate and cost-effective use to improve health outcomes. We further propose that pharmaceutical systems strengthening is the process of identifying and implementing strategies and actions that achieve coordinated and sustainable improvements in the critical components of a pharmaceutical system to make it more responsive and resilient and to enhance its performance for achieving better health outcomes. Finally, we established that, in addition to system performance and resilience, seven components of the pharmaceutical system are critical for measuring pharmaceutical systems strengthening: pharmaceutical products and related services; policy, laws and governance; regulatory systems; innovation, research and development, manufacturing, and trade; financing; human resources; and information. This work adds clarity to the concept of pharmaceutical systems and their strengthening by proposing holistic definitions on the basis of systems thinking. It provides a practical starting point for measuring the progress of pharmaceutical systems strengthening. PMID:28025324

  13. Sorption of structurally different ionized pharmaceutical and illicit drugs to a mixed-mode coated microsampler.

    PubMed

    Peltenburg, Hester; Timmer, Niels; Bosman, Ingrid J; Hermens, Joop L M; Droge, Steven T J

    2016-05-20

    The mixed-mode (C18/strong cation exchange-SCX) solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber has recently been shown to have increased sensitivity for ionic compounds compared to more conventional sampler coatings such as polyacrylate and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). However, data for structurally diverse compounds to this (prototype) sampler coating are too limited to define its structural limitations. We determined C18/SCX fiber partitioning coefficients of nineteen cationic structures without hydrogen bonding capacity besides the charged group, stretching over a wide hydrophobicity range (including amphetamine, amitriptyline, promazine, chlorpromazine, triflupromazine, difenzoquat), and eight basic pharmaceutical and illicit drugs (pKa>8.86) with additional hydrogen bonding moieties (MDMA, atenolol, alprenolol, metoprolol, morphine, nicotine, tramadol, verapamil). In addition, sorption data for three neutral benzodiazepines (diazepam, temazepam, and oxazepam) and the anionic NSAID diclofenac were collected to determine the efficiency to sample non-basic drugs. All tested compounds showed nonlinear isotherms above 1mmol/L coating, and linear isotherms below 1mmol/L. The affinity for C18/SCX-SPME for tested organic cations without Hbond capacities increased with longer alkyl chains, ranging from logarithmic fiber-water distribution coefficients (log Dfw) of 1.8 (benzylamine) to 5.8 (triflupromazine). Amines smaller than benzylamine may thus have limited detection levels, while cationic surfactants with alkyl chain lengths >12 carbon atoms may sorb too strong to the C18/SCX sampler which hampers calibration of the fiber-water relationship in the linear range. The log Dfw for these simple cation structures closely correlates with the octanol-water partition coefficient of the neutral form (Kow,N), and decreases with increased branching and presence of multiple aromatic rings. Oxygen moieties in organic cations decreased the affinity for C18/SCX-SPME. Log Dfw values of neutral benzodiazepines were an order of magnitude higher than their log Kow,N. Results for anionic diclofenac species (logKow,N 4.5, pKa 4.0, log Dfw 2.9) indicate that the C18-SCX fiber might also be useful for sampling of organic anions. This data supports our theory that C18-based coatings are able to sorb ionized compounds through adsorption and demonstrates the applicability of C18-based SPME in the measurement of freely dissolved concentrations of a wide range of ionizable compounds. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Hydrogel-coated microfluidic channels for cardiomyocyte culture

    PubMed Central

    Annabi, Nasim; Selimović, Šeila; Cox, Juan Pablo Acevedo; Ribas, João; Bakooshli, Mohsen Afshar; Heintze, Déborah; Weiss, Anthony S.; Cropek, Donald; Khademhosseini, Ali

    2013-01-01

    The research areas of tissue engineering and drug development have displayed increased interest in organ-on-a-chip studies, in which physiologically or pathologically relevant tissues can be engineered to test pharmaceutical candidates. Microfluidic technologies enable the control of the cellular microenvironment for these applications through the topography, size, and elastic properties of the microscale cell culture environment, while delivering nutrients and chemical cues to the cells through continuous media perfusion. Traditional materials used in the fabrication of microfluidic devices, such as poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), offer high fidelity and high feature resolution, but do not facilitate cell attachment. To overcome this challenge, we have developed a method for coating microfluidic channels inside a closed PDMS device with a cell-compatible hydrogel layer. We have synthesized photocrosslinkable gelatin and tropoelastin-based hydrogel solutions that were used to coat the surfaces under continuous flow inside 50 μm wide, straight microfluidic channels to generate a hydrogel layer on the channel walls. Our observation of primary cardiomyocytes seeded on these hydrogel layers showed preferred attachment as well as higher spontaneous beating rates on tropoelastin coatings compared to gelatin. In addition, cellular attachment, alignment and beating were stronger on 5 % (w/v) hydrogel-coated devices than on 10 % (w/v) gel-coated channels. Our results demonstrate that cardiomyocytes respond favorably to the elastic, soft tropoelastin culture substrates, indicating that tropoelastin-based hydrogels may be a suitable coating choice for some organ-on-a-chip applications. We anticipate that the proposed hydrogel coating method and tropoelastin as a cell culture substrate may be useful for the generation of elastic tissues, e.g. blood vessels, using microfluidic approaches. PMID:23728018

  15. Investigation on influence of Wurster coating process parameters for the development of delayed release minitablets of Naproxen.

    PubMed

    Shah, Neha; Mehta, Tejal; Aware, Rahul; Shetty, Vasant

    2017-12-01

    The present work aims at studying process parameters affecting coating of minitablets (3 mm in diameter) through Wurster coating process. Minitablets of Naproxen with high drug loading were manufactured using 3 mm multi-tip punches. The release profile of core pellets (published) and minitablets was compared with that of marketed formulation. The core formulation of minitablets was found to show similarity in dissolution profile with marketed formulation and hence was further carried forward for functional coating over it. Wurster processing was implemented to pursue functional coating over core formulation. Different process parameters were screened and control strategy was applied for factors significantly affecting the process. Modified Plackett Burman Design was applied for studying important factors. Based on the significant factors and minimum level of coating required for functionalization, optimized process was executed. Final coated batch was evaluated for coating thickness, surface morphology, and drug release study.

  16. WHO Expert Committee on specifications for pharmaceutical preparations.

    PubMed

    2010-01-01

    The Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations works towards clear, independent and practical standards and guidelines for the quality assurance of medicines. Standards are developed by the Committee through worldwide consultation and an international consensus-building process. The following new guidelines were adopted and recommended for use: good practices for pharmaceutical quality control laboratories; supplementary guidelines for active pharmaceutical ingredients; good manufacturing practices for pharmaceutical products containing hazardous substances; good manufacturing practices for sterile pharmaceutical products; good distribution practices for pharmaceutical products; guidelines on the requalification of prequalified dossiers: and guidelines for the preparation of a contract research organization master file.

  17. WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations.

    PubMed

    2009-01-01

    The Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations works towards clear, independent and practical standards and guidelines for the quality assurance of medicines. Standards are developed by the Committee through worldwide consultation and an international consensus-building process. The following new standards and guidelines were adopted and recommended for use: the current list of available International Chemical Reference Substances and International Infrared Reference Spectra; guidelines on stability testing of active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished pharmaceutical products; procedure for prequalification of pharmaceutical products; and the procedure for assessing the acceptability, in principle, of active pharmaceutical ingredients for use in pharmaceutical products.

  18. A continuous silicon-coating facility

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Butter, C.; Heaps, J. D.

    1979-01-01

    Automatic continuous silicon-coating facility is used to process 100 by 10 cm graphite-coated ceramic substrates for silicon solar cells. Process reduces contamination associated with conventional dip-coating processes, improving material service life.

  19. Continuous processing and the applications of online tools in pharmaceutical product manufacture: developments and examples.

    PubMed

    Ooi, Shing Ming; Sarkar, Srimanta; van Varenbergh, Griet; Schoeters, Kris; Heng, Paul Wan Sia

    2013-04-01

    Continuous processing and production in pharmaceutical manufacturing has received increased attention in recent years mainly due to the industries' pressing needs for more efficient, cost-effective processes and production, as well as regulatory facilitation. To achieve optimum product quality, the traditional trial-and-error method for the optimization of different process and formulation parameters is expensive and time consuming. Real-time evaluation and the control of product quality using an online process analyzer in continuous processing can provide high-quality production with very high-throughput at low unit cost. This review focuses on continuous processing and the application of different real-time monitoring tools used in the pharmaceutical industry for continuous processing from powder to tablets.

  20. The Effect of Surfactant Content over Cu-Ni Coatings Electroplated by the sc-CO2 Technique

    PubMed Central

    Chuang, Ho-Chiao; Sánchez, Jorge; Cheng, Hsiang-Yun

    2017-01-01

    Co-plating of Cu-Ni coatings by supercritical CO2 (sc-CO2) and conventional electroplating processes was studied in this work. 1,4-butynediol was chosen as the surfactant and the effects of adjusting the surfactant content were described. Although the sc-CO2 process displayed lower current efficiency, it effectively removed excess hydrogen that causes defects on the coating surface, refined grain size, reduced surface roughness, and increased electrochemical resistance. Surface roughness of coatings fabricated by the sc-CO2 process was reduced by an average of 10%, and a maximum of 55%, compared to conventional process at different fabrication parameters. Cu-Ni coatings produced by the sc-CO2 process displayed increased corrosion potential of ~0.05 V over Cu-Ni coatings produced by the conventional process, and 0.175 V over pure Cu coatings produced by the conventional process. For coatings ~10 µm thick, internal stress developed from the sc-CO2 process were ~20 MPa lower than conventional process. Finally, the preferred crystal orientation of the fabricated coatings remained in the (111) direction regardless of the process used or surfactant content. PMID:28772787

  1. A novel tool to standardize rheology testing of molten polymers for pharmaceutical applications.

    PubMed

    Treffer, Daniel; Troiss, Alexander; Khinast, Johannes

    2015-11-10

    Melt rheology provides information about material properties that are of great importance for equipment design and simulations, especially for novel pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, including extrusion, injection molding or 3d printing. To that end, homogeneous samples must be prepared, most commonly via compression or injection molding, both of which require costly equipment and might not be applicable for shear- and heat-sensitive pharmaceutical materials. Our study introduces a novel vacuum compression molding (VCM) tool for simple preparation of thermoplastic specimens using standard laboratory equipment: a hot plate and a vacuum source. Sticking is eliminated by applying polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated separation foils. The evacuation of the tool leads to compression of the sample chamber, which is cost-efficient compared to conventional methods, such as compression molding or injection molding that require special equipment. In addition, this compact design reduces the preparation time and the heat load. The VCM tool was used to prepare samples for a rheological study of three pharmaceutical polymers (Soluplus(®), Eudragit(®)E, EVA Rowalit(®) 300-1/28). The prepared samples were without any air inclusions or voids, and the measurements had a high reproducibility. All relative standard deviations were below 3%. The obtained data were fitted to the Carreau-Yasuda model and time-temperature superposition was applied. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. PAT: From Western solid dosage forms to Chinese materia medica preparations using NIR-CI.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Luwei; Xu, Manfei; Wu, Zhisheng; Shi, Xinyuan; Qiao, Yanjiang

    2016-01-01

    Near-infrared chemical imaging (NIR-CI) is an emerging technology that combines traditional near-infrared spectroscopy with chemical imaging. Therefore, NIR-CI can extract spectral information from pharmaceutical products and simultaneously visualize the spatial distribution of chemical components. The rapid and non-destructive features of NIR-CI make it an attractive process analytical technology (PAT) for identifying and monitoring critical control parameters during the pharmaceutical manufacturing process. This review mainly focuses on the pharmaceutical applications of NIR-CI in each unit operation during the manufacturing processes, from the Western solid dosage forms to the Chinese materia medica preparations. Finally, future applications of chemical imaging in the pharmaceutical industry are discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  3. Organic solvents in the pharmaceutical industry.

    PubMed

    Grodowska, Katarzyna; Parczewski, Andrzej

    2010-01-01

    Organic solvents are commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as reaction media, in separation and purification of synthesis products and also for cleaning of equipment. This paper presents some aspects of organic solvents utilization in an active pharmaceutical ingredient and a drug product manufacturing process. As residual solvents are not desirable substances in a final product, different methods for their removal may be used, provided they fulfill safety criteria. After the drying process, analyses need to be performed to check if amounts of solvents used at any step of the production do not exceed acceptable limits (taken from ICH Guideline or from pharmacopoeias). Also new solvents like supercritical fluids or ionic liquids are developed to replace "traditional" organic solvents in the pharmaceutical production processes.

  4. Advanced thermal barrier coatings for operation in high hydrogen content fueled gas turbines.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sampath, Sanjay

    2015-04-02

    The Center for Thermal Spray Research (CTSR) at Stony Brook University in partnership with its industrial Consortium for Thermal Spray Technology is investigating science and technology related to advanced metallic alloy bond coats and ceramic thermal barrier coatings for applications in the hot section of gasified coal-based high hydrogen turbine power systems. In conjunction with our OEM partners (GE and Siemens) and through strategic partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) (materials degradation group and high temperature materials laboratory), a systems approach, considering all components of the TBC (multilayer ceramic top coat, metallic bond coat & superalloy substrate) is beingmore » taken during multi-layered coating design, process development and subsequent environmental testing. Recent advances in process science and advanced in situ thermal spray coating property measurement enabled within CTSR has been incorporated for full-field enhancement of coating and process reliability. The development of bond coat processing during this program explored various aspects of processing and microstructure and linked them to performance. The determination of the bond coat material was carried out during the initial stages of the program. Based on tests conducted both at Stony Brook University as well as those carried out at ORNL it was determined that the NiCoCrAlYHfSi (Amdry) bond coats had considerable benefits over NiCoCrAlY bond coats. Since the studies were also conducted at different cycling frequencies, thereby addressing an associated need for performance under different loading conditions, the Amdry bond coat was selected as the material of choice going forward in the program. With initial investigations focused on the fabrication of HVOF bond coats and the performance of TBC under furnace cycle tests , several processing strategies were developed. Two-layered HVOF bond coats were developed to render optimal balance of density and surface roughness and resulted in improved TBC lifetimes. Processing based approaches of identifying optimal processing regimes deploying advanced in-situ coating property measurements and in-flight diagnostic tools were used to develop process maps for bond coats. Having established a framework for the bond coat processing using the HVOF process, effort were channeled towards fabrication of APS and VPS bond coats with the same material composition. Comparative evaluation of the three deposition processes with regard to their microstrcuture , surface profiles and TBC performance were carried out and provided valuable insights into factors that require concurrent consideration for the development of bond coats for advanced TBC systems. Over the course of this program several advancements were made on the development of durable thermal barrier coatings. Process optimization techniques were utilized to identify processing regimes for both conventional YSZ as well as other TBC compositions such as Gadolinium Zirconate and other Co-doped materials. Measurement of critical properties for these formed the initial stages of the program to identify potential challenges in their implementation as part of a TBC system. High temperature thermal conductivity measurements as well as sintering behavior of both YSZ and GDZ coatings were evaluated as part of initial efforts to undersand the influence of processing on coating properties. By effectively linking fundamental coating properties of fracture toughness and elastic modulus to the cyclic performance of coatings, a durability strategy for APS YSZ coatings was developed. In order to meet the goals of fabricating a multimaterial TBC system further research was carried out on the development of a gradient thermal conductivity model and the evaluation of sintering behavior of multimaterial coatings. Layer optimization for desired properties in the multimaterial TBC was achieved by an iterative feedback approach utilizing process maps and in-situ and ex-situ coating property sensors. Addressing the challenges pertaining to the integration of the two materials YSZ and GDZ led to one of most the critical outcomes of this program, the development of durable multimaterial, multifunctional TBC systems.« less

  5. Bioequivalence Study of Warfarin in Healthy Chinese Volunteers With a Validated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method.

    PubMed

    Li, Wenlong; Bu, Fanlong; Li, Rong; Wang, Benjie; Shaikh, Abdul Sami; Zhang, Yunyun; Guo, Ruichen; Zhang, Rui

    2018-03-01

    This study was designed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of an innovative film-coated warfarin sodium tablet and to compare it with the marketed sugar-coated warfarin sodium tablet in humans. A single-dose, open-label, randomized, two-way crossover study was performed in 24 healthy Chinese male volunteers. They were administered 2.5 mg of innovative film-coated warfarin sodium tablets or the marketed sugar-coated warfarin sodium tablets. Blood samples were collected at different time points after dosing for investigation of the pharmacokinetics of warfarin in human plasma. A sensitive liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method was established to determine warfarin in plasma. Drug and Statistics 2.1.1 was applied to calculate the pharmacokinetics parameters. The main pharmacokinetic parameters for film-coated and sugar-coated warfarin were the following: t ½ , 103.5 ± 18.8 and 105.8 ± 21.3 hours; T max , 0.7 ± 0.5 and 1.3 ± 0.8 hours; C max , 347.8 ± 74.8 and 322.9 ± 75.7 ng/mL; AUC 0∼360 , 16,024.2 ± 3713.9 and 15,586.6 ± 3477.0 ng·mL -1 ·h; AUC 0∼∞ , 17,335.7 ± 4089.1 and 16,912.0 ± 3911.2 ng·mL -1 ·h, respectively. The human pharmacokinetics of film-coated and sugar-coated warfarin were slightly different. The oral absorption and bioavailability of innovative film-coated warfarin were slightly higher than those of the sugar-coated warfarin. This study is vital to clinical usage of warfarin not only because of the pharmacokinetic parameters of the 2 pharmaceutical dosage forms of warfarin but also to obtain data on the prevalence of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genes and their influence on the concentration of warfarin. © 2017, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.

  6. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Microwave Post-processed Ni Coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zafar, Sunny; Sharma, Apurbba Kumar

    2017-03-01

    Flame-sprayed coatings are widely used in the industries attributed to their low cost and simple processing. However, the presence of porosity and poor adhesion with the substrate requires suitable post-processing of the as-sprayed deposits. In the present work, post-processing of the flame-sprayed Ni-based coating has been successfully attempted using microwave hybrid heating. Microwave post-processing of the flame-sprayed coatings was carried out at 2.45 GHz in a 1 kW multimode industrial microwave applicator. The microwave-processed and as-sprayed deposits were characterized for their microstructure, porosity, fracture toughness and surface roughness. The properties of the coatings were correlated with their abrasive wear behavior using a sliding abrasion test on a pin-on-disk tribometer. Microwave post-processing led to healed micropores and microcracks, thus causing homogenization of the microstructure in the coating layer. Therefore, microwave post-processed coating layer exhibits improved mechanical and tribological properties compared to the as-sprayed coating layer.

  7. Advanced methods for processing ceramics

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Carter, W.B.

    1997-04-01

    Combustion chemical vapor deposition (combustion CVD) is being developed for the deposition of high temperature oxide coatings. The process is being evaluated as an alternative to more capital intensive conventional coating processes. The thrusts during this reporting period were the development of the combustion CVD process for depositing lanthanum monazite, the determination of the influence of aerosol size on coating morphology, the incorporation of combustion CVD coatings into thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) and related oxidation research, and continued work on the deposition of zirconia-yttria coatings.

  8. Processing of fused silicide coatings for carbon-based materials

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smialek, J. L.

    1982-01-01

    The processing and oxidation resistance of fused Al-Si and Ni-Si slurry coatings on ATJ graphite was studied. Ni-Si coatings in the 70 to 90 percent Si range were successfully processed to melt, wet, and bond to the graphite. The molten coatings also infiltrated the porosity in graphite and reacted with it to form SiC in the coating. Cyclic oxidation at 1200 C showed that these coatings were not totally protective because of local attack of the substrate, due to the extreme thinness of the coatings in combination with coating cracks.

  9. Application of TiC reinforced Fe-based coatings by means of High Velocity Air Fuel Spraying

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bobzin, K.; Öte, M.; Knoch, M. A.; Liao, X.; Sommer, J.

    2017-03-01

    In the field of hydraulic applications, different development trends can cause problems for coatings currently used as wear and corrosion protection for piston rods. Aqueous hydraulic fluids and rising raw material prices necessitate the search for alternatives to conventional coatings like galvanic hard chrome or High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF)-sprayed WC/Co coatings. In a previous study, Fe/TiC coatings sprayed by a HVOF-process, were identified to be promising coating systems for wear and corrosion protection in hydraulic systems. In this feasibility study, the novel High Velocity Air Fuel (HVAF)-process, a modification of the HVOF-process, is investigated using the same feedstock material, which means the powder is not optimized for the HVAF-process. The asserted benefits of the HVAF-process are higher particle velocities and lower process temperatures, which can result in a lower porosity and oxidation of the coating. Further benefits of the HVAF process are claimed to be lower process costs and higher deposition rates. In this study, the focus is set on to the applicability of Fe/TiC coatings by HVAF in general. The Fe/TiC HVAF coating could be produced, successfully. The HVAF- and HVOF-coatings, produced with the same powder, were investigated using micro-hardness, porosity, wear and corrosion tests. A similar wear coefficient and micro-hardness for both processes could be achieved. Furthermore the propane/hydrogen proportion of the HVAF process and its influence on the coating thickness and the porosity was investigated.

  10. Electrodeposited MCrAlY Coatings for Gas Turbine Engine Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Y.

    2015-11-01

    Electrolytic codeposition is a promising alternative process for fabricating MCrAlY coatings. The coating process involves two steps, i.e., codeposition of CrAlY-based particles and a metal matrix of Ni, Co, or (Ni,Co), followed by a diffusion heat treatment to convert the composite coating to the desired MCrAlY microstructure. Despite the advantages such as low cost and non-line-of-sight, this coating process is less known than electron beam-physical vapor deposition and thermal spray processes for manufacturing high-temperature coatings. This article provides an overview of the electro-codeposited MCrAlY coatings for gas turbine engine applications, highlighting the unique features of this coating process and some important findings in the past 30 years. Challenges and research opportunities for further optimization of this type of MCrAlY coatings are also discussed.

  11. Removal of pharmaceutical residue in municipal wastewater by DAF (dissolved air flotation)-MBR (membrane bioreactor) and ozone oxidation.

    PubMed

    Choi, Miyoung; Choi, Dong Whan; Lee, Jung Yeol; Kim, Young Suk; Kim, Bun Su; Lee, Byoung Ho

    2012-01-01

    Growing attention is given to pharmaceutical residue in the water environment. It is known that pharmaceuticals are able to survive from a series of wastewater treatment processes. Concerns regarding pharmaceutical residues are attributed to the fact that they are being detected in water and sediment environment ubiquitously. Pharmaceutical treatment using a series of wastewater treatment processes of the DAF (dissolved air flotation)-MBR (membrane bioreactor)-ozone oxidation was conducted in the study. DAF, without addition of coagulant, could remove COD(cr) (chemical oxygen demand by Cr) up to over 70%, BOD 73%, SS 83%, T-N 55%, NH₄(+) 23%, and T-P 65% in influent of municipal wastewater. Average removal rates of water quality parameters by the DAF-MBR system were very high, e.g. COD(cr) 95.88%, BOD₅ 99.66%, COD(mn) (chemical oxygen demand by Mn) 93.63%, T-N 69.75%, NH₄-N 98.46%, T-P 78.23%, and SS 99.51%, which satisfy effluent water quality standards. Despite the high removal rate of the wastewater treatment system, pharmaceuticals were eliminated to be about 50-99% by the MBR system, depending on specific pharmaceuticals. Ibuprofen was well removed by MBR system up to over 95%, while removal rate of bezafibrate ranged between 50 and 90%. With over 5 mg/l of ozone oxidation, most pharmaceuticals which survived the DAF-MBR process were removed completely or resulted in very low survival rate within the range of few micrograms per litre. However, some pharmaceuticals such as bezafibrate and naproxen tended to be resistant to ozone oxidation.

  12. Crystallization tendency of active pharmaceutical ingredients following rapid solvent evaporation--classification and comparison with crystallization tendency from undercooled melts.

    PubMed

    Van Eerdenbrugh, Bernard; Baird, Jared A; Taylor, Lynne S

    2010-09-01

    In this study, the crystallization behavior of a variety of compounds was studied following rapid solvent evaporation using spin coating. Initial screening to determine model compound suitability was performed using a structurally diverse set of 51 compounds in three different solvent systems [dichloromethane (DCM), a 1:1 (w/w) dichloromethane/ethanol mixture (MIX), and ethanol (EtOH)]. Of this starting set of 153 drug-solvent combinations, 93 (40 compounds) were selected for further evaluation based on solubility, chemical solution stability, and processability criteria. These systems were spin coated and their crystallization was monitored using polarized light microscopy (7 days, dry conditions). The crystallization behavior of the samples could be classified as rapid (Class I: 39 cases), intermediate (Class II: 23 cases), or slow (Class III: 31 cases). The solvent system employed influenced the classification outcome for only four of the compounds. The various compounds showed very diverse crystallization behavior. Upon comparison of classification results with those of a previous study, where cooling from the melt was used as a preparation technique, a good similarity was found whereby 68% of the cases were identically classified. Multivariate analysis was performed using a set of relevant physicochemical compound characteristics. It was found that a number of these parameters tended to differ between the different classes. These could be further interpreted in terms of the nature of the crystallization process. Additional multivariate analysis on the separate classes of compounds indicated some potential in predicting the crystallization tendency of a given compound.

  13. Biocatalysis in the Pharmaceutical Industry: The Need for Speed

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    The use of biocatalysis in the pharmaceutical industry continues to expand as a result of increased access to enzymes and the ability to engineer those enzymes to meet the demands of industrial processes. However, we are still just scratching the surface of potential biocatalytic applications. The time pressures present in pharmaceutical process development are incompatible with the long lead times required for engineering a suitable biocatalyst. Dramatic increases in the speed of protein engineering are needed to deliver on the ever increasing opportunities for industrial biocatalytic processes. PMID:28523096

  14. Biocatalysis in the Pharmaceutical Industry: The Need for Speed.

    PubMed

    Truppo, Matthew D

    2017-05-11

    The use of biocatalysis in the pharmaceutical industry continues to expand as a result of increased access to enzymes and the ability to engineer those enzymes to meet the demands of industrial processes. However, we are still just scratching the surface of potential biocatalytic applications. The time pressures present in pharmaceutical process development are incompatible with the long lead times required for engineering a suitable biocatalyst. Dramatic increases in the speed of protein engineering are needed to deliver on the ever increasing opportunities for industrial biocatalytic processes.

  15. Purchase of a Raman and Photoluminescence Imaging System for Characterization of Advanced Electrochemical and Electronic Materials

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-01-05

    2015, Abstract #1092. The Role of Chromium (III) in the Corrosion Inhibition of AA2024-T3 By Trivalent Chromium Process Coatings by Greg Swain...to replace chromate conversion coatings and primers with more environmentally-friendly, non-chromated coatings. The Trivalent Chromium Process (TCP...coatings and primers with more environmentally-friendly, non-chromated coatings. The Trivalent Chromium Process (TCP) coating, originally developed

  16. Supercritical fluid technology: concepts and pharmaceutical applications.

    PubMed

    Deshpande, Praful Balavant; Kumar, G Aravind; Kumar, Averineni Ranjith; Shavi, Gopal Venkatesh; Karthik, Arumugam; Reddy, Meka Sreenivasa; Udupa, Nayanabhirama

    2011-01-01

    In light of environmental apprehension, supercritical fluid technology (SFT) exhibits excellent opportunities to accomplish key objectives in the drug delivery sector. Supercritical fluid extraction using carbon dioxide (CO(2)) has been recognized as a green technology. It is a clean and versatile solvent with gas-like diffusivity and liquid-like density in the supercritical phase, which has provided an excellent alternative to the use of chemical solvents. The present commentary provides an overview of different techniques using supercritical fluids and their future opportunity for the drug delivery industry. Some of the emerging applications of SFT in pharmaceuticals, such as particle design, drug solubilization, inclusion complex, polymer impregnation, polymorphism, drug extraction process, and analysis, are also covered in this review. The data collection methods are based on the recent literature related to drug delivery systems using SFT platforms. SFT has become a much more versatile and environmentally attractive technology that can handle a variety of complicated problems in pharmaceuticals. This cutting-edge technology is growing predominantly to surrogate conventional unit operations in relevance to the pharmaceutical production process. Supercritical fluid technology has recently drawn attention in the field of pharmaceuticals. It is a distinct conception that utilizes the solvent properties of supercritical fluids above their critical temperature and pressure, where they exhibit both liquid-like and gas-like properties, which can enable many pharmaceutical applications. For example, the liquid-like properties provide benefits in extraction processes of organic solvents or impurities, drug solubilization, and polymer plasticization, and the gas-like features facilitate mass transfer processes. It has become a much more versatile and environmentally attractive technology that can handle a variety of complicated problems in pharmaceuticals. This review is focused on different techniques that use supercritical fluids and their opportunities for the pharmaceutical sector.

  17. Analysis of molecular interactions in solid dosage forms; challenge to molecular pharmaceutics.

    PubMed

    Yamamoto, Keiji; Limwikrant, Waree; Moribe, Kunikazu

    2011-01-01

    The molecular states of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in pharmaceutical dosage forms strongly affect the properties and quality of a drug. Various important fundamental physicochemical studies were reviewed from the standpoint of molecular pharmaceutics. Mechanochemical effects were evaluated in mixtures of APIs and pharmaceutical additives. Amorphization, complex formation and nanoparticle formation are observed after grinding process depending on the combination of APIs and pharmaceutical additives. Sealed-heating method and mesoporous materials have been used to investigate drug molecular interactions in dosage forms. Molecular states have been investigated using powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, IR, solid state fluorometry, and NMR. © 2011 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

  18. Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production involving continuous processes--a process system engineering (PSE)-assisted design framework.

    PubMed

    Cervera-Padrell, Albert E; Skovby, Tommy; Kiil, Søren; Gani, Rafiqul; Gernaey, Krist V

    2012-10-01

    A systematic framework is proposed for the design of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Specifically, the design framework focuses on organic chemistry based, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) synthetic processes, but could potentially be extended to biocatalytic and fermentation-based products. The method exploits the synergic combination of continuous flow technologies (e.g., microfluidic techniques) and process systems engineering (PSE) methods and tools for faster process design and increased process understanding throughout the whole drug product and process development cycle. The design framework structures the many different and challenging design problems (e.g., solvent selection, reactor design, and design of separation and purification operations), driving the user from the initial drug discovery steps--where process knowledge is very limited--toward the detailed design and analysis. Examples from the literature of PSE methods and tools applied to pharmaceutical process design and novel pharmaceutical production technologies are provided along the text, assisting in the accumulation and interpretation of process knowledge. Different criteria are suggested for the selection of batch and continuous processes so that the whole design results in low capital and operational costs as well as low environmental footprint. The design framework has been applied to the retrofit of an existing batch-wise process used by H. Lundbeck A/S to produce an API: zuclopenthixol. Some of its batch operations were successfully converted into continuous mode, obtaining higher yields that allowed a significant simplification of the whole process. The material and environmental footprint of the process--evaluated through the process mass intensity index, that is, kg of material used per kg of product--was reduced to half of its initial value, with potential for further reduction. The case-study includes reaction steps typically used by the pharmaceutical industry featuring different characteristic reaction times, as well as L-L separation and distillation-based solvent exchange steps, and thus constitutes a good example of how the design framework can be useful to efficiently design novel or already existing API manufacturing processes taking advantage of continuous processes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Processing of fused silicide coatings for carbon-based materials

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Smialek, J. L.

    1983-01-01

    The processing and oxidation resistance of fused Al-Si and Ni-Si slurry coatings on ATJ graphite was studied. Ni-Si coatings in the 70 to 90 percent Si range were successfully processed to melt, wet, and bond to the graphite. The molten coatings also infiltrated the porosity in graphite and reacted with it to form SiC in the coating. Cyclic oxidation at 1200 C showed that these coatings were not totally protective because of local attack of the substrate, due to the extreme thinness of the coatings in combination with coating cracks. Previously announced in STAR as N83-27019

  20. [Technological and pharmacotherapeutic properties of selected drugs with modified release of diclofenac sodium].

    PubMed

    Kołodziejczyk, Michał Krzysztof; Kołodziejska, Justyna; Zgoda, Marian Mikołaj

    2012-01-01

    Diclofenac and its sodium salt is one of the best-known and popular therapeutic agents from the group of NSAIDs used in medicine in many various pharmaceutical forms. Therapeutic products containing diclofenac sodium salt in doses of 100 mg and 75 mg with a qualitatively and quantitatively diversified share of excipients and a variable dosage form of the drug (solid capsules, tablets with modified release) were subjected to technological and pharmaceutical analysis. The effect of solid formulation components of polymer character making the core and the coating of the pharmaceutical form of therapeutic products on the disintegration time and pharmaceutical availability in pharmacopoeial receptor fluids was estimated. Market therapeutic products with diclofenac sodium in doses of 75 mg and 100 mg, technological analysis of the drug dosage form was conducted, disintegration time of solid oral dosage forms of the drug with diclofenac sodium salt was examined and research on pharmaceutical availability of diclofenac sodium salt from tested therapeutic products was conducted using the acid phase and the buffer phase according to the FP standards for delayed release enteral dosage forms. The experimental data was supplemented with the statistical analysis. There are three formulations in the form of solid capsules and one formulation in the form of a coated tablet. All therapeutic products bear features of a dosage form of modified release of diclofenac sodium salt, frequently of a delayed release formula in the duodenum or the small intestine with regard to the limitation of typical undesirable effects after taking NSAIDs. Considerable diversity between solid capsules and the tablet with modified release during disintegration or hydration and swelling has been observed. In the environment of a receptor fluid--purified water (pH = 7) the capsule Dicloberl retard disintegrates at the fastest rate in 5,49 minutes, and then in the order: DicloDuo 75 mg--8,13 minutes and Olfen 100 SR--11,27 minutes. The hydration degree of gelatin walls of capsules depends on the pH of the receptor fluid. The availability of diclofenac sodium salt in given receptor fluids confirms the fact of significant connection of clinical effectiveness of the tested pharmaceutical forms with the activity of hydrogen ions (pH) of the environment in which there are therapeutic products, and excipients used for making the pharmaceutical phase. Tested therapeutic products with diclofenac sodium salt are differentiated by the type of a dosage form. Dicloberl retard contains the minimally indispensable number of simple, commonly used excipients. The research on the disintegration time may only be related to the products Dicloberl retard, Olfen 100 SR and DicloDuo 75 mg treating it as the time of deformation and disintegration of a capsule. In all three types of receptor fluids, the capsule Dicloberl retard has the fastest disintegration rate. The "acid phase" demonstrated stability of the products with a slight dissolution of diclofenac sodium salt on the level 1,3-4,18% of the Q release coefficient. In the environment of artificial intestinal juice, Dicloberl retard is more effective releasing larger amounts of diclofenac sodium salt during 4 hours of exposition (differences from 10% to 14% of the Q release coefficient).

  1. Supercritical carbon dioxide processing of active pharmaceutical ingredients for polymorphic control and for complex formation.

    PubMed

    Moribe, Kunikazu; Tozuka, Yuichi; Yamamoto, Keiji

    2008-02-14

    Supercritical fluid technique have been exploited in extraction, separation and crystallization processes. In the field of pharmaceutics, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) has been used for the purpose of micronization, polymorphic control, and preparation of solid dispersion and complexes. Particle design of active pharmaceutical ingredients is important to make the solid dosage forms with suitable physicochemical properties. Control of the characteristic properties of particles, such as size, shape, crystal structure and morphology is required to optimize the formulation. For solubility enhancement of poorly water-soluble drugs, preparation of the solid dispersion or the complexation with proper drugs or excipients should be a promising approach. This review focuses on aspects of polymorphic control and complexation behavior of active pharmaceutical ingredients by scCO(2) processing.

  2. Nationwide reconnaissance of contaminants of emerging concern in source and treated drinking waters of the United States: Pharmaceuticals.

    PubMed

    Furlong, Edward T; Batt, Angela L; Glassmeyer, Susan T; Noriega, Mary C; Kolpin, Dana W; Mash, Heath; Schenck, Kathleen M

    2017-02-01

    Mobile and persistent chemicals that are present in urban wastewater, such as pharmaceuticals, may survive on-site or municipal wastewater treatment and post-discharge environmental processes. These pharmaceuticals have the potential to reach surface and groundwaters, essential drinking-water sources. A joint, two-phase U.S. Geological Survey-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study examined source and treated waters from 25 drinking-water treatment plants from across the United States. Treatment plants that had probable wastewater inputs to their source waters were selected to assess the prevalence of pharmaceuticals in such source waters, and to identify which pharmaceuticals persist through drinking-water treatment. All samples were analyzed for 24 pharmaceuticals in Phase I and for 118 in Phase II. In Phase I, 11 pharmaceuticals were detected in all source-water samples, with a maximum of nine pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample. The median number of pharmaceuticals for all 25 samples was five. Quantifiable pharmaceutical detections were fewer, with a maximum of five pharmaceuticals in any one sample and a median for all samples of two. In Phase II, 47 different pharmaceuticals were detected in all source-water samples, with a maximum of 41 pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample. The median number of pharmaceuticals for all 25 samples was eight. For 37 quantifiable pharmaceuticals in Phase II, median concentrations in source water were below 113ng/L. For both Phase I and Phase II campaigns, substantially fewer pharmaceuticals were detected in treated water samples than in corresponding source-water samples. Seven different pharmaceuticals were detected in all Phase I treated water samples, with a maximum of four detections in any one sample and a median of two pharmaceuticals for all samples. In Phase II a total of 26 different pharmaceuticals were detected in all treated water samples, with a maximum of 20 pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample and a median of 2 pharmaceuticals detected for all 25 samples. Source-water type influences the presence of pharmaceuticals in source and treated water. Treatment processes appear effective in reducing concentrations of most pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals more consistently persisting through treatment include carbamazepine, bupropion, cotinine, metoprolol, and lithium. Pharmaceutical concentrations and compositions from this study provide an important base data set for further sublethal, long-term exposure assessments, and for understanding potential effects of these and other contaminants of emerging concern upon human and ecosystem health. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  3. LC-MS analysis to determine the biodistribution of a polymer coated ilomastat ocular implant.

    PubMed

    Mohamed-Ahmed, Abeer H A; Lockwood, Alastair; Fadda, Hala; Madaan, Shivam; Khaw, Peng T; Brocchini, Steve; Karu, Kersti

    2018-05-16

    Ilomastat is a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPi) that has shown the potential to inhibit scarring (fibrosis) by mediating healing after injury or surgery. A long lasting ocular implantable pharmaceutical formulation of ilomastat is being developed to mediate the healing process to prevent scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery. The ilomastat implant was coated with water permeable and biocompatible phosphoryl choline polymer (PC1059) displayed extended slow release of ilomastat in vitro and in vivo. The ocular distribution of ilomastat from the implant in rabbits at day 30 post surgery was determined by the extraction of ilomastat and its internal standard marimastat from the ocular tissues, plasma, aqueous humour and vitreous fluid followed by capillary-flow liquid chromatography (cap-LC), the column effluent was directed into a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in product scan mode. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) were 0.3 pg/μL for ocular fluids and plasma, and 3 pg/mg for ocular tissues. The extraction recoveries were 90-95% for ilomastat and its internal standard from ocular tissues. Ilomastat was found in ocular fluids and tissues at day 30 after surgery. The level of ilomastat was 18 times higher in the aqueous humour than vitreous humour. The concentration ranking of ilomastat in the ocular tissues was sclera > bleb conjunctiva > conjunctiva (rest of the eye) > cornea. Mass spectrometry analysis to confirm the presence of ilomastat in the ocular tissues and fluids at day 30 post-surgery establishes the extended release of ilomastat can be achieved in vivo, which is crucial information for optimisation of the ilomastat coated implant. Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. The service blueprint as a tool for designing innovative pharmaceutical services.

    PubMed

    Holdford, D A; Kennedy, D T

    1999-01-01

    To describe service blueprints, discuss their need and design, and provide examples of their use in advancing pharmaceutical care. Service blueprints are pictures or maps of service processes that permit the people involved in designing, providing, managing, and using the service to better understand them and deal with them objectively. A service blueprint simultaneously depicts the service process and the roles of consumers, service providers, and supporting services. Service blueprints can be useful in pharmacy because many of the obstacles to pharmaceutical care are a result of insufficient planning by service designers and/or poor communication between those designing services and those implementing them. One consequence of this poor design and communication is that many consumers and third party payers are uninformed about pharmacist roles. Service blueprints can be used by pharmacists to promote the value of pharmaceutical care to consumers and other decision makers. They can also assist in designing better pharmaceutical services. Blueprints are designed by identifying and mapping a process from the consumer's point of view, mapping employee actions and support activities, and adding visible evidence of service at each consumer action step. Key components of service blueprints are consumer actions, "onstage" and "backstage" employee actions, and support processes. Blueprints can help pharmacy managers identify and correct problems with the service process, provide pharmacy employees an opportunity to offer feedback in the planning stages of services, and demonstrate the value of pharmaceutical services to consumers. Service blueprints can be a valuable tool for designing, implementing, and evaluating pharmacy services.

  5. 40 CFR 439.11 - Special definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... STANDARDS PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Fermentation Products § 439.11 Special definitions. For the purpose of this subpart: (a) Fermentation means process operations that utilize a... means pharmaceutical products derived from fermentation processes. [68 FR 12271, Mar. 13, 2003] ...

  6. 40 CFR 439.11 - Special definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... STANDARDS (CONTINUED) PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Fermentation Products § 439.11 Special definitions. For the purpose of this subpart: (a) Fermentation means process operations that...) Product means pharmaceutical products derived from fermentation processes. [68 FR 12271, Mar. 13, 2003] ...

  7. 40 CFR 439.11 - Special definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... STANDARDS (CONTINUED) PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Fermentation Products § 439.11 Special definitions. For the purpose of this subpart: (a) Fermentation means process operations that...) Product means pharmaceutical products derived from fermentation processes. [68 FR 12271, Mar. 13, 2003] ...

  8. 40 CFR 439.11 - Special definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... STANDARDS (CONTINUED) PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Fermentation Products § 439.11 Special definitions. For the purpose of this subpart: (a) Fermentation means process operations that...) Product means pharmaceutical products derived from fermentation processes. [68 FR 12271, Mar. 13, 2003] ...

  9. 40 CFR 439.11 - Special definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... STANDARDS PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Fermentation Products § 439.11 Special definitions. For the purpose of this subpart: (a) Fermentation means process operations that utilize a... means pharmaceutical products derived from fermentation processes. [68 FR 12271, Mar. 13, 2003] ...

  10. Specialty pharmaceuticals: developing a management plan.

    PubMed

    Willcutts, Dave

    2002-01-01

    This is the first in a series of articles that address the complex issues associated with specialty pharmaceuticals in the development of a successful specialty pharmaceutical program, a critical component of managing this high-cost and highly fragmented sector. This article focuses on how to define specialty pharmaceuticals. Other articles in this series will explore such topics as the mechanics of developing and managing a specialty pharmaceutical program, how and when to establish clinical protocols and authorizations, the importance of data management, and the benefits from automated processes.

  11. Defining pharmaceutical systems strengthening: concepts to enable measurement.

    PubMed

    Hafner, Tamara; Walkowiak, Helena; Lee, David; Aboagye-Nyame, Francis

    2017-05-01

    Pharmaceutical products are indispensable for improving health outcomes. An extensive body of work on access to and use of medicines has resulted in an assortment of tools measuring various elements of pharmaceutical systems. Until now however, there has been little attempt to conceptualize a pharmaceutical system as an entity and define its strengthening in a way that allows for measuring systems strengthening. The narrow focus of available tools limits their value in ascertaining which interventions result in stronger, more resilient systems. We sought to address this shortcoming by revisiting the current definitions, frameworks and assessment tools related to pharmaceutical systems. We conducted a comprehensive literature review and consulted with select pharmaceutical experts. On the basis of our review, we propose that a pharmaceutical system consists of all structures, people, resources, processes, and their interactions within the broader health system that aim to ensure equitable and timely access to safe, effective, quality pharmaceutical products and related services that promote their appropriate and cost-effective use to improve health outcomes. We further propose that pharmaceutical systems strengthening is the process of identifying and implementing strategies and actions that achieve coordinated and sustainable improvements in the critical components of a pharmaceutical system to make it more responsive and resilient and to enhance its performance for achieving better health outcomes. Finally, we established that, in addition to system performance and resilience, seven components of the pharmaceutical system are critical for measuring pharmaceutical systems strengthening: pharmaceutical products and related services; policy, laws and governance; regulatory systems; innovation, research and development, manufacturing, and trade; financing; human resources; and information. This work adds clarity to the concept of pharmaceutical systems and their strengthening by proposing holistic definitions on the basis of systems thinking. It provides a practical starting point for measuring the progress of pharmaceutical systems strengthening. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press in association with The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

  12. Pharmaceuticals and Wastewater Tracers Along the Lower Hudson River

    EPA Science Inventory

    The behavior and fate of pharmaceutical residues in urbanized, coastal ecosystems is not well understood. In this study 16 highly prescribed pharmaceuticals were measured in the lower Hudson River and New York Harbor in order to elucidate factors and processes regulating their ...

  13. Hydroxyapatite coatings deposited by liquid precursor plasma spraying: controlled dense and porous microstructures and osteoblastic cell responses.

    PubMed

    Huang, Yi; Song, Lei; Liu, Xiaoguang; Xiao, Yanfeng; Wu, Yao; Chen, Jiyong; Wu, Fang; Gu, Zhongwei

    2010-12-01

    Hydroxyapatite coatings were deposited on Ti-6Al-4V substrates by a novel plasma spraying process, the liquid precursor plasma spraying (LPPS) process. X-ray diffraction results showed that the coatings obtained by the LPPS process were mainly composed of hydroxyapatite. The LPPS process also showed excellent control on the coating microstructure, and both nearly fully dense and highly porous hydroxyapatite coatings were obtained by simply adjusting the solid content of the hydroxyapatite liquid precursor. Scanning electron microscope observations indicated that the porous hydroxyapatite coatings had pore size in the range of 10-200 µm and an average porosity of 48.26 ± 0.10%. The osteoblastic cell responses to the dense and porous hydroxyapatite coatings were evaluated with human osteoblastic cell MG-63, in respect of the cell morphology, proliferation and differentiation, with the hydroxyapatite coatings deposited by the atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) process as control. The cell experiment results indicated that the heat-treated LPPS coatings with a porous structure showed the best cell proliferation and differentiation among all the hydroxyapatite coatings. Our results suggest that the LPPS process is a promising plasma spraying technique for fabricating hydroxyapatite coatings with a controllable microstructure, which has great potential in bone repair and replacement applications.

  14. Terahertz Tools Advance Imaging for Security, Industry

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2010-01-01

    Picometrix, a wholly owned subsidiary of Advanced Photonix Inc. (API), of Ann Arbor, Michigan, invented the world s first commercial terahertz system. The company improved the portability and capabilities of their systems through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) agreements with Langley Research Center to provide terahertz imaging capabilities for inspecting the space shuttle external tanks and orbiters. Now API s systems make use of the unique imaging capacity of terahertz radiation on manufacturing floors, for thickness measurements of coatings, pharmaceutical tablet production, and even art conservation.

  15. Superior Sensitivity of Copper-Based Plasmonic Biosensors.

    PubMed

    Stebunov, Yury V; Yakubovsky, Dmitry I; Fedyanin, Dmitry Yu; Arsenin, Aleksey V; Volkov, Valentyn S

    2018-04-17

    Plasmonic biosensing has been demonstrated to be a powerful technique for quantitative determination of molecular analytes and kinetic analysis of biochemical reactions. However, interfaces of most plasmonic biosensors are made of noble metals, such as gold and silver, which are not compatible with industrial production technologies. This greatly limits biosensing applications beyond biochemical and pharmaceutical research. Here, we propose and investigate copper-based biosensor chips fully fabricated with a standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The protection of thin copper films from oxidation is achieved with SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 dielectric films deposited onto the metal surface. In addition, the deposition of dielectric films with thicknesses of only several tens of nanometers significantly improves the biosensing sensitivity, owing to better localization of electromagnetic field above the biosensing surface. According to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements, the copper biosensor chips coated with thin films of SiO 2 (25 nm) and Al 2 O 3 (15 nm) show 55% and 75% higher sensitivity to refractive index changes, respectively, in comparison to pure gold sensor chips. To test biomolecule immobilization, the copper-dielectric biosensor chips are coated with graphene oxide linking layers and used for the selective analysis of oligonucleotide hybridization. The proposed plasmonic biosensors make SPR technology more affordable for various applications and provide the basis for compact biosensors integrated with modern electronic devices.

  16. EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM STEARATE CONCENTRATION ON DISSOLUTION PROPERTIES OF RANITIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE COATED TABLETS

    PubMed Central

    Uzunović, Alija; Vranić, Edina

    2007-01-01

    Most pharmaceutical formulations also include a certain amount of lubricant to improve their flowability and prevent their adhesion to the surfaces of processing equipment. Magnesium stearate is an additive that is most frequently used as a lubricant. Magnesium stearate is capable of forming films on other tablet excipients during prolonged mixing, leading to a prolonged drug liberation time, a decrease in hardness, and an increase in disintegration time. It is hydrophobic, and there are many reports in the literature concerning its adverse effect on dissolution rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different concentrations of magnesium stearate on dissolution properties of ranitidine hydrochloride coated tablet formulations labeled to contain 150 mg. The uniformity content was also checked. During the drug formulation development, several samples were designed for choice of the formulation. For this study, two formulations containing 0,77 and 1,1% of magnesium stearate added in the manufacture of cores were chosen. Fraction of ranitidine hydrochloride released in dissolution medium was calculated from calibration curves. The data were analyzed using pharmaco-peial test for similarity of dissolution profiles (f2 equation), previously proposed by Moore and Flanner. Application of f2 equation showed differences in time-course of ranitidine hydrochloride dissolution properties. The obtained values indicate differences in drug release from analyzed ranitidine hydrochloride formulations and could cause differences in therapeutic response. PMID:17848158

  17. [Improvement of powder flowability and hygroscopicity of traditional Chinese medicine extract by surface coating modification technology].

    PubMed

    Zeng, Rong-Gui; Jiang, Qie-Ying; Liao, Zheng-Gen; Zhao, Guo-Wei; Luo, Yun; Luo, Juan; Lv, Dan

    2016-06-01

    To study the improvement of powder flowability and hygroscopicity of traditional Chinese medicine extract by surface coating modification technology. The 1% hydrophobic silica nanoparticles were used as surface modifier, and andrographis extract powder was taken as a model drug. Three different techniques were used for coating model drugs, with angle of repose, compressibility, flat angle and cohesion as the comprehensive evaluation indexes for the powder flowability. The powder particle size and the size distribution were measured by Mastersizer 2000. FEI scanning electron microscope was used to observe the surface morphology and structure of the powder. The percentage of Si element on the powder surface was measured by energy dispersive spectrometer. The hygroscopicity of powder was determined by Chinese pharmacopoeia method. All of the three techniques can improve the flowability of powder extract. In particular, hygroscopicity of extract powder can also be improved by dispersion and then high-speed mixing, which can produce a higher percentage of Si element on the powder surface. The improvement principle may be correlated with a modifier adhered to the powder surface. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

  18. Enhancement of Curcumin Bioavailability by Encapsulation in Sophorolipid-Coated Nanoparticles: An in Vitro and in Vivo Study.

    PubMed

    Peng, Shengfeng; Li, Ziling; Zou, Liqiang; Liu, Wei; Liu, Chengmei; McClements, David Julian

    2018-02-14

    There is great interest in developing colloidal delivery systems to enhance the water solubility and oral bioavailability of curcumin, which is a hydrophobic nutraceutical claimed to have several health benefits. In this study, a natural emulsifier was used to form sophorolipid-coated curcumin nanoparticles. The curcumin was loaded into sophorolipid micelles using a pH-driven mechanism based on the decrease in curcumin solubility at lower pH values. The sophorolipid-coated curcumin nanoparticles formed using this mechanism were relatively small (61 nm) and negatively charged (-41 mV). The nanoparticles also had a relatively high encapsulation efficiency (82%) and loading capacity (14%) for curcumin, which was present in an amorphous state. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that the curcumin nanoparticles had an appreciably higher bioavailability than that of free curcumin crystals (2.7-3.6-fold), which was mainly attributed to their higher bioaccessibility. These results may facilitate the development of natural colloidal systems that enhance the oral bioavailability and bioactivity of curcumin in food, dietary supplements, and pharmaceutical products.

  19. Evaluating the fate of six common pharmaceuticals using a reactive transport model: insights from a stream tracer test.

    PubMed

    Riml, Joakim; Wörman, Anders; Kunkel, Uwe; Radke, Michael

    2013-08-01

    Quantitative information regarding the capacity of rivers to self-purify pharmaceutical residues is limited. To bridge this knowledge gap, we present a methodology for quantifying the governing processes affecting the fate of pharmaceuticals in streaming waters and, especially, to evaluate their relative significance for tracer observations. A tracer test in Säva Brook, Sweden was evaluated using a coupled physical-biogeochemical model framework containing surface water transport together with a representation of transient storage in slow/immobile zones of the stream, which are presumably important for the retention and attenuation of pharmaceuticals. To assess the key processes affecting the environmental fate of the compounds, we linked the uncertainty estimates of the reaction rate coefficients to the relative influence of transformation and sorption that occurred in different stream environments. The hydrological and biogeochemical contributions to the fate of the pharmaceuticals were decoupled, and the results indicate a moderate hydrological retention in the hyporheic zone as well as in the densely vegetated parts of the stream. Biogeochemical reactions in these transient storage zones further affected the fate of the pharmaceuticals, and we found that sorption was the key process for bezafibrate, metoprolol, and naproxen, while primary transformation was the most important process for clofibric acid and ibuprofen. Conversely, diclofenac was not affected by sorption or transformation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Investigation into stability of poly(vinyl alcohol)-based Opadry® II films.

    PubMed

    Koo, Otilia M Y; Fiske, John D; Yang, Haitao; Nikfar, Faranak; Thakur, Ajit; Scheer, Barry; Adams, Monica L

    2011-06-01

    Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based formulations are used for pharmaceutical tablet coating with numerous advantages. Our objective is to study the stability of PVA-based coating films in the presence of acidic additives, alkaline additives, and various common impurities typically found in tablet formulations. Opadry® II 85F was used as the model PVA-based coating formulation. The additives and impurities were incorporated into the polymer suspension prior to film casting. Control and test films were analyzed before and after exposure to 40°C/75% relative humidity. Tests included film disintegration, size-exclusion chromatography, thermal analysis, and microscopy. Under stressed conditions, acidic additives (hydrochloric acid (HCl) and ammonium bisulfate (NH(4)HSO(4))) negatively impacted Opadry® II 85F film disintegration while NaOH, formaldehyde, and peroxide did not. Absence of PVA species from the disintegration media corresponded to an increase in crystallinity of PVA for reacted films containing HCl. Films with NH(4)HSO(4) exhibited slower rate of reactivity and less elevation in melting temperature with no clear change in melting enthalpy. Acidic additives posed greater risk of compromise in disintegration of PVA-based coatings than alkaline or common impurities. The mechanism of acid-induced reactivity due to the presence of acidic salts (HCl vs. NH(4)HSO(4)) may be different.

  1. An evaluation of the adhesion of solid oral dosage form coatings to the oesophagus.

    PubMed

    Smart, John D; Dunkley, Sian; Tsibouklis, John; Young, Simon

    2015-12-30

    There is a requirement for the development of oral dosage forms that are adhesive and allow extended oesophageal residence time for localised therapies, or are non-adhesive for ease of swallowing. This study provides an initial assessment of the in vitro oesophageal retention characteristics of several widely utilised pharmaceutical coating materials. To this end, a previously described apparatus has been used to measure the force required to pull a coated disc-shaped model tablet across a section of excised oesophageal tissue. Of the materials tested, the well-studied mucoadhesive polymer sodium alginate was found to be associated with significant oesophageal adhesion properties that was capable of 'self-repairing'. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose exhibited less pronounced bioadhesive behaviour and blending this with plasticiser or with low molecular weight polymers and surfactants did not significantly affect this. Low molecular weight water soluble polymers, were found to behave similarly to the uncoated glass control disc. Polysorbates exhibited bioadhesion behaviour that was majorly influenced by the nature of the surfactant. The insoluble polymer ethylcellulose, and the relatively lipophilic surfactant sorbitan monooleate were seen to move more readily than the uncoated disc, suggesting that these may have a role as 'easy-to-swallow' coatings. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. After compulsory licensing: coming issues in Canadian pharmaceutical policy and politics.

    PubMed

    Lexchin, J

    1997-04-01

    Bills C-22 and C-91 eliminated compulsory licensing for pharmaceutical products in Canada. However, in the wake of these bills there are pressing issues of pharmaceutical policy that need to be decided. The value of additional spending in pharmaceutical R and D has yet to be evaluated. There needs to be a public debate about how far government policy should go in encouraging pharmaceutical R and D as opposed to investing resources in other areas. There has been a continuing escalation in the cost of the average prescription, due to the introduction of newer, but not necessarily more effective, medications. So far government has not been willing to commit resources to promote cost-effective prescribing. Pharmaceutical companies are now lobbying for more rapid approval of products and an extension to the normal patent period to make up for the time that drugs spend in the regulatory process. The process that the government uses to resolve these issues will be just as important as the ultimate decisions.

  3. Optical enhancing durable anti-reflective coating

    DOEpatents

    Maghsoodi, Sina; Varadarajan, Aravamuthan; Movassat, Meisam

    2016-07-05

    Disclosed herein are polysilsesquioxane based anti-reflective coating (ARC) compositions, methods of preparation, and methods of deposition on a substrate. In embodiments, the polysilsesquioxane of this disclosure is prepared in a two-step process of acid catalyzed hydrolysis of organoalkoxysilane followed by addition of tetralkoxysilane that generates silicone polymers with >40 mol % silanol based on Si-NMR. These high silanol siloxane polymers are stable and have a long shelf-life in the polar organic solvents at room temperature. Also disclosed are low refractive index ARC made from these compositions with and without additives such as porogens, templates, Si--OH condensation catalyst and/or nanofillers. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for applying coatings to flat substrates including substrate pre-treatment processes, coating processes including flow coating and roll coating, and coating curing processes including skin-curing using hot-air knives. Also disclosed are coating compositions and formulations for highly tunable, durable, highly abrasion-resistant functionalized anti-reflective coatings.

  4. The Influence of the Coating Deposition Process on the Interdiffusion Behavior Between Nickel-Based Superalloys and MCrAlY Bond Coats

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Elsaß, M.; Frommherz, M.; Oechsner, M.

    2018-02-01

    In this work, interdiffusion between two nickel-based superalloys and two MCrAlY bond coats is investigated. The MCrAlY bond coats were applied using two different spraying processes, high velocity oxygen fuel spraying (HVOF) and low-pressure plasma spraying. Of primary interest is the evolution of Kirkendall porosity, which can form at the interface between substrate and bond coat and depends largely on the chemical compositions of the coating and substrate. Experimental evidence further suggested that the formation of Kirkendall porosity depends on the coating deposition process. Formation of porosity at the interface causes a degradation of the bonding strength between substrate and coating. After coating deposition, the samples were annealed at 1050 °C for up to 2000 h. Microstructural and compositional analyses were performed to determine and evaluate the Kirkendall porosity. The results reveal a strong influence of both the coating deposition process and the chemical compositions. The amount of Kirkendall porosity formed, as well as the location of appearance, is largely influenced by the coating deposition process. In general, samples with bond coats applied by means of HVOF show accelerated element diffusion. It is hypothesized that recrystallization of the substrate material is a main root cause for these observations.

  5. Quality control of the tribological coating PS212

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sliney, Harold E.; Dellacorte, Christopher; Deadmore, Daniel L.

    1989-01-01

    PS212 is a self-lubricating, composite coating that is applied by the plasma spray process. It is a functional lubricating coating from 25 C (or lower) to 900 C. The coating is prepared from a blend of three different powders with very dissimilar properties. Therefore, the final chemical composition and lubricating effectiveness of the coatings are very sensitive to the process variables used in their preparation. Defined here are the relevant variables. The process and analytical procedures that will result in satisfactory tribological coatings are discussed.

  6. In-line Raman spectroscopic monitoring and feedback control of a continuous twin-screw pharmaceutical powder blending and tableting process.

    PubMed

    Nagy, Brigitta; Farkas, Attila; Gyürkés, Martin; Komaromy-Hiller, Szofia; Démuth, Balázs; Szabó, Bence; Nusser, Dávid; Borbás, Enikő; Marosi, György; Nagy, Zsombor Kristóf

    2017-09-15

    The integration of Process Analytical Technology (PAT) initiative into the continuous production of pharmaceuticals is indispensable for reliable production. The present paper reports the implementation of in-line Raman spectroscopy in a continuous blending and tableting process of a three-component model pharmaceutical system, containing caffeine as model active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), glucose as model excipient and magnesium stearate as lubricant. The real-time analysis of API content, blend homogeneity, and tablet content uniformity was performed using a Partial Least Squares (PLS) quantitative method. The in-line Raman spectroscopic monitoring showed that the continuous blender was capable of producing blends with high homogeneity, and technological malfunctions can be detected by the proposed PAT method. The Raman spectroscopy-based feedback control of the API feeder was also established, creating a 'Process Analytically Controlled Technology' (PACT), which guarantees the required API content in the produced blend. This is, to the best of the authors' knowledge, the first ever application of Raman-spectroscopy in continuous blending and the first Raman-based feedback control in the formulation technology of solid pharmaceuticals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Status of pharmaceuticals in African water bodies: Occurrence, removal and analytical methods.

    PubMed

    Madikizela, Lawrence Mzukisi; Tavengwa, Nikita Tawanda; Chimuka, Luke

    2017-05-15

    In this review paper, the milestones and challenges that have been achieved and experienced by African Environmental Scientists regarding the assessment of water pollution caused by the presence of pharmaceutical compounds in water bodies are highlighted. The identification and quantification of pharmaceuticals in the African water bodies is important to the general public at large due to the lack of information. The consumption of pharmaceuticals to promote human health is usually followed by excretion of these drugs via urine or fecal matter due to their slight transformation in the human metabolism. Therefore, large amounts of pharmaceuticals are being discharged continuously from wastewater treatment plants into African rivers due to inefficiency of employed sewage treatment processes. Large portions of African communities do not even have proper sanitation systems which results in direct contamination of water resources with human waste that contains pharmaceutical constituents among other pollutants. Therefore, this article provides the overview of the recent studies published, mostly from 2012 to 2016, that have focused on the occurrence of different classes of pharmaceuticals in African aqueous systems. Also, the current analytical methods that are being used in Africa for pharmaceutical quantification in environmental waters are highlighted. African Scientists have started to investigate the materials and remediation processes for the elimination of pharmaceuticals from water. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Challenges and Strategies in Thermal Processing of Amorphous Solid Dispersions: A Review.

    PubMed

    LaFountaine, Justin S; McGinity, James W; Williams, Robert O

    2016-02-01

    Thermal processing of amorphous solid dispersions continues to gain interest in the pharmaceutical industry, as evident by several recently approved commercial products. Still, a number of pharmaceutical polymer carriers exhibit thermal or viscoelastic limitations in thermal processing, especially at smaller scales. Additionally, active pharmaceutical ingredients with high melting points and/or that are thermally labile present their own specific challenges. This review will outline a number of formulation and process-driven strategies to enable thermal processing of challenging compositions. These include the use of traditional plasticizers and surfactants, temporary plasticizers utilizing sub- or supercritical carbon dioxide, designer polymers tailored for hot-melt extrusion processing, and KinetiSol® Dispersing technology. Recent case studies of each strategy will be described along with potential benefits and limitations.

  9. Fused slurry silicide coatings for columbium alloy reentry heat shields. Volume 2: Experimental and coating process details

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fitzgerald, B.

    1973-01-01

    The experimental and coating process details are presented. The process specifications which were developed for the formulation and application of the R-512E fused slurry silicide coating using either an acrylic or nitrocellulose base slurry system is also discussed.

  10. Coated graphite articles useful in metallurgical processes and method for making same

    DOEpatents

    Holcombe, Cressie E.; Bird, Eugene L.

    1995-01-01

    Graphite articles including crucibles and molds used in metallurgical processes involving the melting and the handling of molten metals and alloys that are reactive with carbon when in a molten state and at process temperatures up to about 2000.degree. C. are provided with a multiple-layer coating for inhibiting carbon diffusion from the graphite into the molten metal or alloys. The coating is provided by a first coating increment of a carbide-forming metal on selected surfaces of the graphite, a second coating increment of a carbide forming metal and a refractory metal oxide, and a third coating increment of a refractory metal oxide. The second coating increment provides thermal shock absorbing characteristics to prevent delamination of the coating during temperature cycling. A wash coat of unstabilized zirconia or titanium nitride can be applied onto the third coating increment to facilitate release of melts from the coating.

  11. Generation of colloidal granules and capsules from double emulsion drops

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hess, Kathryn S.

    Assemblies of colloidal particles are extensively used in ceramic processing, pharmaceuticals, inks and coatings. In this project, the aim was to develop a new technique to fabricate monodispersed colloidal assemblies. The use of microfluidic devices and emulsion processing allows for the fabrication of complex materials that can be used in a variety of applications. A microfluidic device is used to create monodispersed water/oil/water (w/o/w) double emulsions with interior droplets of colloidal silica suspension ranging in size from tens to hundreds of microns. By tailoring the osmotic pressure using glycerol as a solute in the continuous and inner phases of the emulsion, we can control the final volume size of the monodispersed silica colloidal crystals that form in the inner droplets of the double emulsion. Modifying the ionic strength in the colloidal dispersion can be used to affect the particle-particle interactions and crystal formation of the final colloidal particle. This w/o/w technique has been used with other systems of metal oxide colloids and cellulose nanocrystals. Encapsulation of the colloidal suspension in a polymer shell for the generation of ceramic-polymer core-shell particles has also been developed. These core-shell particles have spawned new research in the field of locally resonant acoustic metamaterials. Systems and chemistries for creating cellulose hydrogels within the double emulsions have also been researched. Water in oil single emulsions and double emulsions have been used to create cellulose hydrogel spheres in the sub-100 micron diameter range. Oil/water/oil double emulsions allow us to create stable cellulose capsules. The addition of a second hydrogel polymer, such as acrylate or alginate, further strengthens the cellulose gel network and can also be processed into capsules and particles using the microfluidic device. This work could have promising applications in acoustic metamaterials, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural applications, among others.

  12. Deposition of Hydroxyapatite Onto Superelastic Nitinol Using an Ambient Temperature Blast Coating Process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dunne, Conor F.; Roche, Kevin; Ruddy, Mark; Doherty, Kevin A. J.; Twomey, Barry; O'Donoghue, John; Hodgson, Darel; Stanton, Kenneth T.

    2018-06-01

    This work investigates the deposition of hydroxyapatite (HA) onto superelastic nickel-titanium (NiTi) using an ambient temperature coating process known as CoBlast. The process utilises a stream of abrasive alumina (Al2O3) and a coating medium (HA) sprayed simultaneously at the surface of the substrate. The use of traditional coatings methods, such as plasma spray, is unsuitable due to the high temperatures of the process. This can result in changes to both the crystallinity of the HA and properties of the thermally sensitive NiTi. HA is a biocompatible, biodegradable and osteoconductive ceramic, which when used as a coating can promote bone growth and prevent the release of nickel from NiTi in vivo. Samples were coated using different blast pressures and abrasive particle sizes and were examined using a variety of techniques. The coated samples had a thin adherent coating, which increased in surface roughness and coating thickness with increasing abrasive particle size. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the process gave rise to a stress-induced martensite phase in the NiTi which may enhance mechanical properties. The study indicates that the CoBlast process can be used to deposit thin adherent coatings of HA onto the surface of superelastic NiTi.

  13. A Comparative Study on Ni-Based Coatings Prepared by HVAF, HVOF, and APS Methods for Corrosion Protection Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sadeghimeresht, E.; Markocsan, N.; Nylén, P.

    2016-12-01

    Selection of the thermal spray process is the most important step toward a proper coating solution for a given application as important coating characteristics such as adhesion and microstructure are highly dependent on it. In the present work, a process-microstructure-properties-performance correlation study was performed in order to figure out the main characteristics and corrosion performance of the coatings produced by different thermal spray techniques such as high-velocity air fuel (HVAF), high-velocity oxy fuel (HVOF), and atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). Previously optimized HVOF and APS process parameters were used to deposit Ni, NiCr, and NiAl coatings and compare with HVAF-sprayed coatings with randomly selected process parameters. As the HVAF process presented the best coating characteristics and corrosion behavior, few process parameters such as feed rate and standoff distance (SoD) were investigated to systematically optimize the HVAF coatings in terms of low porosity and high corrosion resistance. The Ni and NiAl coatings with lower porosity and better corrosion behavior were obtained at an average SoD of 300 mm and feed rate of 150 g/min. The NiCr coating sprayed at a SoD of 250 mm and feed rate of 75 g/min showed the highest corrosion resistance among all investigated samples.

  14. Electrostatic coating technologies for food processing.

    PubMed

    Barringer, Sheryl A; Sumonsiri, Nutsuda

    2015-01-01

    The application of electrostatics in both powder and liquid coating can improve the quality of food, such as its appearance, aroma, taste, and shelf life. Coatings can be found most commonly in the snack food industry, as well as in confectionery, bakery, meat and cheese processing. In electrostatic powder coating, the most important factors influencing coating quality are powder particle size, density, flowability, charge, and resistivity, as well as the surface properties and characteristics of the target. The most important factors during electrostatic liquid coating, also known as electrohydrodynamic coating, include applied voltage and electrical resistivity and viscosity of the liquid. A good understanding of these factors is needed for the design of optimal coating systems for food processing.

  15. [Study thought of pharmaceutical preparations quality standards by dynamic quality control technology].

    PubMed

    Yu, Dan-Hong; Mao, Chen-Mei; Lv, Cheng-Zhe; Jin, Hui-Zhen; Yao, Xin; Jia, Xiao-Bin

    2014-07-01

    Pharmaceutical preparations, particularly as a "secret recipe" of traditional Chinese medicine in medical institutions, are the product of China's medical and health industry, and they are also an important means of competing of different medical institutions. Although pharmaceutical preparations have advantages and characteristics than institutes for drug and pharmaceutical companies, the quality standards of pharmaceutical preparations in medical institutions has not reached the desired level over the years. As we all know, the quality of pharmaceutical preparations is important to ensure the efficacy, especially under the environment of people pay more sttention on drug safety and effectiveness and contry increase emphasis on the stste of pharmaceutical preparations. In view of this, we will improve the grade, stability, and clinical efficacy of pharmaceutical preparations by the advanced equipment, testing instruments and the process dynamic quality control technology. Finally, we hope we can provide new ideas for the quality control of pharmaceutical preparations.

  16. Lubricant Coating Process

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1989-01-01

    "Peen Plating," a NASA developed process for applying molybdenum disulfide, is the key element of Techniblast Co.'s SURFGUARD process for applying high strength solid lubricants. The process requires two machines -- one for cleaning and one for coating. The cleaning step allows the coating to be bonded directly to the substrate to provide a better "anchor." The coating machine applies a half a micron thick coating. Then, a blast gun, using various pressures to vary peening intensities for different applications, fires high velocity "media" -- peening hammers -- ranging from plastic pellets to steel shot. Techniblast was assisted by Rural Enterprises, Inc. Coating service can be performed at either Techniblast's or a customer's facility.

  17. WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations.

    PubMed

    2012-01-01

    The Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations works towards clear, independent and practical standards and guidelines for the quality assurance of medicines. Standards are developed by the Committee through worldwide consultation and an international consensus-building process. The following new guidelines were adopted and recommended for use: Development of monographs for The International Pharmacopoeia; WHO good manufacturing practices: water for pharmaceutical use; Pharmaceutical development of multisource (generic) pharmaceutical products--points to consider; Guidelines on submission of documentation for a multisource (generic) finished pharmaceutical product for the WHO Prequalification of Medicines Programme: quality part; Development of paediatric medicines: points to consider in formulation; Recommendations for quality requirements for artemisinin as a starting material in the production of antimalarial active pharmaceutical ingredients.

  18. Considerations in pharmaceutical conversion: focus on antihistamines.

    PubMed

    Garbus, S B; Moulton, B W; Meltzer, E O; Reich, P R; Weinreb, L F; Friedman, J A; Orland, B I

    1997-04-01

    The practice of pharmaceutical conversion, which encompasses three types of drug interchange (generic, brand, and therapeutic substitution), is increasing in managed care settings. Pharmaceutical conversion has numerous implications for managed care organizations, their healthcare providers, and their customers. Although drug cost may be a driving consideration in pharmaceutical conversion, a number of other considerations are of equal or greater importance in the decision-making process may affect the overall cost of patient care. Among these considerations are clinical, psychosocial, and safety issues; patient adherence; patient satisfaction; and legal implications of pharmaceutical conversion. Patient-centered care must always remain central to decisions about pharmaceutical conversion. This article discusses the issues related to, and implications of, pharmaceutical conversion utilizing the antihistamines class of drugs as the case situation.

  19. Process to minimize cracking of pyrolytic carbon coatings

    DOEpatents

    Lackey, Jr., Walter J.; Sease, John D.

    1978-01-01

    Carbon-coated microspheroids useful as fuels in nuclear reactors are produced with a low percentage of cracked coatings and are imparted increased strength and mechanical stability characteristics by annealing immediately after the carbon coating processes.

  20. Nationwide reconnaissance of contaminants of emerging concern in source and treated drinking waters of the United States: Pharmaceuticals

    EPA Science Inventory

    Mobile and persistent chemicals that are present in urban wastewater, such as pharmaceuticals, may survive on-site or municipal wastewater treatment and post-discharge environmental processes. These pharmaceuticals have the potential to reach surface and groundwaters, essential d...

  1. Regulatory Perspectives on Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Moving From Theory to Practice: September 26-27, 2016, International Symposium on the Continuous Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals.

    PubMed

    Nasr, Moheb M; Krumme, Markus; Matsuda, Yoshihiro; Trout, Bernhardt L; Badman, Clive; Mascia, Salvatore; Cooney, Charles L; Jensen, Keith D; Florence, Alastair; Johnston, Craig; Konstantinov, Konstantin; Lee, Sau L

    2017-11-01

    Continuous manufacturing plays a key role in enabling the modernization of pharmaceutical manufacturing. The fate of this emerging technology will rely, in large part, on the regulatory implementation of this novel technology. This paper, which is based on the 2nd International Symposium on the Continuous Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals, describes not only the advances that have taken place since the first International Symposium on Continuous Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals in 2014, but the regulatory landscape that exists today. Key regulatory concepts including quality risk management, batch definition, control strategy, process monitoring and control, real-time release testing, data processing and management, and process validation/verification are outlined. Support from regulatory agencies, particularly in the form of the harmonization of regulatory expectations, will be crucial to the successful implementation of continuous manufacturing. Collaborative efforts, among academia, industry, and regulatory agencies, are the optimal solution for ensuring a solid future for this promising manufacturing technology. Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. All rights reserved.

  2. Ceramic Top Coats of Plasma-Sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings: Materials, Processes, and Properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bakan, Emine; Vaßen, Robert

    2017-08-01

    The ceramic top coat has a major influence on the performance of the thermal barrier coating systems (TBCs). Yttria-partially-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the top coat material frequently used, and the major deposition processes of the YSZ top coat are atmospheric plasma spraying and electron beam physical vapor deposition. Recently, also new thermal spray processes such as suspension plasma spraying or plasma spray-physical vapor deposition have been intensively investigated for TBC top coat deposition. These new processes and particularly the different coating microstructures that can be deposited with them will be reviewed in this article. Furthermore, the properties and the intrinsic-extrinsic degradation mechanisms of the YSZ will be discussed. Following the TBC deposition processes and standard YSZ material, alternative ceramic materials such as perovskites and hexaaluminates will be summarized, while properties of pyrochlores with regard to their crystal structure will be discussed more in detail. The merits of the pyrochlores such as good CMAS resistance as well as their weaknesses, e.g., low fracture toughness, processability issues, will be outlined.

  3. Raman and terahertz spectroscopical investigation of cocrystal formation process of piracetam and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid.

    PubMed

    Du, Yong; Zhang, Huili; Xue, Jiadan; Fang, Hongxia; Zhang, Qi; Xia, Yi; Li, Yafang; Hong, Zhi

    2015-03-15

    Cocrystallization can improve physical and chemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredient, and this feature has great potential in pharmaceutical development. In this study, the cocrystal of piracetam and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid under grinding condition has been characterized by Raman and terahertz spectroscopical techniques. The major vibrational modes of individual starting components and cocrystal are obtained and assigned. Spectral results show that the vibrational modes of the cocrystal are different from those of the corresponding parent materials. The dynamic process of such pharmaceutical cocrystal formation has also been monitored directly with Raman and THz spectra. The formation rate is pretty fast in first several 20 min grinding time, and then it becomes slow. After ∼35 min, such process has been almost completed. These results offer us the unique means and benchmark for characterizing the cocrystal conformation from molecule-level and also provide us rich information about the reaction dynamic during cocrystal formation process in pharmaceutical fields. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Raman and terahertz spectroscopical investigation of cocrystal formation process of piracetam and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Du, Yong; Zhang, Huili; Xue, Jiadan; Fang, Hongxia; Zhang, Qi; Xia, Yi; Li, Yafang; Hong, Zhi

    2015-03-01

    Cocrystallization can improve physical and chemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredient, and this feature has great potential in pharmaceutical development. In this study, the cocrystal of piracetam and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid under grinding condition has been characterized by Raman and terahertz spectroscopical techniques. The major vibrational modes of individual starting components and cocrystal are obtained and assigned. Spectral results show that the vibrational modes of the cocrystal are different from those of the corresponding parent materials. The dynamic process of such pharmaceutical cocrystal formation has also been monitored directly with Raman and THz spectra. The formation rate is pretty fast in first several 20 min grinding time, and then it becomes slow. After ∼35 min, such process has been almost completed. These results offer us the unique means and benchmark for characterizing the cocrystal conformation from molecule-level and also provide us rich information about the reaction dynamic during cocrystal formation process in pharmaceutical fields.

  5. Enhanced degradation of persistent pharmaceuticals found in wastewater treatment effluents using TiO2 nanobelt photocatalysts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Robert; Hu, Anming; Li, Wenjuan; Zhou, Y. Norman

    2013-10-01

    Pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluents are a current and emerging global problem and the development of cost-effective methods to facilitate their removal is needed to mitigate this issue. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), in particular UV/TiO2, have potential for wastewater treatment. In this study, TiO2 anatase phase nanobelts (30-100 nm in width and 10 μm in length) have been synthesized using a high temperature hydrothermal method as a means to photocatalyze the oxidation of pharmaceutical contaminants. We have investigated a model dye (malachite green), three pharmaceuticals and personal care products—naproxen, carbamazepine, and theophylline—that are difficult to oxidize without AOP processes. TiO2 nanobelts were exposed to 365 nm UV illumination and the measured photocatalytic degradation rates and adsorption parameters of pharmaceuticals were explored using kinetic models. Furthermore we have determined the degree of pharmaceutical degradation as a function of solution pH, illumination time, temperature, and concentration of contaminant. In addition, the roles of active oxygen species—hydroxyl radial (OH·), positive holes (h+), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)—involved were also investigated in the degradation process. These studies offer additional applications of hierarchical TiO2 nanobelt membranes, including those harnessing sunlight for water treatment.

  6. [Consideration of drug absorption in customizing drug therapy].

    PubMed

    Walter-Sack, I; Haefeli, W E

    2000-09-01

    The rate and extent of drug absorption from the small intestine are related to the release of the active ingredient from a dosage form, its solubility in the liquid phase of gastrointestinal contents, and the transport of the dissolved compound or the intact dosage form from the stomach into the duodenum. With pharmaceutical preparations releasing the active compound within the stomach, and enteric-coated "micro"-formulations (micropellets), gastric emptying is possible during the interdigestive and the digestive period. Potential differences of drug absorption between fasting administration and intake during the digestive period are unpredictable, because they are related to the release characteristics of the dosage form. However, larger enteric-coated preparations like tablets can leave the stomach only with a phase 3 contraction of fasting motility; intake during the digestive period will result in gastric retention of this type of dosage form until all food has left the stomach and fasting motility is restored. Consequently the onset of drug absorption is delayed. This interaction between food and large enteric-coated dosage forms is predictable from pyloric function in relation to the gastric motility. As it occurs regularly, it can be taken into account when prescribing enteric-coated dosage forms. If concomitant intake of food and enteric-coated drugs is unavoidable, but a rapid onset of drug absorption is necessary, micropellets are the dosage form of choice. When the therapeutic effect is insufficient, drug dosage form and timing of drug administration should be checked before prescribing a different active compound.

  7. Sol-gel antireflective spin-coating process for large-size shielding windows

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Belleville, Philippe F.; Prene, Philippe; Mennechez, Francoise; Bouigeon, Christian

    2002-10-01

    The interest of the antireflective coatings applied onto large-area glass components increases everyday for the potential application such as building or shop windows. Today, because of the use of large size components, sol-gel process is a competitive way for antireflective coating mass production. The dip-coating technique commonly used for liquid-deposition, implies a safety hazard due to coating solution handling and storage in the case of large amounts of highly flammable solvent use. On the other hand, spin-coating is a liquid low-consumption technique. Mainly devoted to coat circular small-size substrate, we have developed a spin-coating machine able to coat large-size rectangular windows (up to 1 x 1.7 m2). Both solutions and coating conditions have been optimized to deposit optical layers with accurate and uniform thickness and to highly limit the edge effects. Experimental single layer antireflective coating deposition process onto large-area shielding windows (1000 x 1700 x 20 mm3) is described. Results show that the as-developed process could produce low specular reflection value (down to 1% one side) onto white-glass windows over the visible range (460-750 nm). Low-temperature curing process (120°C) used after sol-gel deposition enables antireflective-coating to withstand abrasion-resistance properties in compliance to US-MIL-C-0675C moderate test.

  8. Evaluation of Rosin Gum and Eudragit® RS PO as a Functional Film Coating Material.

    PubMed

    Pomin, Suélen Plaza; de Lima, Isabela Angeli; Pezarini, Rogério Ribeiro; Cavalcanti, Osvaldo Albuquerque

    2017-11-01

    Polymers are essential tools in the research and development of new therapeutic devices. The diversity and flexibility of these materials have generated high expectations in the composition of new materials with extraordinary abilities, especially in the design of new systems for the modified release of pharmaceutically active ingredients. The natural polymer rosin features moisture protection and pH-dependent behavior (i.e., it is sensitive to pH > 7.0), suggesting its possible use in pharmaceutical systems. The synthetic polymer Eudragit® RS PO is a low-permeability material, the disintegration of which depends on the time of residence in the gastrointestinal tract. The present study developed a polymeric material with desirable physicochemical characteristics and synergistic effects that resulted from the inherent properties of the associated polymers. Isolated films were obtained by solvent evaporation and subjected to a water vapor transmission test, scanning electron microscopy, calorimetry, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and mechanical analysis. The new polymeric material was macroscopically continuous and homogeneous, was appropriately flexible, had low water permeability, was vulnerable in alkaline environments, and was thermally stable, maintaining an unchanged structure up to temperatures of ∼400°C. The new material also presented potentially suitable characteristics for application in film coatings for oral solids, suggesting that it is capable of carrying therapeutic substances to distal regions of the gastrointestinal tract. These findings indicate that this new material may be added to the list of functional excipients.

  9. Applying terahertz technology for nondestructive detection of crack initiation in a film-coated layer on a swelling tablet

    PubMed Central

    Momose, Wataru; Yoshino, Hiroyuki; Katakawa, Yoshifumi; Yamashita, Kazunari; Imai, Keiji; Sako, Kazuhiro; Kato, Eiji; Irisawa, Akiyoshi; Yonemochi, Etsuo; Terada, Katsuhide

    2012-01-01

    Here, we describe a nondestructive approach using terahertz wave to detect crack initiation in a film-coated layer on a drug tablet. During scale-up and scale-down of the film coating process, differences in film density and gaps between the film-coated layer and the uncoated tablet were generated due to differences in film coating process parameters, such as the tablet-filling rate in the coating machine, spray pressure, and gas–liquid ratio etc. Tablets using the PEO/PEG formulation were employed as uncoated tablets. We found that heat and humidity caused tablets to swell, thereby breaking the film-coated layer. Using our novel approach with terahertz wave nondestructively detect film surface density (FSD) and interface density differences (IDDs) between the film-coated layer and an uncoated tablet. We also found that a reduced FSD and IDD between the film-coated layer and uncoated tablet increased the risk of crack initiation in the film-coated layer, thereby enabling us to nondestructively predict initiation of cracks in the film-coated layer. Using this method, crack initiation can be nondestructively assessed in swelling tablets after the film coating process without conducting accelerated stability tests, and film coating process parameters during scale-up and scale-down studies can be appropriately established. PMID:25755992

  10. Comprehensive study on effects of water matrices on removal of pharmaceuticals by three different kinds of advanced oxidation processes.

    PubMed

    Tokumura, Masahiro; Sugawara, Asato; Raknuzzaman, Mohammad; Habibullah-Al-Mamun, Md; Masunaga, Shigeki

    2016-09-01

    Simple semi-theoretical models were developed to estimate the performance of three different kinds of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in the degradation of pharmaceuticals. The AOPs included the photo-Fenton process as an example of a liquid-liquid reaction, the TiO2 photocatalytic oxidation process as a solid-liquid reaction, and the combined ozone and hydrogen peroxide oxidation process as a gas-liquid reaction; the effects of the aqueous matrices (CESs: co-existing substances) of actual wastewater on the removal of pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine and diclofenac) was taken into account. By comparing the characteristic parameters of the models, obtained from the experiments using pure water and actual wastewater, the effects of CESs on the respective removal mechanisms could be separately and quantitatively evaluated. As a general tendency, the AOPs proceeded less effectively (were inhibited) in the matrices containing CESs, as observed with the use of a lower initial concentration of pharmaceuticals. The inhibition mechanisms differed for the three types of AOPs. In the photo-Fenton process, the Fenton reaction was improved by the incorporation of CESs, while the photo-reduction reaction was significantly inhibited. In the TiO2 photocatalytic oxidation process, competition between the pharmaceuticals and CESs for adsorption on the catalyst surface was a less significant inhibitory factor than the scavenger effects of the CESs. The combined ozone and hydrogen peroxide oxidation process was most strongly inhibited by CESs among the AOPs investigated in this study. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Remediation of water pollution caused by pharmaceutical residues based on electrochemical separation and degradation technologies: a review.

    PubMed

    Sirés, Ignasi; Brillas, Enric

    2012-04-01

    In the last years, the decontamination and disinfection of waters by means of direct or integrated electrochemical processes are being considered as a very appealing alternative due to the significant improvement of the electrode materials and the coupling with low-cost renewable energy sources. Many electrochemical technologies are currently available for the remediation of waters contaminated by refractory organic pollutants such as pharmaceutical micropollutants, whose presence in the environment has become a matter of major concern. Recent reviews have focused on the removal of pharmaceutical residues upon the application of other important methods like ozonation and advanced oxidation processes. Here, we present an overview on the electrochemical methods devised for the treatment of pharmaceutical residues from both, synthetic solutions and real pharmaceutical wastewaters. Electrochemical separation technologies such as membrane technologies, electrocoagulation and internal micro-electrolysis, which only isolate the pollutants from water, are firstly introduced. The fundamentals and experimental set-ups involved in technologies that allow the degradation of pharmaceuticals, like anodic oxidation, electro-oxidation with active chlorine, electro-Fenton, photoelectro-Fenton and photoelectrocatalysis among others, are further discussed. Progress on the promising solar photoelectro-Fenton process devised and further developed in our laboratory is especially highlighted and documented. The abatement of total organic carbon or reduction of chemical oxygen demand from contaminated waters allows the comparison between the different methods and materials. The routes for the degradation of the some pharmaceuticals are also presented. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) oxidation resistant material samples - Baseline coated, and baseline coated with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) impregnation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gantz, E. E.

    1977-01-01

    Reinforced carbon-carbon material specimens were machined from 19 and 33 ply flat panels which were fabricated and processed in accordance with the specifications and procedures accepted for the fabrication and processing of the leading edge structural subsystem (LESS) elements for the space shuttle orbiter. The specimens were then baseline coated and tetraethyl orthosilicate impregnated, as applicable, in accordance with the procedures and requirements of the appropriate LESS production specifications. Three heater bars were ATJ graphite silicon carbide coated with the Vought 'pack cementation' coating process, and three were stackpole grade 2020 graphite silicon carbide coated with the chemical vapor deposition process utilized by Vought in coating the LESS shell development program entry heater elements. Nondestructive test results are reported.

  13. Marketing the use of the space environment for the processing of biological and pharmaceutical materials

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1984-01-01

    The perceptions of U.S. biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies concerning the potential use of the space environment for the processing of biological substances was examined. Physical phenomena that may be important in space-base processing of biological materials are identified and discussed in the context of past and current experiment programs. The capabilities of NASA to support future research and development, and to engage in cooperative risk sharing programs with industry are discussed. Meetings were held with several biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to provide data for an analysis of the attitudes and perceptions of these industries toward the use of the space environment. Recommendations are made for actions that might be taken by NASA to facilitate the marketing of the use of the space environment, and in particular the Space Shuttle, to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

  14. Plasma Spray and Pack Cementation Process Optimization and Oxidation Behaviour of Novel Multilayered Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, Feng

    The hot section components in gas turbines are subjected to a harsh environment with the temperature being increased continuously. The higher temperature has directly resulted in severe oxidation of these components. Monolithic coatings such as MCrAIY and aluminide have been traditionally used to protect the components from oxidation; however, increased operating temperature quickly deteriorates the coatings due to accelerated diffusion of aluminum in the coatings. To improve the oxidation resistance a group of multilayered coatings are developed in this study. The multilayered coatings consist of a Cr-Si co-deposited layer as the diffusion barrier, a plasma sprayed NiCrA1Y coating as the middle layer and an aluminized top layer. The Cr-Si and aluminized layers are fabricated using pack cementation processes and the NiCrA1Y coatings are produced using the Mettech Axial III(TM) System. All of the coating processes are optimized using the methodology of Design of Experiments (DOE) and the results are analyzed using statistical method. The optimal processes are adopted to fabricate the multilayered coatings for oxidation tests. The coatings are exposed in air at 1050°C and 1150°C for 1000 hr. The results indicate that a Cr layer and a silicon-rich barrier layer have formed on the interface between the Cr-Si coating and the NiCrA1Y coating. This barrier layer not only prevents aluminum and chromium from diffusing into the substrate, but also impedes the diffusion of other elements from the substrate into the coating. The results also reveal that, for optimal oxidation resistance at 1050°C, the top layer in a multilayered coating should have at least Al/Ni ratio of one; whereas the multilayered coating with the All Ni ratio of two in the top layer exhibits the best oxidation resistance at 1150°C. The DOE methodology provides an excellent means for process optimization and the selection of oxidation test matrix, and also offers a more thorough understanding of the effects of process parameters on the coating microstructure, and the effects of layers and their interactions on the oxidation behavior of the multilayered coatings.

  15. Formation mechanism of a silicon carbide coating for a reinforced carbon-carbon composite

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rogers, D. C.; Shuford, D. M.; Mueller, J. I.

    1975-01-01

    Results are presented for a study to determine the mechanisms involved in a high-temperature pack cementation process which provides a silicon carbide coating on a carbon-carbon composite. The process and materials used are physically and chemically analyzed. Possible reactions are evaluated using the results of these analytical data. The coating is believed to develop in two stages. The first is a liquid controlled phase process in which silicon carbide is formed due to reactions between molten silicon metal and the carbon. The second stage is a vapor transport controlled reaction in which silicon vapors react with the carbon. There is very little volume change associated with the coating process. The original thickness changes by less than 0.7%. This indicates that the coating process is one of reactive penetration. The coating thickness can be increased or decreased by varying the furnace cycle process time and/or temperature to provide a wide range of coating thicknesses.

  16. Alginate microparticles as oral colon drug delivery device: A review.

    PubMed

    Agüero, Lissette; Zaldivar-Silva, Dionisio; Peña, Luis; Dias, Marcos L

    2017-07-15

    The increase in the research interest on alginate microparticles in pharmaceutical and biomedical areas confirms its potential use as an effective matrix for drug and cell delivery. Among the well known alginate properties, pH sensitivity remains as an attractive option for targeting of drug in the colon region. This essential aspect is advantageous to enhance therapeutic efficacy of treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, which require multi-drug administration frequently in a long period. As consequence, severe side effect appears leading to discontinuation of therapy and affecting quality of patient life. This review gives an overview of relevant properties of alginate as oral colon delivery systems and the recent innovative strategies of using alginate with other polymers as well as microencapsulation techniques. At the same time, it describes the several advantages of coating processes involving alginate over microparticles in order to design better material with sustained release characteristic for colon-targeted delivery. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Improved Biomolecular Thin-Film Sensor based on Plasmon Waveguide Resonance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Byard, Courtney; Aslan, Mustafa; Mendes, Sergio

    2009-05-01

    The design, fabrication, and characterization of a plasmon waveguide resonance (PWR) sensor are presented. Glass substrates are coated with a 35 nm gold film using electron beam evaporation, and then covered with a 143 nm aluminum oxide waveguide using an atomic layer deposition process, creating a smooth, highly transparent dielectric film. When probed in the Kretschmann configuration, the structure allows for an efficient conversion of an incident optical beam into a surface wave, which is mainly confined in the dielectric layer and exhibits a deep and narrow angular resonance. The performance (reflectance vs. incidence angle in TE polarization) is modeled using a transfer-matrix approach implemented into a Mathematica code. Our simulations and experimental data are compared with that of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor using the same criteria. We show that the resolution of PWR is approximately ten times better than SPR, opening opportunities for more sensitive studies in various applications including research in protein interactions, pharmaceutical drug development, and food analysis.

  18. Direct Numerical Simulation of dense particle-laden turbulent flows using immersed boundaries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Fan; Desjardins, Olivier

    2009-11-01

    Dense particle-laden turbulent flows play an important role in many engineering applications, ranging from pharmaceutical coating and chemical synthesis to fluidized bed reactors. Because of the complexity of the physics involved in these flows, current computational models for gas-particle processes, such as drag and heat transfer, rely on empirical correlations and have been shown to lack accuracy. In this work, direct numerical simulations (DNS) of dense particle-laden flows are conducted, using immersed boundaries (IB) to resolve the flow around each particle. First, the accuracy of the proposed approach is tested on a range of 2D and 3D flows at various Reynolds numbers, and resolution requirements are discussed. Then, various particle arrangements and number densities are simulated, the impact on particle wake interaction is assessed, and existing drag models are evaluated in the case of fixed particles. In addition, the impact of the particles on turbulence dissipation is investigated. Finally, a strategy for handling moving and colliding particles is discussed.

  19. 40 CFR 439.30 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Chemical Synthesis Products § 439.30 Applicability. This subpart applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the manufacture of pharmaceutical...

  20. In-vitro characterization of 5-aminosalicylic acid release from MMX mesalamine tablets and determination of tablet coating thickness.

    PubMed

    Tenjarla, Srini; Abinusawa, Adeyinka

    2011-01-01

    Substantial variability in gastrointestinal pH is observed in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). We characterized the effect of pH on 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) release from MMX mesalamine tablets (Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc., Wayne, PA, USA), examined thickness/uniformity of tablet film coatings, and explored the influence of simulating altered gastrointestinal motility. Nondestructive, three-dimensional, terahertz pulse imaging (TPI) was used to characterize the film coating of three lots of MMX mesalamine tablets (n=36). Thereafter, 5-ASA release from these tablets was evaluated using United States Pharmacopeia (USP) apparatus II at pH 6.8 and 7.2. Onset of tablet film-coat breach and mean dissolution time were determined for each lot. 5-ASA release was also assessed at three different paddle rotation speeds (50, 75, and 100 rpm) at pH 7.2. The mean ± SD film-coating thickness of the three lots of MMX mesalamine tablets were 109.2 ± 16.8, 113.1 ± 19.5, and 113.8 ± 19.8 μM, respectively. At pH 6.8 (100 rpm), the onset of film-coat breach was 10-30 minutes, whereas at pH 7.2 this was observed within 10 minutes. 5-ASA release was uniform at both pH conditions, with minimal lot-to-lot variability. Complete drug release was achieved within 6 hours under both pH conditions. 5-ASA release increased in proportion with paddle speed, but remained prolonged at all speeds. 5-ASA release from MMX mesalamine is unaffected by normal variations in simulated intracolonic pH. The dissolution profile of 5-ASA from MMX mesalamine tablets may be attributed to consistent outer film coatings and the hydrogel-forming matrix that controls the drug release after dissolution of the film coating.

  1. A Novel Nonelectrolytic Process for Chromium and Nickel Coating

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-06-01

    thermal spraying and involves similar protocols for coating an object. The process proceeds after powder is injected into a plasma jet then superheated...HVOF) High velocity oxygen fuel coating is characteristic of a thermal spray coating process , enhancing anti-corrosion and anti-wear properties of...observations due to limited metal deposition on the surface during treatment. No powder particles were produced during this RES process . a. Optical

  2. Thermal Arc Spray Overview

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hafiz Abd Malek, Muhamad; Hayati Saad, Nor; Kiyai Abas, Sunhaji; Mohd Shah, Noriyati

    2013-06-01

    Usage of protective coating for corrosion protection was on highly demand during the past decade; and thermal spray coating played a major part during that time. In recent years, the thermal arc spray coating becomes a popular coating. Many big players in oil and gas such as PETRONAS, EXXON MOBIL and SHELL in Malaysia tend to use the coating on steel structure as a corrosion protection. Further developments in coating processes, the devices, and raw materials have led to expansion of functional coatings and applications scope from conventional coating to specialized industries. It is widely used because of its ability to withstand high process temperature, offer advantages in efficiency, lower cost and acts as a corrosion protection. Previous research also indicated that the thermal arc spray offers better coating properties compared to other methods of spray. This paper reviews some critical area of thermal spray coating by discussing the process/parameter of thermal arc spray technology and quality control of coating. Coating performance against corrosion, wear and special characteristic of coating are also described. The field application of arc spray technology are demonstrated and reviewed.

  3. Performance improvement for solution-processed high-mobility ZnO thin-film transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sha Li, Chen; Li, Yu Ning; Wu, Yi Liang; Ong, Beng S.; Loutfy, Rafik O.

    2008-06-01

    The fabrication technology of stable, non-toxic, transparent, high performance zinc oxide (ZnO) thin-film semiconductors via the solution process was investigated. Two methods, which were, respectively, annealing a spin-coated precursor solution and annealing a drop-coated precursor solution, were compared. The prepared ZnO thin-film semiconductor transistors have well-controlled, preferential crystal orientation and exhibit superior field-effect performance characteristics. But the ZnO thin-film transistor (TFT) fabricated by annealing a drop-coated precursor solution has a distinctly elevated linear mobility, which further approaches the saturated mobility, compared with that fabricated by annealing a spin-coated precursor solution. The performance of the solution-processed ZnO TFT was further improved when substituting the spin-coating process by the drop-coating process.

  4. Laser ablation and competitive technologies in paint stripping of heavy anticorrosion coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schuöcker, Georg D.; Bielak, Robert

    2007-05-01

    During the last years surface preparation prior to coating operations became an important research and development task, since tightened environmental regulations have to be faced in view of the deliberation of hazardous compounds of coatings. Especially, ship-yards get more and more under pressure, because the environmental commitment of their Asian competitors is fairly limited. Therefore, in the US and in Europe several technology evaluation projects have been launched to face this challenge. The majority of coating service providers and ship yards use grit blasting; this process causes heavy emissions as of dust and enormous amounts of waste as polluted sand. Coating removal without any blasting material would reduce the environmental impact. Laser processing offers ecological advantages. Therefore thermal processes like laser ablation have been studied thoroughly in several published projects and also in this study. Many of these studies have been focused on the maintenance of airplanes, but not on de-coating of heavy protective coatings. In this case the required laser power is extra-high. This study is focused on the maintenance of heavy anti-corrosion coatings and compares the industrial requirements and the opportunities of the innovative laser processes. Based on the results of this analysis similar approaches as e.g. plasma jet coating ablation have been studied. It was concluded that none of these methods can compete economically with the conventional processes as grit blasting and water jetting since the required ablation rate is very high (>60m2/h). A new process is required that is not based on any blasting operation and which does not depend strongly on the coating's characteristic. The delamination of the coating where the coatings is not removed by evaporation, but in little pieces of the complete coating system meets these requirements. The delamination can be accomplished by the thermal destruction of the primer coating by an intense heat pulse generated by inductive heating of substrate's surface. After this operation the coating can be peeled off.

  5. A new chapter in pharmaceutical manufacturing: 3D-printed drug products.

    PubMed

    Norman, James; Madurawe, Rapti D; Moore, Christine M V; Khan, Mansoor A; Khairuzzaman, Akm

    2017-01-01

    FDA recently approved a 3D-printed drug product in August 2015, which is indicative of a new chapter for pharmaceutical manufacturing. This review article summarizes progress with 3D printed drug products and discusses process development for solid oral dosage forms. 3D printing is a layer-by-layer process capable of producing 3D drug products from digital designs. Traditional pharmaceutical processes, such as tablet compression, have been used for decades with established regulatory pathways. These processes are well understood, but antiquated in terms of process capability and manufacturing flexibility. 3D printing, as a platform technology, has competitive advantages for complex products, personalized products, and products made on-demand. These advantages create opportunities for improving the safety, efficacy, and accessibility of medicines. Although 3D printing differs from traditional manufacturing processes for solid oral dosage forms, risk-based process development is feasible. This review highlights how product and process understanding can facilitate the development of a control strategy for different 3D printing methods. Overall, the authors believe that the recent approval of a 3D printed drug product will stimulate continual innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing technology. FDA encourages the development of advanced manufacturing technologies, including 3D-printing, using science- and risk-based approaches. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  6. Gastric emptying of enteric-coated tablets

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Park, H.M.; Chernish, S.M.; Rosenek, B.D.

    1984-03-01

    To evaluate the gastric emptying time of pharmaceutical dosage forms in a clinical setting, a relatively simple dual-radionuclide technique was developed. Placebo tablets of six different combinations of shape and size were labeled with indium-111 DTPA and enteric coated. Six volunteers participated in a single-blind and crossover study. Tablets were given in the morning of a fasting stomach with 6 oz of water containing /sup 99m/Tc pertechnetate and continuously observed with a gamma camera. A scintigraph was obtained each minute. The results suggested that the size, shape, or volume of the tablet used in this study had no significant effectmore » in the rate of gastric emptying. The tablets emptied erratically and unpredictably, depending upon their time of arrival in the stomach in relation to the occurrence of interdigestive myoelectric contractions. The method described is a relatively simple and accurate technique to allow one to follow the gastric emptying of tablets.« less

  7. 40 CFR 439.20 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Extraction Products § 439.20 Applicability. This subpart applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the manufacture of pharmaceutical products by...

  8. Twin Screw Extruders as Continuous Mixers for Thermal Processing: a Technical and Historical Perspective.

    PubMed

    Martin, Charlie

    2016-02-01

    Developed approximately 100 years ago for natural rubber/plastics applications, processes via twin screw extrusion (TSE) now generate some of the most cutting-edge drug delivery systems available. After 25 or so years of usage in pharmaceutical environments, it has become evident why TSE processing offers significant advantages as compared to other manufacturing techniques. The well-characterized nature of the TSE process lends itself to ease of scale-up and process optimization while also affording the benefits of continuous manufacturing. Interestingly, the evolution of twin screw extrusion for pharmaceutical products has followed a similar path as previously trodden by plastics processing pioneers. Almost every plastic has been processed at some stage in the manufacturing train on a twin screw extruder, which is utilized to mix materials together to impart desired properties into a final part. The evolution of processing via TSEs since the early/mid 1900s is recounted for plastics and also for pharmaceuticals from the late 1980s until today. The similarities are apparent. The basic theory and development of continuous mixing via corotating and counterrotating TSEs for plastics and drug is also described. The similarities between plastics and pharmaceutical applications are striking. The superior mixing characteristics inherent with a TSE have allowed this device to dominate other continuous mixers and spurred intensive development efforts and experimentation that spawned highly engineered formulations for the commodity and high-tech plastic products we use every day. Today, twin screw extrusion is a battle hardened, well-proven, manufacturing process that has been validated in 24-h/day industrial settings. The same thing is happening today with new extrusion technologies being applied to advanced drug delivery systems to facilitate commodity, targeted, and alternative delivery systems. It seems that the "extrusion evolution" will continue for wide-ranging pharmaceutical products.

  9. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy-based investigation and classification of pharmaceutical tablets using multivariate chemometric analysis

    PubMed Central

    Myakalwar, Ashwin Kumar; Sreedhar, S.; Barman, Ishan; Dingari, Narahara Chari; Rao, S. Venugopal; Kiran, P. Prem; Tewari, Surya P.; Kumar, G. Manoj

    2012-01-01

    We report the effectiveness of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in probing the content of pharmaceutical tablets and also investigate its feasibility for routine classification. This method is particularly beneficial in applications where its exquisite chemical specificity and suitability for remote and on site characterization significantly improves the speed and accuracy of quality control and assurance process. Our experiments reveal that in addition to the presence of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, which can be primarily attributed to the active pharmaceutical ingredients, specific inorganic atoms were also present in all the tablets. Initial attempts at classification by a ratiometric approach using oxygen to nitrogen compositional values yielded an optimal value (at 746.83 nm) with the least relative standard deviation but nevertheless failed to provide an acceptable classification. To overcome this bottleneck in the detection process, two chemometric algorithms, i.e. principal component analysis (PCA) and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), were implemented to exploit the multivariate nature of the LIBS data demonstrating that LIBS has the potential to differentiate and discriminate among pharmaceutical tablets. We report excellent prospective classification accuracy using supervised classification via the SIMCA algorithm, demonstrating its potential for future applications in process analytical technology, especially for fast on-line process control monitoring applications in the pharmaceutical industry. PMID:22099648

  10. Automated Plasma Spray (APS) process feasibility study

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fetheroff, C. W.; Derkacs, T.; Matay, I. M.

    1981-01-01

    An automated plasma spray (APS) process was developed to apply two layer (NiCrAlY and ZrO2-12Y2O3) thermal barrier coatings to aircraft and stationary gas turbine engine blade airfoils. The APS process hardware consists of four subsystems: a mechanical positioning subsystem incorporating two interlaced six degree of freedom assemblies (one for coating deposition and one for coating thickness monitoring); a noncoherent optical metrology subsystem (for in process gaging of the coating thickness buildup at specified points on the specimen); a microprocessor based adaptive system controller (to achieve the desired overall thickness profile on the specimen); and commerical plasma spray equipment. Over fifty JT9D first stage aircraft turbine blade specimens, ten W501B utility turbine blade specimens and dozens of cylindrical specimens were coated with the APS process in preliminary checkout and evaluation studies. The best of the preliminary turbine blade specimens achieved an overall coating thickness uniformity of 53 micrometers (2.1 mils), much better than is achievable manually. Comparative evaluations of coating thickness uniformity for manually sprayed and APS coated specimens were performed. One of the preliminary turbine blade evaluation specimens was subjected to a torch test and metallographic evaluation. Some cylindrical specimens coated with the APS process survived up to 2000 cycles in subsequent burner rig testing.

  11. Development of Problem Sets for K-12 and Engineering on Pharmaceutical Particulate Systems

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Savelski, Mariano J.; Slater, C. Stewart; Del Vecchio, Christopher A.; Kosteleski, Adrian J.; Wilson, Sarah A.

    2010-01-01

    Educational problem sets have been developed on structured organic particulate systems (SOPS) used in pharmaceutical technology. The sets present topics such as particle properties and powder flow and can be integrated into K-12 and college-level curricula. The materials educate students in specific areas of pharmaceutical particulate processing,…

  12. An Ontological Informatics Framework for Pharmaceutical Product Development: Milling as a Case Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Akkisetty, Venkata Sai Pavan Kumar

    2009-01-01

    Pharmaceutical product development is an expensive, time consuming and information intensive process. Providing the right information at the right time is of great importance in pharmaceutical industry. To achieve this, knowledge management is the approach to deal with the humongous quantity of information. Ontological approach proposed in Venkat…

  13. A new e-beam application in the pharmaceutical industry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sadat, Theo; Malcolm, Fiona

    2005-10-01

    The paper presents a new electron beam application in the pharmaceutical industry: an in-line self-shielded atropic transfer system using electron beam for surface decontamination of products entering a pharmaceutical filling line. The unit was developed by Linac Technologies in response to the specifications of a multi-national pharmaceutical company, to solve the risk of microbial contamination entering a filling line housed inside an isolator. In order to fit the sterilization unit inside the pharmaceutical plant, a "miniature" low-energy (200 keV) electron beam accelerator and e-beam tunnel were designed, all conforming to the pharmaceutical good manufacturing practice (GMP) regulations. Process validation using biological indicators is described, with reference to the regulations governing the pharmaceutical industry. Other industrial applications of a small-sized self-shielded electron beam sterilization unit are mentioned.

  14. Introduction: Institutional corruption and the pharmaceutical policy.

    PubMed

    Rodwin, Marc A

    2013-01-01

    Today, the goals of pharmaceutical policy and medical practice are often undermined due to institutional corruption - that is, widespread or systemic practices, usually legal, that undermine an institution's objectives or integrity. In this symposium, 16 articles investigate the corruption of pharmaceutical policy, each taking a different look at the sources of corruption, how it occurs, and what is corrupted. We will see that the pharmaceutical industry's own purposes are often undermined. Furthermore, pharmaceutical industry funding of election campaigns and lobbying skews the legislative process that sets pharmaceutical policy. Moreover, certain practices have corrupted medical research, the production of medical knowledge, the practice of medicine, drug safety, the Food and Drug Administration's oversight of the pharmaceutical market, and the trustworthiness of patient advocacy organizations. © 2013 American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Inc.

  15. WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations. Forty-ninth report.

    PubMed

    2015-01-01

    The Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations works towards clear, independent and practical standards and guidelines for the quality assurance of medicines. Standards are developed by the Committee through worldwide consultation and an international consensus-building process. The following new guidelines were adopted and recommended for use. Revised procedure for the development of monographs and other texts for The International Pharmacopoeia; Revised updating mechanism for the section on radiopharmaceuticals in The International Pharmacopoeia; Revision of the supplementary guidelines on good manufacturing practices: validation, Appendix 7: non-sterile process validation; General guidance for inspectors on hold-time studies; 16 technical supplements to Model guidance for the storage and transport of time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products; Recommendations for quality requirements when plant-derived artemisinin is used as a starting material in the production of antimalarial active pharmaceutical ingredients; Multisource (generic) pharmaceutical products: guidelines on registration requirements to establish interchangeability: revision; Guidance on the selection of comparator pharmaceutical products for equivalence assessment of interchangeable multisource (generic) products: revision; and Good review practices: guidelines for national and regional regulatory authorities.

  16. [Spectral Analysis about the Pharmaceutical Cocrystal Formation of Piracetam and 3-Hydroxybenzoic Acid].

    PubMed

    Zhang, Hui-li; Xia, Yi; Hong, Zhi; Du, Yong

    2015-07-01

    Pharmaceutical cocrystal can improve physical and chemical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), meanwhile this feature has shown great potential in improving the pharmaceutical's properties and characteristics. In this study, cocrystal formation between piracetam and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (3HBA) using grinding method has been characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman and terahertz (THz) spectroscopical techniques. The vibrational modes of different motions are obtained by the assignment of the peaks in the spectra of the starting materials and the cocrystal components. FTIR, Raman and THz spectroscopical results show that the vibrational modes of the cocrystal are different from those of the starting materials. In addition, the dynamic process of the above cocrystal formation is investigated in-depth with Raman and THz spec- tra. Piracetam-3HBA cocrystal is formed pretty fast in first several minutes, and then the formation rate becomes slow. After 35 minutes, such formation process has been completed. The results offer the theoretical benchmark and unique means for real-time monitoring pharmaceutical cocrystal formation and also the corresponding quantitative analysis in the pharmaceutical field.

  17. Thermoplastic coating of carbon fibers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Edie, D. D.; Lickfield, G. C.; Drews, M. J.; Ellison, M. S.; Gantt, B. W.

    1989-01-01

    A process is being developed which evenly coats individual carbon fibers with thermoplastic polymers. In this novel, continuous coating process, the fiber tow bundle is first spread cover a series of convex rollers and then evenly coated with a fine powder of thermoplastic matrix polymer. Next, the fiber is heated internally by passing direct current through the powder coated fiber. The direct current is controlled to allow the carbon fiber temperature to slightly exceed the flow temperature of the matrix polymer. Analysis of the thermoplastic coated carbon fiber tows produced using this continuous process indicates that 30 to 70 vol pct fiber prepregs can be obtained.

  18. The distribution of environmental contaminants and pharmaceuticals among skim milk, milk fat, curd, whey, and milk protein fractions through milk processing

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Twenty-seven environmental contaminants and pharmaceuticals encompassing a wide range of physicochemical properties were utilized to determine the effects of milk processing on xenobiotic distribution among milk fractions. Target compounds included radiolabeled antibiotics [ciprofloxacin (CIPR), cl...

  19. 32 CFR 199.21 - Pharmacy benefits program.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... limited to: (1) Approval of a new pharmaceutical agent by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; (2) Approval of a new indication for an existing pharmaceutical agent; (3) Changes in the clinical use of... the new formulary management process, the processes established by this section shall apply. (h...

  20. 32 CFR 199.21 - Pharmacy benefits program.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... limited to: (1) Approval of a new pharmaceutical agent by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; (2) Approval of a new indication for an existing pharmaceutical agent; (3) Changes in the clinical use of... the new formulary management process, the processes established by this section shall apply. (h...

  1. 32 CFR 199.21 - Pharmacy benefits program.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... limited to: (1) Approval of a new pharmaceutical agent by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; (2) Approval of a new indication for an existing pharmaceutical agent; (3) Changes in the clinical use of... the new formulary management process, the processes established by this section shall apply. (h...

  2. 32 CFR 199.21 - TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... limited to: (1) Approval of a new pharmaceutical agent by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; (2) Approval of a new indication for an existing pharmaceutical agent; (3) Changes in the clinical use of... the new formulary management process, the processes established by this section shall apply. (h...

  3. Optically transparent, scratch-resistant, diamond-like carbon coatings

    DOEpatents

    He, Xiao-Ming; Lee, Deok-Hyung; Nastasi, Michael A.; Walter, Kevin C.; Tuszewski, Michel G.

    2003-06-03

    A plasma-based method for the deposition of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings is described. The process uses a radio-frequency inductively coupled discharge to generate a plasma at relatively low gas pressures. The deposition process is environmentally friendly and scaleable to large areas, and components that have geometrically complicated surfaces can be processed. The method has been used to deposit adherent 100-400 nm thick DLC coatings on metals, glass, and polymers. These coatings are between three and four times harder than steel and are therefore scratch resistant, and transparent to visible light. Boron and silicon doping of the DLC coatings have produced coatings having improved optical properties and lower coating stress levels, but with slightly lower hardness.

  4. Increased Reliability of Gas Turbine Components by Robust Coatings Manufacturing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharma, A.; Dudykevych, T.; Sansom, D.; Subramanian, R.

    2017-08-01

    The expanding operational windows of the advanced gas turbine components demand increasing performance capability from protective coating systems. This demand has led to the development of novel multi-functional, multi-materials coating system architectures over the last years. In addition, the increasing dependency of components exposed to extreme environment on protective coatings results in more severe penalties, in case of a coating system failure. This emphasizes that reliability and consistency of protective coating systems are equally important to their superior performance. By means of examples, this paper describes the effects of scatter in the material properties resulting from manufacturing variations on coating life predictions. A strong foundation in process-property-performance correlations as well as regular monitoring and control of the coating process is essential for robust and well-controlled coating process. Proprietary and/or commercially available diagnostic tools can help in achieving these goals, but their usage in industrial setting is still limited. Various key contributors to process variability are briefly discussed along with the limitations of existing process and product control methods. Other aspects that are important for product reliability and consistency in serial manufacturing as well as advanced testing methodologies to simplify and enhance product inspection and improve objectivity are briefly described.

  5. Defining the pharmaceutical system to support proactive drug safety.

    PubMed

    Lewis, Vicki R; Hernandez, Angelica; Meadors, Margaret

    2013-02-01

    The military, aviation, nuclear, and transportation industries have transformed their safety records by using a systems approach to safety and risk mitigation. This article creates a preliminary model of the U.S. pharmaceutical system using available literature including academic publications, policies, and guidelines established by regulatory bodies and drug industry trade publications. Drawing from the current literature, the goals, roles, and individualized processes of pharmaceutical subsystems will be defined. Defining the pharmaceutical system provides a vehicle to assess and address known problems within the system, and provides a means to conduct proactive risk analyses, which would create significant pharmaceutical safety advancement.

  6. Entrepreneurial patent management in pharmaceutical startups.

    PubMed

    Holgersson, Marcus; Phan, Tai; Hedner, Thomas

    2016-07-01

    Startups fill an increasingly important role as innovators in the pharmaceutical industry, and patenting is typically central to their success. This article aims to explore patent management in pharmaceutical startups. The results show that startups need to deal with several challenges related to patenting and an 'entrepreneurial' approach to patent management is called for. Resource constraints, venture capital provision, exits and other conditions and events must be readily considered in the patent management process to build a successful pharmaceutical venture, something that could benefit the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Patent indicators: a window to pharmaceutical market success.

    PubMed

    Guo, Yang; Hu, Yuanjia; Zheng, Mingli; Wang, Yitao

    2013-07-01

    Pharmaceutical success in the market is the best reward for pharmaceutical investors undergoing the lengthy, costly and risky process of pharmaceutical Research and Development (R&D). Drugs with high market revenues trigger fierce competition between pharmaceutical enterprises, as is demonstrated by the increasing Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) cases focusing on seizing the best-selling products. On the other hand, patents, as the best shield for innovative drugs against generic drugs, become a powerful weapon for pharmaceutical enterprises to win the substantial returns generated by market exclusivity. Patents seem to be directly responsible for the commercial success of new medicines. In this context, it is of great significance to find out the empirical associations between pharmaceutical commercial success and patents. By comprehensively analysing 127 drugs marketed in the USA and their 621 American patents, this article identifies the evidence to link various patent indicators with pharmaceutical sales in actual market.

  8. 40 CFR 439.50 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Research § 439.50 Applicability. This subpart applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from pharmaceutical research. [63 FR 50436, Sept. 21, 1998] ...

  9. Study on influence of Surface roughness of Ni-Al2O3 nano composite coating and evaluation of wear characteristics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Raghavendra, C. R.; Basavarajappa, S.; Sogalad, Irappa

    2018-02-01

    Electrodeposition is one of the most technologically feasible and economically superior techniques for producing metallic coating. The advancement in the application of nano particles has grabbed the attention in all fields of engineering. In this present study an attempt has been made on the Ni-Al2O3nano particle composite coating on aluminium substrate by electrodeposition process. The aluminium surface requires a specific pre-treatment for better adherence of coating. In light of this a thin zinc layer is coated on the aluminium substrate by electroless process. In addition to this surface roughness is an important parameter for any coating method and material. In this work Ni-Al2O3 composite coating were successfully coated by varying the process parameters such as bath temperature, current density and particle loading. The experimentation was performed using central composite design based 20 trials of experiments. The effect of process parameters and surface roughness before and after coating is analyzed on wear rate and coating thickness. The results shown a better wear resistance of Ni-Al2O3 composite electrodeposited coating compared to Ni coating. The particle loading and interaction effect of current density with temperature has greater significant effect on wear rate. The surface roughness is significantly affected the wear behaviour and thickness of coating.

  10. A drop penetration method to measure powder blend wettability.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yifan; Liu, Zhanjie; Muzzio, Fernando; Drazer, German; Callegari, Gerardo

    2018-03-01

    Water wettability of pharmaceutical blends affects important quality attributes of final products. We investigate the wetting properties of a pharmaceutical blend lubricated with Magnesium Stearate (MgSt) as a function of the mechanical shear strain applied to the blend. We measure the penetration dynamics of sessile drops deposited on slightly compressed powder beds. We consider a blend composed of 9% Acetaminophen 90% Lactose and 1% MgSt by weight. Comparing the penetration time of water and a reference liquid Polydimethylsiloxane (silicon oil) we obtain an effective cosine of the contact angle with water, based on a recently developed drop penetration method. We repeat the experiments for blends exposed to increasing levels of shear strain and demonstrate a significant decrease in water wettability (decrease in the cosine of the contact angle). The results are consistent with the development of a hydrophobic film coating the powder particles as a result of the increased shear strain. Finally, we show that, as expected dissolution times increase with the level of shear strain. Therefore, the proposed drop penetration method could be used to directly assess the state of lubrication of a pharmaceutical blend and act as a quality control on powder blend attributes before the blend is tableted. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Dual-coating of liposomes as encapsulating matrix of antimicrobial peptides: Development and characterization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gomaa, Ahmed I.; Martinent, Cynthia; Hammami, Riadh; Fliss, Ismail; Subirade, Muriel

    2017-11-01

    Abstract Antimicrobial peptides have been proposed as a potential biopreservatives in pharmaceutical research and agribusiness. However, many limitations hinder their utilization, such as their vulnerability to proteolytic digestion and their potential interaction with other food ingredients in complex food systems. One approach to overcome such problems is developing formulations entrapping and thereby protecting the antimicrobial peptides. Liposome encapsulation is a strategy that could be implemented to combine protection of the antimicrobial activity of the peptides from proteolytic enzymes and the controlled release of the encapsulated active ingredients. The objective of this study was to develop dual-coated food grade liposome formulations for oral administration of bacteriocins. The formulations were developed from anionic and cationic phospholipids as models of negatively and positively charged liposomes, respectively. Liposomes were prepared by the hydration of lipid films. Subsequently, the liposomes were coated with two layers comprising a biopolymer network (pectin) and whey proteins (WPI) in order to further improve their stability and enable the gradual release of the developed liposomes. Liposomes were characterized for their size, charge, molecular structure, morphology, encapsulation efficiency and release. The results of FTIR, zeta potential, size distribution and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the liposomes were efficiently coated. Ionic interactions were involved in the stabilization of the positively charged liposome formulations. Negatively charge liposome formulations were stabilized through weak interactions. The release study proved the efficiency of dual coating on the protection of liposomes against gastrointestinal digestion. This work is the first to study the encapsulation of antimicrobial peptides in dual-coated liposomes. Furthermore, the work successfully encapsulated MccJ25 in both negative and positive liposome models.

  12. Tailoring controlled-release oral dosage forms by combining inkjet and flexographic printing techniques.

    PubMed

    Genina, Natalja; Fors, Daniela; Vakili, Hossein; Ihalainen, Petri; Pohjala, Leena; Ehlers, Henrik; Kassamakov, Ivan; Haeggström, Edward; Vuorela, Pia; Peltonen, Jouko; Sandler, Niklas

    2012-10-09

    We combined conventional inkjet printing technology with flexographic printing to fabricate drug delivery systems with accurate doses and tailored drug release. Riboflavin sodium phosphate (RSP) and propranolol hydrochloride (PH) were used as water-soluble model drugs. Three different paper substrates: A (uncoated woodfree paper), B (triple-coated inkjet paper) and C (double-coated sheet fed offset paper) were used as porous model carriers for drug delivery. Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) containing solutions were printed onto 1 cm × 1 cm substrate areas using an inkjet printer. The printed APIs were coated with water insoluble polymeric films of different thickness using flexographic printing. All substrates were characterized with respect to wettability, surface roughness, air permeability, and cell toxicity. In addition, content uniformity and release profiles of the produced solid dosage forms before and after coating were studied. The substrates were nontoxic for the human cell line assayed. Substrate B was smoothest and least porous. The properties of substrates B and C were similar, whereas those of substrate A differed significantly from those of B, C. The release kinetics of both printed APIs was slowest from substrate B before and after coating with the water insoluble polymer film, following by substrate C, whereas substrate A showed the fastest release. The release rate decreased with increasing polymer coating film thickness. The printed solid dosage forms showed excellent content uniformity. So, combining the two printing technologies allowed fabricating controlled-release oral dosage forms that are challenging to produce using a single technique. The approach opens up new perspectives in the manufacture of flexible doses and tailored drug-delivery systems. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. One-year assessment of joint procurement of pharmaceuticals in the public health sector in Jordan.

    PubMed

    Al-Abbadi, Ibrahim; Qawwas, Abdelraouf; Jaafreh, Mahmoud; Abosamen, Taher; Saket, Maisa

    2009-06-01

    About 10% of the gross domestic product in Jordan is spent on health care, and almost one third of that is spent on pharmaceuticals. The public health sector in Jordan has 4 main governmental parties that purchase medicines independently through annual tenders (ie, the process of bidding, being awarded, ordering, paying for, and receiving drugs) issued in the generic (or scientific) name of the medicines or therapeutic groups. Double purchasing is a problem that leads to higher spending on drugs and poor availability of medicines throughout the year. To remedy this problem, a joint procurement process was established in Jordan in 2004 and went into practice in 2006. The aim of this research was to assess the first year of purchasing pharmaceuticals in the public health sector in Jordan through the joint procurement process for the 4 participating parties in comparison with purchasing pharmaceuticals independently before the institution of joint procurement. The first tender under the joint procurement process was issued in 2007 for antibiotics, anti-HIV medications, and antituberculosis agents, which represent 15% of the annual pharmaceutical public-sector purchases in Jordan. A research committee solicited lists of purchased quantities and final purchase prices of these pharmaceuticals obtained in 2006 by each participating group and in 2007 through the joint procurement process. The quantity-comparison method was used to compare the costs of drugs purchased in 2006 and 2007, and estimated cost savings were calculated for each product for each party for 2006 and 2007 under the assumption that the same quantities purchased by each participating party in 2006 would be purchased through joint procurement (prices of 2007). Purchasing through the joint procurement process achieved an estimated savings of 2.4%. This savings increased to 8.9% after excluding 1 item (a cephalosporin), the raw material price of which increased markedly in 2007 compared with 2006 because of an international shortage of raw materials. Based on these initial findings, applying a joint procurement system for pharmaceuticals in the public health sector in Jordan has potential to reduce expenditures for the purchase of medicines and provide treatment continuously throughout the year.

  14. Hydroxyapatite Coatings on High Nitrogen Stainless Steel by Laser Rapid Manufacturing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Das, Ashish; Shukla, Mukul

    2017-11-01

    In this research, the laser rapid manufacturing (LRM) additive manufacturing process was used to deposit multifunctional hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings on high nitrogen stainless steel. LRM overcomes the limitations of conventional coating processes by producing coatings with metallurgical bond, osseointegration, and infection inhibition properties. The microstructure, microhardness, antibacterial efficacy, and bioactivity of the coatings were investigated. The microstructure studies established that the coatings consist of austenite dendrites with HAP and some reaction products primarily occurring in the inter-dendritic regions. A Vickers microhardness test confirmed the hardness values of deposited HAP coatings to be higher than those of the bare 254SS samples, while a fluorescence activated cell sorting test confirmed their superior antibacterial properties as compared with pristine samples. The coated samples immersed in simulated body fluid showed rapid apatite forming ability. The results obtained in this research signify the potential application of the LRM process in synthesizing multifunctional orthopaedic coatings.

  15. Influence of the aqueous film coating process on the properties and stability of tablets containing a moisture-labile drug.

    PubMed

    Ruotsalainen, Mirja; Heinämäki, Jyrki; Taipale, Krista; Yliruusi, Jouko

    2003-01-01

    The effects of an aqueous film coating process on the morphology and storage stability of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-coated tablets containing a moisture-labile model drug (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) were evaluated using an instrumented side-vented tablet pan coater. Coating parameters studied were inlet air absolute humidity 5 g/m3 and 12 g/m3, spraying air pressure 100 kPa and 500 kPa, pan air temperature 35 degrees C and 55 degrees C, and coating solution flow rate 2.2 g/min and 7.8 g/min. The surface roughness of the coatings was measured with a laser profilometer and the chemical hydrolysis of the model drug ASA with an UV-spectrophotometer. The film-coated tablets were stored at 25 degrees C/60% RH and 40 degrees C/75% RH for three months. The high absolute humidity of the inlet air increased the residual water content and surface roughness of the coated tablets. Using a lower coating solution flow rate, higher spraying air pressure and pan temperature the coatings were smooth and homogeneous. In both ambient and accelerated storage conditions, the roughness of the coatings and the hydrolysis of ASA increased, but this was independent of the film coating process. Uniform and smooth hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coatings can be achieved by improved control of process parameters related to the application of the coating solution and water evaporation of the tablet surface.

  16. Anti-reflection coatings applied by acid leaching process

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pastirik, E.

    1980-01-01

    The Magicote C process developed by S.M. Thompsen was evaluated for use in applying an antireflective coating to the cover plates of solar panels. The process uses a fluosilicic acid solution supersaturated with silica at elevated temperature to selectively attack the surface of soda-lime glass cover plates and alter the physical and chemical composition of a thin layer of glass. The altered glass layer constitutes an antireflective coating. The process produces coatings of excellent optical quality which possess outstanding resistance to soiling and staining. The coatings produced are not resistant to mechanical abrasion and are attacked to some extent by glass cleansers. Control of the filming process was found to be difficult.

  17. Synthetic heparin-binding factor analogs

    DOEpatents

    Pena, Louis A [Poquott, NY; Zamora, Paul O [Gaithersburg, MD; Lin, Xinhua [Plainview, NY; Glass, John D [Shoreham, NY

    2010-04-20

    The invention provides synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs having at least one peptide chain, and preferably two peptide chains branched from a dipeptide branch moiety composed of two trifunctional amino acid residues, which peptide chain or chains bind a heparin-binding growth factor receptor and are covalently bound to a non-signaling peptide that includes a heparin-binding domain, preferably by a linker, which may be a hydrophobic linker. The synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs are useful as pharmaceutical agents, soluble biologics or as surface coatings for medical devices.

  18. Biochemical And Genetic Modification Of Polysaccharides

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kern, Roger G.; Petersen, Gene R.; Richards, Gil F.

    1993-01-01

    Bacteriophages producing endopolysaccharase-type enzymes used to produce, isolate, and purify high yields of modified polysaccharides from polysaccharides produced by, and incorporated into capsules of, certain bacteria. Bacteriophages used in conversion of native polysaccharide materials into polymers of nearly uniform high molecular weight or, alternatively, into highly pure oligosaccharides. Also used in genetic selection of families of polysaccharides structurally related to native polysaccharide materials, but having altered properties. Resulting new polysaccharides and oligosaccharides prove useful in variety of products, including pharmaceutical chemicals, coating materials, biologically active carbohydrates, and drag-reducing additives for fluids.

  19. Dynamics of polymer nanoparticles and chains.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Streletzky, Kiril; McKenna, John; Hillier, Gerry

    2006-10-01

    We present a Dynamic Light Scattering study of transport properties of the polymer chains and nanoparticles made out of the same starting solution. The spectra of both systems are highly non-exponential requiring a spectral time moment analysis. Our findings indicate the existence of several modes of relaxation in both systems. The comparison of the mean relaxation rates and diffusion coefficients of the different modes in two systems under good solvent conditions will be reported. Temperature sensitivity of the polymer nanoparticles and its possible applications in pharmaceutical, coatings, and petroleum industries will also be discussed.

  20. Dry particle coating of polymer particles for tailor-made product properties

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Blümel, C., E-mail: karl-ernst.wirth@fau.de; Schmidt, J., E-mail: karl-ernst.wirth@fau.de; Dielesen, A., E-mail: karl-ernst.wirth@fau.de

    2014-05-15

    Disperse polymer powders with tailor-made particle properties are of increasing interest in industrial applications such as Selective Laser Beam Melting processes (SLM). This study focuses on dry particle coating processes to improve the conductivity of the insulating polymer powder in order to assemble conductive devices. Therefore PP particles were coated with Carbon Black nanoparticles in a dry particle coating process. This process was investigated in dependence of process time and mass fraction of Carbon Black. The conductivity of the functionalized powders was measured by impedance spectroscopy. It was found that there is a dependence of process time, respectively coating ratiomore » and conductivity. The powder shows higher conductivities with increasing number of guest particles per host particle surface area, i.e. there is a correlation between surface functionalization density and conductivity. The assembled composite particles open new possibilities for processing distinct polymers such as PP in SLM process. The fundamentals of the dry particle coating process of PP host particles with Carbon Black guest particles as well as the influence on the electrical conductivity will be discussed.« less

  1. Laser-Assisted Cold-Sprayed Corrosion- and Wear-Resistant Coatings: A Review

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Olakanmi, E. O.; Doyoyo, M.

    2014-06-01

    Laser-assisted cold spray (LACS) process will be increasingly employed for depositing coatings because of its unique advantages: solid-state deposition of dense, homogeneous, and pore-free coatings onto a range of substrates; and high build rate at reduced operating costs without the use of expensive heating and process inert gases. Depositing coatings with excellent performance indicators via LACS demands an accurate knowledge and control of processing and materials' variables. By varying the LACS process parameters and their interactions, the functional properties of coatings can be manipulated. Moreover, thermal effect due to laser irradiation and microstructural evolution complicate the interpretation of LACS mechanical deformation mechanism which is essential for elucidating its physical phenomena. In order to provide a basis for follow-on-research that leads to the development of high-productivity LACS processing of coatings, this review focuses on the latest developments in depositing corrosion- and wear-resistant coatings with the emphasis on the composition, structure, and mechanical and functional properties. Historical developments and fundamentals of LACS are addressed in an attempt to describe the physics behind the process. Typical technological applications of LACS coatings are also identified. The investigations of all process sequences, from laser irradiation of the powder-laden gas stream and the substrate, to the impingement of thermally softened particles on the deposition site, and subsequent further processes, are described. Existing gaps in the literature relating to LACS-dependent microstructural evolution, mechanical deformation mechanisms, correlation between functional properties and process parameters, processing challenges, and industrial applications have been identified in order to provide insights for further investigations and innovation in LACS deposition of wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings.

  2. Background Paper on Aerospace & Missile Needs

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-05-01

    Micro- welding based coatings Trivalent chromium plated coatings Nano-composite Ni-P and Co-P based plated coatings Thermal diffusion coatings Plasma...working in conjunction with Advanced Surfaces and Processes, Inc. to determine the applicability of another type of ESD process. Trivalent Chromium ...Plating: Trivalent chromium is considered to be much less toxic than hexavalent chromium . Consequently, trivalent chromium coatings are being

  3. The effect of spraying parameters on micro-structural properties of WC-12%Co coating deposited on copper substrate by HVOF process

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sathwara, Nishit, E-mail: nishit-25@live.in; Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Department, Indus University, Ahmedabad-382115; Jariwala, C., E-mail: chetanjari@yahoo.com

    High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) thermal sprayed coatingmade from Tungsten Carbide (WC) isconsidered as one of the most durable materials as wear resistance for industrial applications at room temperature. WC coating offers high wear resistance due to its high hardness and tough matrix imparts. The coating properties strongly depend on thermal spray processing parameters, surface preparation and surface finish. In this investigation, the effect of variousHVOF process parameters was studied on WC coating properties. The WC-12%Co coating was produced on Copper substrate. Prior to coating, theCopper substrate surface was prepared by grit blasting. WC-12%Co coatings were deposited on Coppersubstrates with varyingmore » process parameters such as Oxygen gas pressure, Air pressure, and spraying distance. Microstructure of coating was examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and characterization of phasespresentin the coating was examined by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Microhardness of all coatingswas measured by VickerMicrohardness tester. At low Oxygen Pressure(10.00 bar), high Air pressure (7bar) and short nozzle to substrate distance of 170mm, best coating adhesion and porosity less structure isachieved on Coppersubstrate.« less

  4. The effect of spraying parameters on micro-structural properties of WC-12%Co coating deposited on copper substrate by HVOF process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sathwara, Nishit; Jariwala, C.; Chauhan, N.; Raole, P. M.; Basa, D. K.

    2015-08-01

    High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) thermal sprayed coatingmade from Tungsten Carbide (WC) isconsidered as one of the most durable materials as wear resistance for industrial applications at room temperature. WC coating offers high wear resistance due to its high hardness and tough matrix imparts. The coating properties strongly depend on thermal spray processing parameters, surface preparation and surface finish. In this investigation, the effect of variousHVOF process parameters was studied on WC coating properties. The WC-12%Co coating was produced on Copper substrate. Prior to coating, theCopper substrate surface was prepared by grit blasting. WC-12%Co coatings were deposited on Coppersubstrates with varying process parameters such as Oxygen gas pressure, Air pressure, and spraying distance. Microstructure of coating was examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and characterization of phasespresentin the coating was examined by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Microhardness of all coatingswas measured by VickerMicrohardness tester. At low Oxygen Pressure(10.00 bar), high Air pressure (7bar) and short nozzle to substrate distance of 170mm, best coating adhesion and porosity less structure isachieved on Coppersubstrate.

  5. High-Performance Molybdenum Coating by Wire–HVOF Thermal Spray Process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tailor, Satish; Modi, Ankur; Modi, S. C.

    2018-04-01

    Coating deposition on many industrial components with good microstructural, mechanical properties, and better wear resistance is always a challenge for the thermal spray community. A number of thermal spray methods are used to develop such promising coatings for many industrial applications, viz. arc spray, flame spray, plasma, and HVOF. All these processes have their own limitations to achieve porous free, very dense, high-performance wear-resistant coatings. In this work, an attempt has been made to overcome this limitation. Molybdenum coatings were deposited on low-carbon steel substrates using wire-high-velocity oxy-fuel (W-HVOF; WH) thermal spray system (trade name HIJET 9610®). For a comparison, Mo coatings were also fabricated by arc spray, flame spray, plasma spray, and powder-HVOF processes. As-sprayed coatings were analyzed using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy for phase, and microstructural analysis, respectively. Coating microhardness, surface roughness, and porosity were also measured. Adhesion strength and wear tests were conducted to determine the mechanical and wear properties of the as-sprayed coatings. Results show that the coatings deposited by W-HVOF have better performance in terms of microstructural, mechanical, and wear resistance properties, in comparison with available thermal spray process (flame spray and plasma spray).

  6. Effects of acetylacetone on the photoconversion of pharmaceuticals in natural and pure waters.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Guoyang; Wu, Bingdang; Zhang, Shujuan

    2017-06-01

    Acetylacetone (AcAc) has proven to be a potent photo-activator in the degradation of color compounds. The effects of AcAc on the photochemical conversion of five colorless pharmaceuticals were for the first time investigated in both pure and natural waters with the UV/H 2 O 2 process as a reference. In most cases, AcAc played a similar role to H 2 O 2 . For example, AcAc accelerated the photodecomposition of carbamazepine, oxytetracycline, and tetracycline in pure water. Meanwhile, the toxicity of tetracyclines and carbamazepine were reduced to a similar extent to that in the UV/H 2 O 2 process. However, AcAc worked in a way different from that of H 2 O 2 . Based on the degradation kinetics, solvent kinetic isotope effect, and the inhibiting effect of O 2 , the underlying mechanisms for the degradation of pharmaceuticals in the UV/AcAc process were believed mainly to be direct energy transfer from excited AcAc to pharmaceuticals rather than reactive oxygen species-mediated reactions. In natural waters, dissolved organic matter (DOM) played a crucial role in the photoconversion of pharmaceuticals. The role of H 2 O 2 became negligible due to the scavenging effects of DOM and inorganic ions. Interestingly, in natural waters, AcAc first accelerated the photodecomposition of pharmaceuticals and then led to a dramatic reduction with the depletion of dissolved oxygen. Considering the natural occurrence of diketones, the results here point out a possible pathway in the fate and transport of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Blending Problem-Based Learning and Peer-Led Team Learning, in an Open Ended "Home-Grown" Pharmaceutical Chemistry Case Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Veale, Clinton G. L.; Krause, Rui W. M.; Sewry, Joyce D.

    2018-01-01

    Pharmaceutical chemistry, medicinal chemistry and the drug discovery process require experienced practitioners to employ reasoned speculation in generating creative ideas, which can be used to evolve promising molecules into drugs. The ever-evolving world of pharmaceutical chemistry requires university curricula that prepare graduates for their…

  8. Alkali corrosion resistant coatings and ceramic foams having superfine open cell structure and method of processing

    DOEpatents

    Brown, Jr., Jesse J.; Hirschfeld, Deidre A.; Li, Tingkai

    1993-12-07

    Alkali corrosion resistant coatings and ceramic foams having superfine open cell structure are created using sol-gel processes. The processes have particular application in creating calcium magnesium zirconium phosphate, CMZP, coatings and foams.

  9. Microneedle Coating Techniques for Transdermal Drug Delivery

    PubMed Central

    Haj-Ahmad, Rita; Khan, Hashim; Arshad, Muhammad Sohail; Rasekh, Manoochehr; Hussain, Amjad; Walsh, Susannah; Li, Xiang; Chang, Ming-Wei; Ahmad, Zeeshan

    2015-01-01

    Drug administration via the transdermal route is an evolving field that provides an alternative to oral and parenteral routes of therapy. Several microneedle (MN) based approaches have been developed. Among these, coated MNs (typically where drug is deposited on MN tips) are a minimally invasive method to deliver drugs and vaccines through the skin. In this review, we describe several processes to coat MNs. These include dip coating, gas jet drying, spray coating, electrohydrodynamic atomisation (EHDA) based processes and piezoelectric inkjet printing. Examples of process mechanisms, conditions and tested formulations are provided. As these processes are independent techniques, modifications to facilitate MN coatings are elucidated. In summary, the outcomes and potential value for each technique provides opportunities to overcome formulation or dosage form limitations. While there are significant developments in solid degradable MNs, coated MNs (through the various techniques described) have potential to be utilized in personalized drug delivery via controlled deposition onto MN templates. PMID:26556364

  10. High gain durable anti-reflective coating

    DOEpatents

    Maghsoodi, Sina; Brophy, Brenor L.; Colson, Thomas E.; Gonsalves, Peter R.; Abrams, Ze'ev R.

    2016-07-26

    Disclosed herein are polysilsesquioxane-based anti-reflective coating (ARC) compositions, methods of preparation, and methods of deposition on a substrate. In one embodiment, the polysilsesquioxane of this disclosure is prepared in a two-step process of acid catalyzed hydrolysis of organoalkoxysilane followed by addition of tetralkoxysilane that generates silicone polymers with >40 mol % silanol based on Si-NMR. These high silanol siloxane polymers are stable and have a long shelf-life in polar organic solvents at room temperature. Also disclosed are low refractive index ARC made from these compositions with and without additives such as porogens, templates, thermal radical initiator, photo radical initiators, crosslinkers, Si--OH condensation catalyst and nano-fillers. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for applying coatings to flat substrates including substrate pre-treatment processes, coating processes and coating curing processes including skin-curing using hot-air knives. Also disclosed are coating compositions and formulations for highly tunable, durable, highly abrasion-resistant functionalized anti-reflective coatings.

  11. Localized analysis of paint-coat drying using dynamic speckle interferometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sierra-Sosa, Daniel; Tebaldi, Myrian; Grumel, Eduardo; Rabal, Hector; Elmaghraby, Adel

    2018-07-01

    The paint-coating is part of several industrial processes, including the automotive industry, architectural coatings, machinery and appliances. These paint-coatings must comply with high quality standards, for this reason evaluation techniques from paint-coatings are in constant development. One important factor from the paint-coating process is the drying, as it has influence on the quality of final results. In this work we present an assessment technique based on the optical dynamic speckle interferometry, this technique allows for the temporal activity evaluation of the paint-coating drying process, providing localized information from drying. This localized information is relevant in order to address the drying homogeneity, optimal drying, and quality control. The technique relies in the definition of a new temporal history of the speckle patterns to obtain the local activity; this information is then clustered to provide a convenient indicative of different drying process stages. The experimental results presented were validated using the gravimetric drying curves

  12. Anodized aluminum coatings for thermal control. I - Coating process and stresses

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Alwitt, R. S.; Mcclung, R. C.; Jacobs, S.

    1992-01-01

    Anodized aluminum is a candidate material for use as a thermal radiator surface on Space Station Freedom. Here, results of measurements of coating stress at room temperature are presented. The effects of coating process conditions and also subsequent exposure to different humidities, from above ambient to vacuum, are reported. The most important observation with regard to space applications is that the coating stress is very dependent on humidity, changing from compressive at ambient humidity to strongly tensile in 10 exp -6 torr vacuum. The increase in stress is accompanied by loss of water from the coating, and the process is reversible.

  13. Real-time imaging as an emerging process analytical technology tool for monitoring of fluid bed coating process.

    PubMed

    Naidu, Venkata Ramana; Deshpande, Rucha S; Syed, Moinuddin R; Wakte, Pravin S

    2018-07-01

    A direct imaging system (Eyecon TM ) was used as a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tool to monitor fluid bed coating process. Eyecon TM generated real-time onscreen images, particle size and shape information of two identically manufactured laboratory-scale batches. Eyecon TM has accuracy of measuring the particle size increase of ±1 μm on particles in the size range of 50-3000 μm. Eyecon TM captured data every 2 s during the entire process. The moving average of D90 particle size values recorded by Eyecon TM were calculated for every 30 min to calculate the radial coating thickness of coated particles. After the completion of coating process, the radial coating thickness was found to be 11.3 and 9.11 μm, with a standard deviation of ±0.68 and 1.8 μm for Batch 1 and Batch 2, respectively. The coating thickness was also correlated with percent weight build-up by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and dissolution. GPC indicated weight build-up of 10.6% and 9.27% for Batch 1 and Batch 2, respectively. In conclusion, weight build-up of 10% can also be correlated with 10 ± 2 μm increase in the coating thickness of pellets, indicating the potential applicability of real-time imaging as an endpoint determination tool for fluid bed coating process.

  14. 21 CFR 212.1 - What are the meanings of the technical terms used in these regulations?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... active pharmaceutical ingredient. In-process material means any material fabricated, compounded, blended...-process material, packaging material, or labeling in the production of a PET drug. PET means positron... the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended (21 U.S.C. 321 et seq.). Active pharmaceutical...

  15. Nationwide reconnaissance of contaminants of emerging ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Mobile and persistent chemicals that are present in urban wastewater, such as pharmaceuticals, may survive on-site or municipal wastewater treatment and post-discharge environmental processes. These pharmaceuticals have the potential to reach surface and groundwaters, essential drinking-water sources. A joint, two-phase U.S. Geological Survey-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study examined source and treated waters from 25 drinking-water treatment plants from across the United States. Treatment plants that had probable wastewater inputs to their source waters were selected to assess the prevalence of pharmaceuticals in such source waters, and to identify which pharmaceuticals persist through drinking-water treatment. All samples were analyzed for 24 pharmaceuticals in Phase I and for 118 in Phase II. In Phase I, 11 pharmaceuticals were detected in all source-water samples, with a maximum of nine pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample. The median number of pharmaceuticals for all 25 samples was five. Quantifiable pharmaceutical detections were fewer, with a maximum of five pharmaceuticals in any one sample and a median for all samples of two. In Phase II, 47 different pharmaceuticals were detected in all source-water samples, with a maximum of 41 pharmaceuticals detected in any one sample. The median number of pharmaceuticals for all 25 samples was eight. For 37 quantifiable pharmaceuticals in Phase II, median concentrations in source water were below 11

  16. Transformation of pharmaceuticals during oxidation/disinfection processes in drinking water treatment.

    PubMed

    Postigo, Cristina; Richardson, Susan D

    2014-08-30

    Pharmaceuticals are emerging contaminants of concern and are widespread in the environment. While the levels of these substances in finished drinking waters are generally considered too low for human health concern, there are now concerns about their disinfection by-products (DBPs) that can form during drinking water treatment, which in some cases have been proven to be more toxic than the parent compounds. The present manuscript reviews the transformation products of pharmaceuticals generated in water during different disinfection processes, i.e. chlorination, ozonation, chloramination, chlorine dioxide, UV, and UV/hydrogen peroxide, and the main reaction pathways taking place. Most of the findings considered for this review come from controlled laboratory studies involving reactions of pharmaceuticals with these oxidants used in drinking water treatment. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Method and Process Development of Advanced Atmospheric Plasma Spraying for Thermal Barrier Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mihm, Sebastian; Duda, Thomas; Gruner, Heiko; Thomas, Georg; Dzur, Birger

    2012-06-01

    Over the last few years, global economic growth has triggered a dramatic increase in the demand for resources, resulting in steady rise in prices for energy and raw materials. In the gas turbine manufacturing sector, process optimizations of cost-intensive production steps involve a heightened potential of savings and form the basis for securing future competitive advantages in the market. In this context, the atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) process for thermal barrier coatings (TBC) has been optimized. A constraint for the optimization of the APS coating process is the use of the existing coating equipment. Furthermore, the current coating quality and characteristics must not change so as to avoid new qualification and testing. Using experience in APS and empirically gained data, the process optimization plan included the variation of e.g. the plasma gas composition and flow-rate, the electrical power, the arrangement and angle of the powder injectors in relation to the plasma jet, the grain size distribution of the spray powder and the plasma torch movement procedures such as spray distance, offset and iteration. In particular, plasma properties (enthalpy, velocity and temperature), powder injection conditions (injection point, injection speed, grain size and distribution) and the coating lamination (coating pattern and spraying distance) are examined. The optimized process and resulting coating were compared to the current situation using several diagnostic methods. The improved process significantly reduces costs and achieves the requirement of comparable coating quality. Furthermore, a contribution was made towards better comprehension of the APS of ceramics and the definition of a better method for future process developments.

  18. Insoluble Coatings for Stirling Engine Heat Pipe Condenser Surfaces

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dussinger, Peter M.; Lindemuth, James E.

    1997-01-01

    The principal objective of this Phase 2 SBIR program was to develop and demonstrate a practically insoluble coating for nickel-based superalloys for Stirling engine heat pipe applications. Specific technical objectives of the program were: (1) Determine the solubility corrosion rates for Nickel 200, Inconel 718, and Udimet 72OLI in a simulated Stirling engine heat pipe environment, (2) Develop coating processes and techniques for capillary groove and screen wick structures, (3) Evaluate the durability and solubility corrosion rates for capillary groove and screen wick structures coated with an insoluble coating in cylindrical heat pipes operating under Stirling engine conditions, and (4) Design and fabricate a coated full-scale, partial segment of the current Stirling engine heat pipe for the Stirling Space Power Convertor program. The work effort successfully demonstrated a two-step nickel aluminide coating process for groove wick structures and interior wall surfaces in contact with liquid metals; demonstrated a one-step nickel aluminide coating process for nickel screen wick structures; and developed and demonstrated a two-step aluminum-to-nickel aluminide coating process for nickel screen wick structures. In addition, the full-scale, partial segment was fabricated and the interior surfaces and wick structures were coated. The heat pipe was charged with sodium, processed, and scheduled to be life tested for up to ten years as a Phase 3 effort.

  19. Continuous flow technology vs. the batch-by-batch approach to produce pharmaceutical compounds.

    PubMed

    Cole, Kevin P; Johnson, Martin D

    2018-01-01

    For the manufacture of small molecule drugs, many pharmaceutical innovator companies have recently invested in continuous processing, which can offer significant technical and economic advantages over traditional batch methodology. This Expert Review will describe the reasons for this interest as well as many considerations and challenges that exist today concerning continuous manufacturing. Areas covered: Continuous processing is defined and many reasons for its adoption are described. The current state of continuous drug substance manufacturing within the pharmaceutical industry is summarized. Current key challenges to implementation of continuous manufacturing are highlighted, and an outlook provided regarding the prospects for continuous within the industry. Expert commentary: Continuous processing at Lilly has been a journey that started with the need for increased safety and capability. Over twelve years the original small, dedicated group has grown to more than 100 Lilly employees in discovery, development, quality, manufacturing, and regulatory designing in continuous drug substance processing. Recently we have focused on linked continuous unit operations for the purpose of all-at-once pharmaceutical manufacturing, but the technical and business drivers that existed in the very beginning for stand-alone continuous unit operations in hybrid processes have persisted, which merits investment in both approaches.

  20. An evaporation model of multicomponent solution drops

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sartori, Silvana; Liñán, Amable; Lasheras, Juan C.

    2010-11-01

    Solutions of polymers are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry as tablets coatings. These allow controlling the rate at which the drug is delivered, taste or appearance. The coating is performed by spraying and drying the tablets at moderate temperatures. The wetting of the coating solution on the pill's surface depends on the droplet Webber and Re numbers, angle of impact and on the rheological properties of the droplet. We present a model for the evaporation of multicomponent solutions droplets in a hot air environment with temperatures substantially lower than the boiling temperature of the solvent. As the liquid vaporizes from the surface the fluid in the drop increases in concentration, until reaching its saturation point. After saturation, precipitation occurs uniformly within the drop. As the surface regresses, a compacting front formed by the precipitate at its maximum packing density advances into the drop, while the solute continues precipitating uniformly. This porous shell grows fast due to the double effect of surface regression and precipitation. The evaporation rate is determined by the rates at which heat is transported to the droplet surface and at which liquid vapor diffuses away from it. When the drop is fully compacted, the evaporation is drastically reduced.

  1. An evaporation model of colloidal suspension droplets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sartori, Silvana; Li\\ Nán, Amable; Lasheras, Juan C.

    2009-11-01

    Colloidal suspensions of polymers in water or other solvents are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to coat tablets with different agents. These allow controlling the rate at which the drug is delivered, taste or physical appearance. The coating is performed by simultaneously spraying and drying the tablets with the colloidal suspension at moderately high temperatures. The spreading of the coating on the pills surface depends on the droplet Webber and Reynolds numbers, angle of impact, but more importantly on the rheological properties of the drop. We present a model for the evaporation of a colloidal suspension droplet in a hot air environment with temperatures substantially lower than the boiling temperature of the carrier fluid. As the liquid vaporizes from the surface, a compacting front advances into the droplet faster than the liquid surface regresses, forming a shell of a porous medium where the particles reach their maximum packing density. While the surface regresses, the evaporation rate is determined by both the rate at which heat is transported to the droplet surface and the rate at which liquid vapor is diffused away from it. This regime continues until the compacting front reaches the center of the droplet, at which point the evaporation rate is drastically reduced.

  2. Photocatalytic activity of titania coatings synthesised by a combined laser/sol–gel technique

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Adraider, Y.; Pang, Y.X., E-mail: F6098038@tees.ac.uk; Nabhani, F.

    2014-06-01

    Highlights: • Sol–gel method was used to prepare titania coatings. • Titania thin films were coated on substrate surface by dip coating. • Fibre laser was employed to irradiate the titania coated surfaces. • Photocatalytic efficiency of titania coatings was significantly improved after laser processing. - Abstract: Titania coatings were prepared using sol–gel method and then applied on the substrate surface by dip coating. Fibre laser (λ = 1064 nm) in continuous wave mode was used to irradiate the titania coated surfaces at different specific energies. The ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDS and contact angle measurement were employed to analyse surfacemore » morphology, phase composition and crystalline structure of laser-irradiated titania coatings, whilst the photocatalytic activity was evaluated by measuring the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) after exposure to the visible light for various illumination times. Results showed that the laser-irradiated titania coatings demonstrate significant different composition and microstructure in comparison with the as-coated from the same sol–gel titania. Photocatalytic efficiency of titania coatings was significantly improved after laser processing. The photocatalytic activity of laser-irradiated titania coatings was higher than that of the as-coated titania. The titania coating processed at laser specific energy of 6.5 J/mm{sup 2} exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity among all titania samples.« less

  3. Ceramic electrolyte coating and methods

    DOEpatents

    Seabaugh, Matthew M [Columbus, OH; Swartz, Scott L [Columbus, OH; Dawson, William J [Dublin, OH; McCormick, Buddy E [Dublin, OH

    2007-08-28

    Aqueous coating slurries useful in depositing a dense coating of a ceramic electrolyte material (e.g., yttrium-stabilized zirconia) onto a porous substrate of a ceramic electrode material (e.g., lanthanum strontium manganite or nickel/zirconia) and processes for preparing an aqueous suspension of a ceramic electrolyte material and an aqueous spray coating slurry including a ceramic electrolyte material. The invention also includes processes for depositing an aqueous spray coating slurry including a ceramic electrolyte material onto pre-sintered, partially sintered, and unsintered ceramic substrates and products made by this process.

  4. A Simple and Direct LC-MS Method for Determination of Genotoxic Impurity Hydroxylamine in Pharmaceutical compounds.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Thangarathinam; Ramya, Mohandass; Srinivasan, Viswanathan; Xavier, N

    2017-08-01

    Hydroxylamine is a known genotoxic impurity compound that needs to be controlled down to ppm level in pharmaceutical processes. It is difficult to detect using conventional analytical techniques due to its physio-chemical properties like lack of chromophore, low molecular weight, absence of carbon atom and high polarity. In addition to that, analysis of the pharmaceutical samples encounters considerable obstruction from matrix components that greatly overshadow the response of hydroxylamine. This study describes a simple, sensitive and direct Liquid Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric method (LC-MS) for detection of hydroxylamine in pharmaceutical compounds. The LC-MS method was detected up to 0.008 ppm of hydroxylamine with S/N > 3.0 and quantified up to 0.025 ppm of hydroxylamine with S/N ratio >10.0. This validated method can be applied as a generic method to detect the hydroxylamine for pharmaceutical process control and drug substance release. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  5. Impact of different cleaning processes on the laser damage threshold of antireflection coatings for Z-Backlighter optics at Sandia National Laboratories

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Field, Ella; Bellum, John; Kletecka, Damon

    We have examined how different cleaning processes affect the laser-induced damage threshold of antireflection coatings for large dimension, Z-Backlighter laser optics at Sandia National Laboratories. Laser damage thresholds were measured after the coatings were created, and again 4 months later to determine which cleaning processes were most effective. There is a nearly twofold increase in laser-induced damage threshold between the antireflection coatings that were cleaned and those that were not cleaned. Aging of the coatings after 4 months resulted in even higher laser-induced damage thresholds. Also, the laser-induced damage threshold results revealed that every antireflection coating had a high defectmore » density, despite the cleaning process used, which indicates that improvements to either the cleaning or deposition processes should provide even higher laser-induced damage thresholds.« less

  6. Impact of different cleaning processes on the laser damage threshold of antireflection coatings for Z-Backlighter optics at Sandia National Laboratories

    DOE PAGES

    Field, Ella; Bellum, John; Kletecka, Damon

    2014-11-06

    We have examined how different cleaning processes affect the laser-induced damage threshold of antireflection coatings for large dimension, Z-Backlighter laser optics at Sandia National Laboratories. Laser damage thresholds were measured after the coatings were created, and again 4 months later to determine which cleaning processes were most effective. There is a nearly twofold increase in laser-induced damage threshold between the antireflection coatings that were cleaned and those that were not cleaned. Aging of the coatings after 4 months resulted in even higher laser-induced damage thresholds. Also, the laser-induced damage threshold results revealed that every antireflection coating had a high defectmore » density, despite the cleaning process used, which indicates that improvements to either the cleaning or deposition processes should provide even higher laser-induced damage thresholds.« less

  7. Formation Mechanisms, Structure, and Properties of HVOF-Sprayed WC-CoCr Coatings: An Approach Toward Process Maps

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Varis, T.; Suhonen, T.; Ghabchi, A.; Valarezo, A.; Sampath, S.; Liu, X.; Hannula, S.-P.

    2014-08-01

    Our study focuses on understanding the damage tolerance and performance reliability of WC-CoCr coatings. In this paper, the formation of HVOF-sprayed tungsten carbide-based cermet coatings is studied through an integrated strategy: First-order process maps are created by using online-diagnostics to assess particle states in relation to process conditions. Coating properties such as hardness, wear resistance, elastic modulus, residual stress, and fracture toughness are discussed with a goal to establish a linkage between properties and particle characteristics via second-order process maps. A strong influence of particle state on the mechanical properties, wear resistance, and residual stress stage of the coating was observed. Within the used processing window (particle temperature ranged from 1687 to 1831 °C and particle velocity from 577 to 621 m/s), the coating hardness varied from 1021 to 1507 HV and modulus from 257 to 322 GPa. The variation in coating mechanical state is suggested to relate to the microstructural changes arising from carbide dissolution, which affects the properties of the matrix and, on the other hand, cohesive properties of the lamella. The complete tracking of the coating particle state and its linking to mechanical properties and residual stresses enables coating design with desired properties.

  8. Low-viscosity hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) grades SL and SSL: versatile pharmaceutical polymers for dissolution enhancement, controlled release, and pharmaceutical processing.

    PubMed

    Sarode, Ashish; Wang, Peng; Cote, Catherine; Worthen, David R

    2013-03-01

    Hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC)-SL and -SSL, low-viscosity hydroxypropylcellulose polymers, are versatile pharmaceutical excipients. The utility of HPC polymers was assessed for both dissolution enhancement and sustained release of pharmaceutical drugs using various processing techniques. The BCS class II drugs carbamazepine (CBZ), hydrochlorthiazide, and phenytoin (PHT) were hot melt mixed (HMM) with various polymers. PHT formulations produced by solvent evaporation (SE) and ball milling (BM) were prepared using HPC-SSL. HMM formulations of BCS class I chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) were prepared using HPC-SL and -SSL. These solid dispersions (SDs) manufactured using different processes were evaluated for amorphous transformation and dissolution characteristics. Drug degradation because of HMM processing was also assessed. Amorphous conversion using HMM could be achieved only for relatively low-melting CBZ and CPM. SE and BM did not produce amorphous SDs of PHT using HPC-SSL. Chemical stability of all the drugs was maintained using HPC during the HMM process. Dissolution enhancement was observed in HPC-based HMMs and compared well to other polymers. The dissolution enhancement of PHT was in the order of SE>BM>HMM>physical mixtures, as compared to the pure drug, perhaps due to more intimate mixing that occurred during SE and BM than in HMM. Dissolution of CPM could be significantly sustained in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids using HPC polymers. These studies revealed that low-viscosity HPC-SL and -SSL can be employed to produce chemically stable SDs of poorly as well as highly water-soluble drugs using various pharmaceutical processes in order to control drug dissolution.

  9. Feasibility of Raman spectroscopy as PAT tool in active coating.

    PubMed

    Müller, Joshua; Knop, Klaus; Thies, Jochen; Uerpmann, Carsten; Kleinebudde, Peter

    2010-02-01

    Active coating is a specific application of film coating where the active ingredient is comprised in the coating layer. This implementation is a challenging operation regarding the achievement of desired amount of coating and coating uniformity. To guarantee the quality of such dosage forms it is desirable to develop a tool that is able to monitor the coating operation and detect the end of the process. Coating experiments were performed at which the model drug diprophylline is coated in a pan coater on placebo tablets and tablets containing the active ingredient itself. During the active coating Raman spectra were recorded in-line. The spectral measurements were correlated with the average weight gain and the amount of coated active ingredient at each time point. The developed chemometric model was tested by monitoring further coated batches. Furthermore, the effects of pan rotation speed and working distance on the acquired Raman signal and, hence, resulting effect of the chemometric model were examined. Besides coating on placebo cores it was possible to determine the amount of active ingredient in the film when coated onto cores containing the same active ingredient. In addition, the method is even applicable when varying the process parameters and measurement conditions within a restricted range. Raman spectroscopy is an appropriate process analytical technology too.

  10. The role of herbometallic preparations in traditional medicine--a review on mica drug processing and pharmaceutical applications.

    PubMed

    Wijenayake, Apsara; Pitawala, Amarasooriya; Bandara, Ratnayake; Abayasekara, Charmalie

    2014-09-11

    Biotite mica enriched with Fe(2+) ions are widely used as a major mineral ingredient in traditional pharmaceutical science of alchemy (Rasashastra). Abhrak bhasma (mica ash), a pharmaceutical product containing treated mica, is utilized, for example, in Ayurvedic treatments for ailments such as gastritis, renal disease, skin disease and mainly in rejuvenation formulations. However, the untreated mica minerals may be harmful when used directly, as they carry considerably high amounts of trace-elements that can cause undesirable effects in the human body. In order to remove toxic factors and produce readily absorbable materials having high nutrient capacity, specific thermal and chemical treatments (purification, detoxification, particle size reduction and incineration) are performed during the preparation of Rasashastra. This review evaluates the chemical and pharmacological aspects of mica ash as well as the technological aspects of mica ash production. The detailed literature review on the chemistry and scientific basis of mica ash, its preparation techniques, mica alterations and pharmaceutical applications was carried out by using published Ayurvedic text books and research articles, available from Science Direct, on mica minerals, mica ash and their physico-chemical alteration processes and pharmacological applications. During the purification and detoxification procedures, heating followed by quenching (in ionic medium) influences the structural distortion and the development of stress-induced cracks and spallations of the micaceous plates. Thus, the efficient diffusion of the external medium takes place at successive heating and quenching steps. Acidic organic liquids and animal byproducts can enhance the cation exchange capacity and solubility of mica. Further, these natural compounds facilitate the removal of toxic-elements in the structure. When treated-mica and paddy husks are tied up in a cloth and squeezed, particle size reduction and further detoxification takes place. Leaching out of oxidized iron coatings is accelerated when the mixtures are immersed in acidic media, by which the filtrate is enriched with oxidized iron-silicate particles. These nano-oxide particles are converted into a more favorable oxidation form for human consumption when the herbometallic mixture is incinerated in closed vessels. Recent analytical data reveals that major and minor elements in mica ash are within the limits of pharmacopoeial standards for Ayurvedic formulations. Further, recent studies show that mica ash has hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, anthelminthic and antimicrobial properties. Chemical and structural modifications in mica occur during mica-based drug preparation in traditional medicine. Purification steps particularly influence the structural distortion while heating and quenching can form nano-size particles. Carboxylic acids and other organic molecules present in quenching media serve as chemical modifiers of mica. At the same time the toxic elements are leached out from mica to the quenching media through an ion exchange process. Mica ash has been successfully used for treating liver, kidney and skin related ailments in traditional medicine, and mica ash alone or its herbo-metallic formulations have different applications. Further, the recent toxicological and analytical studies validate the traditional uses of mica ash and mica ash bearing products. Further scientific studies are needed to fully establish that mica-based pharmaceuticals are safe and devoid of toxic and long term side effects. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Evolution of drug reimbursement in Canada: the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance for new drugs.

    PubMed

    Husereau, Don; Dempster, William; Blanchard, Adrienne; Chambers, Johanne

    2014-12-01

    Canada has a unique system of public drug coverage and reimbursement characterized by a centralized review agency that makes funding recommendations along with decentralized authority for delivering health care across 10 provinces and three territories. There has been a significant increase in price negotiation for new pharmaceuticals in the past 10 years, first by individual provinces and now through a collective price negotiation process called the "Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance." As of February 2014, the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance has already completed 32 negotiations despite still being in a formative stage; it is anticipated that a formal process will be developed in the coming year. In this article, we describe the evolution of price negotiation in Canada and identify several opportunities for improvement of the current process, including the incorporation of economic considerations into price negotiation. Copyright © 2014 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Sol-gel-Derived nano-sized double layer anti-reflection coatings (SiO2/TiO2) for low-cost solar cell fabrication.

    PubMed

    Lee, Seung Jun; Hur, Man Gyu; Yoon, Dae Ho

    2013-11-01

    We investigate nano-sized double layer anti-reflection coatings (ARCs) using a TiO2 and SiO2 sol-gel solution process for mono-crystalline silicon solar cells. The process can be easily adapted for spraying sol-gel coatings to reduce manufacturing cost. The spray-coated SiO2/TiO2 nano-sized double layer ARCs were deposited on mono-crystalline silicon solar cells, and they showed good optical properties. The spray coating process is a lower-cost fabrication process for large-scale coating than vacuum deposition processes such as PECVD. The measured average optical reflectance (300-1200 nm) was about approximately 8% for SiO2/TiO2 nano-sized double layer ARCs. The electrical parameters of a mono-crystalline silicon solar cell and reflection losses show that the SiO2/TiO2 stacks can improve cell efficiency by 0.2% compared to a non-coated mono-crystalline silicon solar cell. In the results, good correlation between theoretical and experimental data was obtained. We expect that the sol-gel spray-coated mono-crystalline silicon solar cells have high potential for low-cost solar cell fabrication.

  13. Seed Polyphenolic Profile, Antioxidative Activity, and Fatty Acids Composition of Wild and Cultivated Carthamus Species.

    PubMed

    Karami, Soraya; Sabzalian, Mohammad R; Rahimmalek, Mehdi

    2018-06-01

    Total flavonoid content (TFC) and cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cyd-3-glu) of seed and seed coat extract of 16 genotypes from five species of Carthamus were studied, and their major polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of the seed coat extracts were determined using HPLC analysis and DPPH assay, respectively. Additionally, fatty acids composition of the seed oil was analyzed by GC. In general, TFC and Cyd-3-glu content of seed coat extracts were higher than those of seed extracts. A novel breeding line with black seed coat (named A82) depicted lower TFC (3.79 mg QUE/g DW) but higher Cyd-3-glu (24.64 mg/g DW) compared to the white and other seed-pigmented genotypes. DPPH radical scavenging activity showed a strong association with Cyd-3-glu content (r = 0.84), but no correlation with TFC (r = -0.32). HPLC analysis of seed coat extracts revealed that four compounds were dominant constituents including rutin (7.23 - 117.95 mg/100 g DW), apigenin (4.37 - 64.88 mg/100 g DW), quercetin (3.09 - 14.10 mg/100 g DW), and ferulic acid (4.49 - 30.41 mg/100 g DW). Interestingly, the genotype A82 with an appropriate polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids index (5.46%) and a moderate linoleic fatty acid content (64.70%) had higher nutritional and pharmaceutical value than all the other genotypes. © 2018 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.

  14. Vacuum plasma spray coating

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Holmes, Richard R.; Mckechnie, Timothy N.

    1989-01-01

    Currently, protective plasma spray coatings are applied to space shuttle main engine turbine blades of high-performance nickel alloys by an air plasma spray process. Originally, a ceramic coating of yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO2.12Y2O3) was applied for thermal protection, but was removed because of severe spalling. In vacuum plasma spray coating, plasma coatings of nickel-chromium-aluminum-yttrium (NiCrAlY) are applied in a reduced atmosphere of argon/helium. These enhanced coatings showed no spalling after 40 MSFC burner rig thermal shock cycles between 927 C (1700 F) and -253 C (-423 F), while current coatings spalled during 5 to 25 test cycles. Subsequently, a process was developed for applying a durable thermal barrier coating of ZrO2.8Y2O3 to the turbine blades of first-stage high-pressure fuel turbopumps utilizing the enhanced NiCrAlY bond-coating process. NiCrAlY bond coating is applied first, with ZrO2.8Y2O3 added sequentially in increasing amounts until a thermal barrier coating is obtained. The enchanced thermal barrier coating has successfully passed 40 burner rig thermal shock cycles.

  15. Design and Performance of Property Gradient Ternary Nitride Coating Based on Process Control.

    PubMed

    Yan, Pei; Chen, Kaijie; Wang, Yubin; Zhou, Han; Peng, Zeyu; Jiao, Li; Wang, Xibin

    2018-05-09

    Surface coating is an effective approach to improve cutting tool performance, and multiple or gradient coating structures have become a common development strategy. However, composition mutations at the interfaces decrease the performance of multi-layered coatings. The key mitigation technique has been to reduce the interface effect at the boundaries. This study proposes a structure design method for property-component gradient coatings based on process control. The method produces coatings with high internal cohesion and high external hardness, which could reduce the composition and performance mutations at the interface. A ZrTiN property gradient ternary nitride coating was deposited on cemented carbide by multi-arc ion plating with separated Ti and Zr targets. The mechanical properties, friction behaviors, and cutting performances were systematically investigated, compared with a single-layer coating. The results indicated that the gradient coating had better friction and wear performance with lower wear rate and higher resistance to peeling off during sliding friction. The gradient coating had better wear and damage resistance in cutting processes, with lower machined surface roughness Ra. Gradient-structured coatings could effectively inhibit micro crack initiation and growth under alternating force and temperature load. This method could be extended to similar ternary nitride coatings.

  16. Rho Chi lecture. Pharmaceutical sciences in the next millennium.

    PubMed

    Triggle, D J

    1999-02-01

    Even a cursory survey of this article suggests that the pharmaceutical sciences are being rapidly transformed under the influence of both the new technologies and sciences and the economic imperatives. Of particular importance are scientific and technological advances that may greatly accelerate the critical process of discovery. The possibility of a drug discovery process built around the principles of directed diversity, self-reproduction, evolution, and self-targeting suggests a new paradigm of lead discovery, one based quite directly on the paradigms of molecular biology. Coupled with the principles of nanotechnology, we may contemplate miniature molecular machines containing directed drug factories, circulating the body and capable of self-targeting against defective cells and pathways -- the ultimate "drug delivery machine." However, science and technology are not the only factors that will transform the pharmaceutical sciences in the next century. The necessary reductions in the costs of drug discovery brought about by the rapidly increasing costs of the current drug discovery paradigms means that efforts to decrease the discovery phase and to make drug development part of drug discovery will become increasingly important. This is likely to involve increasing numbers of "alliances," as well as the creation of pharmaceutical research cells -- highly mobile and entrepreneurial groups within or outside of a pharmaceutical company that are formed to carry out specific discovery processes. Some of these will be in the biotechnology industry, but an increasing number will be in universities. The linear process from basic science to applied technology that has been the Western model since Vannevar Bush's Science: The Endless Frontier has probably never been particularly linear and, in any event, is likely to be rapidly supplanted by models where science, scientific development, and technology are more intimately linked. The pharmaceutical sciences have always been an example of use-directed basic research, but the relationships between the pharmaceutical industry, small and large, and the universities seems likely to become increasingly developed in the next century. This may serve as a significant catalyst for the continued transformation of universities into the "knowledge factories" of the 21st century. Regardless, we may expect to see major changes in the research organizational structure in the pharmaceutical sciences even as pharmaceutical companies enjoy record prosperity. And this is in anticipation of tough times to come.

  17. Plasma Spray-PVD: A New Thermal Spray Process to Deposit Out of the Vapor Phase

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    von Niessen, Konstantin; Gindrat, Malko

    2011-06-01

    Plasma spray-physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD) is a low pressure plasma spray technology recently developed by Sulzer Metco AG (Switzerland). Even though it is a thermal spray process, it can deposit coatings out of the vapor phase. The basis of PS-PVD is the low pressure plasma spraying (LPPS) technology that has been well established in industry for several years. In comparison to conventional vacuum plasma spraying (VPS) or low pressure plasma spraying (LPPS), the new proposed process uses a high energy plasma gun operated at a reduced work pressure of 0.1 kPa (1 mbar). Owing to the high energy plasma and further reduced work pressure, PS-PVD is able to deposit a coating not only by melting the feed stock material which builds up a layer from liquid splats but also by vaporizing the injected material. Therefore, the PS-PVD process fills the gap between the conventional physical vapor deposition (PVD) technologies and standard thermal spray processes. The possibility to vaporize feedstock material and to produce layers out of the vapor phase results in new and unique coating microstructures. The properties of such coatings are superior to those of thermal spray and electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) coatings. In contrast to EB-PVD, PS-PVD incorporates the vaporized coating material into a supersonic plasma plume. Owing to the forced gas stream of the plasma jet, complex shaped parts such as multi-airfoil turbine vanes can be coated with columnar thermal barrier coatings using PS-PVD. Even shadowed areas and areas which are not in the line of sight of the coating source can be coated homogeneously. This article reports on the progress made by Sulzer Metco in developing a thermal spray process to produce coatings out of the vapor phase. Columnar thermal barrier coatings made of Yttria-stabilized Zircona (YSZ) are optimized to serve in a turbine engine. This process includes not only preferable coating properties such as strain tolerance and erosion resistance but also the simultaneous coverage of multiple air foils.

  18. Continuous Manufacturing in Pharmaceutical Process Development and Manufacturing.

    PubMed

    Burcham, Christopher L; Florence, Alastair J; Johnson, Martin D

    2018-06-07

    The pharmaceutical industry has found new applications for the use of continuous processing for the manufacture of new therapies currently in development. The transformation has been encouraged by regulatory bodies as well as driven by cost reduction, decreased development cycles, access to new chemistries not practical in batch, improved safety, flexible manufacturing platforms, and improved product quality assurance. The transformation from batch to continuous manufacturing processing is the focus of this review. The review is limited to small, chemically synthesized organic molecules and encompasses the manufacture of both active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and the subsequent drug product. Continuous drug product is currently used in approved processes. A few examples of production of APIs under current good manufacturing practice conditions using continuous processing steps have been published in the past five years, but they are lagging behind continuous drug product with respect to regulatory filings.

  19. Internally coated air-cooled gas turbine blading

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hsu, L.; Stevens, W. G.; Stetson, A. R.

    1979-01-01

    Ten candidate modified nickel-aluminide coatings were developed using the slip pack process. These coatings contain additives such as silicon, chromium and columbium in a nickel-aluminum coating matrix with directionally solidified MAR-M200 + Hf as the substrate alloy. Following a series of screening tests which included strain tolerance, dynamic oxidation and hot corrosion testing, the Ni-19A1-1Cb (nominal composition) coating was selected for application to the internal passages of four first-stage turbine blades. Process development results indicate that a dry pack process is suitable for internal coating application resulting in 18 percent or less reduction in air flow. Coating uniformity, based on coated air-cooled blades, was within + or - 20 percent. Test results show that the presence of additives (silicon, chromium or columbium) appeared to improve significantly the ductility of the NiA1 matrix. However, the environmental resistance of these modified nickel-aluminides were generally inferior to the simple aluminides.

  20. Influences of Processing and Fatigue Cycling on Residual Stresses in a NiCrY-Coated Powder Metallurgy Disk Superalloy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gabb, T. P.; Rogers, R. B.; Nesbitt, J. A.; Miller, R. A.; Puleo, B. J.; Johnson, D.; Telesman, J.; Draper, S. L.; Locci, I. E.

    2017-11-01

    Oxidation and corrosion can attack superalloy disk surfaces exposed to increasing operating temperatures in some turbine engine environments. Any potential protective coatings must also be resistant to harmful fatigue cracking during service. The objective of this study was to investigate how residual stresses evolve in one such coating. Fatigue specimens of a powder metallurgy-processed disk superalloy were coated with a NiCrY coating, shot peened, and then subjected to fatigue in air at room and high temperatures. The effects of this processing and fatigue cycling on axial residual stresses and other aspects of the coating were assessed. While shot peening did induce beneficial compressive residual stresses in the coating and substrate, these stresses relaxed in the coating with subsequent heating. Several cast alloys having compositions near the coating were subjected to thermal expansion and tensile stress relaxation tests to help explain this response of residual stresses in the coating. For the coated fatigue specimens, this response contributed to earlier cracking of the coating than for the uncoated surface during long intervals of cycling at 760 °C. Yet, substantial compressive residual stresses still remained in the substrate adjacent to the coating, which were sufficient to suppress fatigue cracking there. The coating continued to protect the substrate from hot corrosion pitting, even after fatigue cracks initiated in the coating.

  1. Ex vivo assessment of polyol coated-iron oxide nanoparticles for MRI diagnosis applications: toxicological and MRI contrast enhancement effects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bomati-Miguel, Oscar; Miguel-Sancho, Nuria; Abasolo, Ibane; Candiota, Ana Paula; Roca, Alejandro G.; Acosta, Milena; Schwartz, Simó; Arus, Carles; Marquina, Clara; Martinez, Gema; Santamaria, Jesus

    2014-03-01

    Polyol synthesis is a promising method to obtain directly pharmaceutical grade colloidal dispersion of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Here, we study the biocompatibility and performance as T2-MRI contrast agents (CAs) of high quality magnetic colloidal dispersions (average hydrodynamic aggregate diameter of 16-27 nm) consisting of polyol-synthesized SPIONs (5 nm in mean particle size) coated with triethylene glycol (TEG) chains (TEG-SPIONs), which were subsequently functionalized to carboxyl-terminated meso-2-3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) coated-iron oxide nanoparticles (DMSA-SPIONs). Standard MTT assays on HeLa, U87MG, and HepG2 cells revealed that colloidal dispersions of TEG-coated iron oxide nanoparticles did not induce any loss of cell viability after 3 days incubation with dose concentrations below 50 μg Fe/ml. However, after these nanoparticles were functionalized with DMSA molecules, an increase on their cytotoxicity was observed, so that particles bearing free terminal carboxyl groups on their surface were not cytotoxic only at low concentrations (<10 μg Fe/ml). Moreover, cell uptake assays on HeLa and U87MG and hemolysis tests have demonstrated that TEG-SPIONs and DMSA-SPIONs were well internalized by the cells and did not induce any adverse effect on the red blood cells at the tested concentrations. Finally, in vitro relaxivity measurements and post mortem MRI studies in mice indicated that both types of coated-iron oxide nanoparticles produced higher negative T2-MRI contrast enhancement than that measured for a similar commercial T2-MRI CAs consisting in dextran-coated ultra-small iron oxide nanoparticles (Ferumoxtran-10). In conclusion, the above attributes make both types of as synthesized coated-iron oxide nanoparticles, but especially DMSA-SPIONs, promising candidates as T2-MRI CAs for nanoparticle-enhanced MRI diagnosis applications.

  2. Thick prescriptions: toward an interpretation of pharmaceutical sales practices.

    PubMed

    Oldani, Michael J

    2004-09-01

    Anthropologists of medicine and science are increasingly studying all aspects of pharmaceutical industry practices--from research and development to the marketing of prescription drugs. This article ethnographically explores one particular stage in the life cycle of pharmaceuticals: sales and marketing. Drawing on a range of sources-investigative journalism, medical ethics, and autoethnography--the author examines the day-to-day activities of pharmaceutical salespersons, or drug reps, during the 1990s. He describes in detail the pharmaceutical gift cycle, a three-way exchange network between doctors, salespersons, and patients and how this process of exchange is currently in a state of involution. This gift economy exists to generate prescriptions (scripts) and can mask and/or perpetuate risks and side effects for patients. With implications of pharmaceutical industry practices impacting everything from the personal-psychological to the global political economy, medical anthropologists can play a lead role in the emerging scholarly discourse concerned with critical pharmaceutical studies.

  3. Practical Implications of the Use of Aluminide Coatings for the Corrosion Protection of Superalloys in Gas Turbines

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-04-01

    Strategic Materials Usage. Practical Implications of the Use of Aluminide Coatings for the Corrosion Protection of Superalloys in Gas Turbines. Coatings...requirements of using aluminide coatings, the processes currently commercially available, the compatabi1ity of aluminide coatings with...components, it is the intention of this paper to concentrate on those ed by reaction or diffusion type processes, In particular the aluminides

  4. Ranking protective coatings: Laboratory vs. field experience

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Conner, Jeffrey A.; Connor, William B.

    1994-12-01

    Environmentally protective coatings are used on a wide range of gas turbine components for survival in the harsh operating conditions of engines. A host of coatings are commercially available to protect hot-section components, ranging from simple aluminides to designer metallic overlays and ceramic thermal barrier coatings. A variety of coating-application processes are available, and they range from simple pack cementation processing to complex physical vapor deposition, which requires multimillion dollar facilities. Detailed databases are available for most coatings and coating/process combinations for a range of laboratory tests. Still, the analysis of components actually used in engines often yields surprises when compared against predicted coating behavior from laboratory testing. This paper highlights recent work to develop new laboratory tests that better simulate engine environments. Comparison of in-flight coating performance as well as industrial and factory engine testing on a range of hardware is presented along with laboratory predictions from standard testing and from recently developed cyclic burner-rig testing.

  5. Preparation of Composite Coating on AZ91D Magnesium Alloy by Silica Sol-Micro Oxidation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shao, Zhongcai; Zhang, Feifei; Zhao, Ruiqiang; Shen, Xiaoyi

    2016-03-01

    Composite coating was prepared on AZ91D magnesium alloy with a new method which combined silica sol with micro-arc oxidation (MAO). The MAO coating was prepared on the basis of MAO solution, and then coated by sol-gel process. The composite coating was obtained after second MAO treatment. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy spectrum analysis and electrochemical testing was applied to characterize the properties of MAO coating and composite coating. The experimental test results indicated that the Si element derived from SiO2 gel particle embedded into the MAO coating by second MAO treatment. The surface of composite coating became dense and the holes were smaller with silica sol sealing process. The corrosion resistance of composite coating was improved than the MAO coating.

  6. Developing bioactive composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Yun

    Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) films were fabricated using the method of dissolving and evaporation. PLLA scaffold was prepared by solid-liquid phase separation of polymer solutions and subsequent sublimation of solvent. Bonelike apatite coating was formed on PLLA films, PLLA scaffolds and poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) scaffolds in 24 hours through an accelerated biomimetic process. The ion concentrations in the simulated body fluid (SBF) were nearly 5 times of those in human blood plasma. The apatite formed was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The apatite formed in 5SBF was similar in morphology and composition to that formed in the classical biomimetic process employing SBF or 1.5SBF, and similar to that of natural bone. This indicated that the biomimetic apatite coating process could be accelerated by using concentrated simulated body fluid at 37°C. Besides saving time, the accelerated biomimetic process is particularly significant to biodegradable polymers. Some polymers which degrade too fast to be coated with apatite by a classical biomimetic process, for example PGA, could be coated with bone-like apatite in an accelerated biomimetic process. Collagen and apatite were co-precipitated as a composite coating on poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) in an accelerated biomimetic process. The incubation solution contained collagen (1g/L) and simulated body fluid (SBF) with 5 times inorganic ionic concentrations as human blood plasma. The coating formed on PLLA films and scaffolds after 24 hours incubation was characterized using EDX, XRD, FTIR, and SEM. It was shown that the coating contained carbonated bone-like apatite and collagen, the primary constituents of natural bone. SEM showed a complex composite coating of submicron bone-like apatite particulates combined with collagen fibrils. This work provided an efficient process to obtain bone-like apatite/collagen composite coating. Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells were used to evaluate the cellular behaviors on these biomimetic coatings. Cell morphologies on the surfaces of PLLA films and scaffolds, PLLA films and scaffolds with apatite coating, and PLLA films and scaffolds with apatite/collagen composite coating were studied by SEM. Cell viability was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrasodium bromide (MTT) assay. In addition, differentiated cell function was assessed by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity. These results suggested that the apatite coating and apatite/collagen composite coating fabricated through the accelerated biomimetic processes could improve the interactions between osteoblasts and PLLA. The composite coating was more effective than apatite coating in improving such interactions. PLLA scaffolds coated with submicron collagen fibrils and submicron apatite paticulates are expected to be one of the promising 3D substrates for bone tissue engineering. To facilitate coating into scaffolds, the flowing condition was introduced into the accelerated biomimetic process. The apatite formed in the different sites in the scaffold was characterized using SEM. It was found that the accelerated biomimetic process performed in the flowing condition yielded more uniform spatial distribution of apatite particles than that in the regular shaking condition. This work provides a novel condition for obtaining uniform spatial distribution of bone-like apatite within the scaffolds in a timely manner, which is expected to facilitate uniform distribution of attached cells within the scaffoldsin vitro and in vivo.

  7. Requirements and test results for the qualification of thermal control coatings

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brzuskiewicz, J. E.; Zerlaut, G. A.; Lauder, K.; Miller, G. M.

    1988-01-01

    Paint type coatings are often used as engineering materials in critical satellite temperature control applications. The functional features of coatings used for temperature control purposes must remain stable throughout the satellite manufacturing process and the satellite mission. The selection of a particular coating depends on matching coating characteristics to mission requirements. The use of paint coatings on satellites, although having an extensive history, requires that the paint be qualified to each application on an individual basis. Thus, the qualification process through testing serves to ensure that paint coatings as engineering materials will fulfill design requirements.

  8. 40 CFR 439.10 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Fermentation Products § 439.10 Applicability. This subpart applies to discharges of process wastewater resulting from the manufacture of pharmaceutical products by fermentation. [63 FR 50426, Sept. 21, 1998] ...

  9. [New pharmaceuticals in treatment of chronic dust bronchitis].

    PubMed

    Kosarev, V V; Vakurova, N V; Babanov, S A

    2007-01-01

    The study was dedicated to the assessment of the therapeutic possibilities provided by erespal (fenspirid) as a new class of pharmaceuticals inhibiting the inflammatory process, in patients with chronic dust bronchitis.

  10. Organic-aqueous crossover coating process for the desmopressin orally disintegrating microparticles.

    PubMed

    Kim, Ju-Young; Hwang, Kyu-Mok; Park, Chun-Woong; Rhee, Yun-Seok; Park, Eun-Seok

    2015-02-01

    The purpose of the present study was to prepare desmopressin orally disintegrating microparticles (ODMs) using organic-aqueous crossover coating process which featured an organic sub-coating followed by an aqueous active coating. Sucrose beads and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) were used as inert cores and a coating material, respectively. Characterizations including size distribution analysis, in-vitro release studies and in-vitro disintegration studies were performed. A pharmacokinetic study of the ODMs was also conducted in eight beagle dogs. It was found that sucrose beads should be coated using organic solvents to preserve their original morphology. For the active coating, the aqueous coating solution should be used for drug stability. When sucrose beads were coated using organic-aqueous crossover coating process, double-layer ODMs with round shapes were produced with detectable impurities below limit of US Pharmacopeia. The median size of ODMs was 195.6 μm, which was considered small enough for a good mouthfeel. The ODMs dissolved in artificial saliva within 15 s because of hydrophilic materials including sucrose and HPC in the ODMs. Because of its fast-dissolving properties, 100% release of the drug was reached within 5 min. Pharmacokinetic parameters including Cmax and AUC24 indicated bioequivalence of the ODMs and the conventional immediate release tablets. Therefore, by using the organic-aqueous crossover coating process, double-layer ODMs were successively prepared with small size, round shapes and good drug stability.

  11. Numerical and experimental study of electron-beam coatings with modifying particles FeB and FeTi

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kryukova, Olga; Kolesnikova, Kseniya; Gal'chenko, Nina

    2016-07-01

    An experimental study of wear-resistant composite coatings based on titanium borides synthesized in the process of electron-beam welding of components thermo-reacting powders are composed of boron-containing mixture. A model of the process of electron beam coating with modifying particles of boron and titanium based on physical-chemical transformations is supposed. The dissolution process is described on the basis of formal kinetic approach. The result of numerical solution is the phase and chemical composition of the coating under nonequilibrium conditions, which is one of the important characteristics of the coating forming during electron beam processing. Qualitative agreement numerical calculations with experimental data was shown.

  12. The surface-pore integrated effect of soil organic matter on retention and transport of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in soils.

    PubMed

    Qin, Qin; Chen, Xijuan; Zhuang, Jie

    2017-12-01

    This study examines a surface-pore integrated mechanism that allows soil organic matter (SOM) to influence the retention and transport of three representative pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)-ibuprofen, carbamazepine, and bisphenol A-in agricultural soil. A series of sorption-desorption batch tests and breakthrough column experiments were conducted using manured and non-manured soils. Results show that SOM could substantially influence the environmental behaviors of PPCPs via two mechanisms: surface-coating and pore-filling. Surface-coating with molecular SOM decreases the sorption of dissociated PPCPs (e.g., ibuprofen) but increases the sorption of non-dissociated PPCPs (e.g., carbamazepine and bisphenol A), while pore-filling with colloidal SOM enhances the retention of all the PPCPs by providing nano-/micro-pores that limit diffusion. The higher retention and lower mobility of PPCPs in soil microaggregates than in bulk soils suggest that SOM content and SOM-altered soil pore structure could exert a coupled effect on PPCP retention. Differences in the elution of PPCPs with low surface tension solution (i.e., 20% ethanol) in the presence and absence of SOM indicate that PPCPs prefer to remain in SOM-filled pores. Overall, ibuprofen has a high environmental risk, whereas carbamazepine and bisphenol A could be readily retarded in agricultural soils (with a loamy clay texture). This study implies that SOM accrual (particularly pore-filling SOM) has a high potential for reducing the off-site risks of PPCPs by increasing soil nano-/micro-porosity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Development of modified release 3D printed tablets (printlets) with pharmaceutical excipients using additive manufacturing.

    PubMed

    Goyanes, Alvaro; Fina, Fabrizio; Martorana, Annalisa; Sedough, Daniel; Gaisford, Simon; Basit, Abdul W

    2017-07-15

    The aim of this study was to manufacture 3D printed tablets (printlets) from enteric polymers by single filament fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing (3DP). Hot melt extrusion was used to generate paracetamol-loaded filaments from three different grades of the pharmaceutical excipient hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS), grades LG, MG and HG. One-step 3DP was used to process these filaments into enteric printlets incorporating up to 50% drug loading with two different infill percentages (20 and 100%). X-ray Micro Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) analysis revealed that printlets with 20% infill had cavities in the core compared to 100% infill, and that the density of the 50% drug loading printlets was higher than the equivalent formulations loaded with 5% drug. In biorelevant bicarbonate dissolution media, drug release from the printlets was dependent on the polymer composition, drug loading and the internal structure of the formulations. All HPMCAS-based printlets showed delayed drug release properties, and in the intestinal conditions, drug release was faster from the printlets prepared with polymers with a lower pH-threshold: HPMCAS LG > HPMCAS MG > HPMCAS HG. These results confirm that FDM 3D printing makes it possible not only to manufacture delayed release printlets without the need for an outer enteric coating, but it is also feasible to adapt the release profile in response to the personal characteristics of the patient, realizing the full potential of additive manufacturing in the development of personalised dose medicines. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Low friction and galling resistant coatings and processes for coating

    DOEpatents

    Johnson, Roger N.

    1987-01-01

    The present invention describes coating processes and the resultant coated articles for use in high temperature sodium environments, such as those found in liquid metal fast breeder reactors and their associated systems. The substrate to which the coating is applied may be either an iron base or nickel base alloy. The coating itself is applied to the substrate by electro-spark deposition techniques which result in metallurgical bonding between the coating and the substrate. One coating according to the present invention involves electro-spark depositing material from a cemented chromium carbide electrode and an aluminum electrode. Another coating according to the present invention involves electro-spark depositing material from a cemented chromium carbide electrode and a nickel-base hardfacing alloy electrode.

  15. Method of fabricating silicon carbide coatings on graphite surfaces

    DOEpatents

    Varacalle, D.J. Jr.; Herman, H.; Burchell, T.D.

    1994-07-26

    The vacuum plasma spray process produces well-bonded, dense, stress-free coatings for a variety of materials on a wide range of substrates. The process is used in many industries to provide for the excellent wear, corrosion resistance, and high temperature behavior of the fabricated coatings. In this application, silicon metal is deposited on graphite. This invention discloses the optimum processing parameters for as-sprayed coating qualities. The method also discloses the effect of thermal cycling on silicon samples in an inert helium atmosphere at about 1,600 C which transforms the coating to silicon carbide. 3 figs.

  16. Method of fabricating silicon carbide coatings on graphite surfaces

    DOEpatents

    Varacalle, Jr., Dominic J.; Herman, Herbert; Burchell, Timothy D.

    1994-01-01

    The vacuum plasma spray process produces well-bonded, dense, stress-free coatings for a variety of materials on a wide range of substrates. The process is used in many industries to provide for the excellent wear, corrosion resistance, and high temperature behavior of the fabricated coatings. In this application, silicon metal is deposited on graphite. This invention discloses the optimum processing parameters for as-sprayed coating qualities. The method also discloses the effect of thermal cycling on silicon samples in an inert helium atmosphere at about 1600.degree.C. which transforms the coating to silicon carbide.

  17. Progress on BN and Doped-BN Coatings on Woven Fabrics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hurwitz, Frances I.; Scott, John M.; Chayka, Paul V.

    2001-01-01

    A novel, multistep process for applying interface coatings to woven structures using a pulsed CVD process is being evaluated. Borazine (B3N3H6), a neat liquid, and several Si precursors are used in the process to produce BN and SiBN coatings on Hi- Nicalon fabrics and preforms. A three variable, two level, full factorial matrix is proposed to define the influence of processing parameters. Coating morphology, uniformity and chemistry are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive (EDS) and Auger spectroscopies.

  18. Use of edible coatings to preserve quality of lightly (and slightly) processed products.

    PubMed

    Baldwin, E A; Nisperos-Carriedo, M O; Baker, R A

    1995-11-01

    Lightly processed agricultural products present a special problem to the food industry and to scientists involved in postharvest and food technology research. Light or minimal processing includes cutting, slicing, coring, peeling, trimming, or sectioning of agricultural produce. These products have an active metabolism that can result in deteriorative changes, such as increased respiration and ethylene production. If not controlled, these changes can lead to rapid senescence and general deterioration of the product. In addition, the surface water activity of cut fruits and vegetables is generally quite high, inviting microbial attack, which further reduces product stability. Methods for control of these changes are numerous and can include the use of edible coatings. Also mentioned in this review are coating of nut products, and dried, dehydrated, and freeze-dried fruits. Technically, these are not considered to be minimally processed, but many of the problems and benefits of coating these products are similar to coating lightly processed products. Generally, the potential benefits of edible coatings for processed or lightly processed produce is to stabilize the product and thereby extend product shelf life. More specifically, coatings have the potential to reduce moisture loss, restrict oxygen entrance, lower respiration, retard ethylene production, seal in flavor volatiles, and carry additives that retard discoloration and microbial growth.

  19. High gain durable anti-reflective coating

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Maghsoodi, Sina; Brophy, Brenor L.; Colson, Thomas E.

    Disclosed herein are polysilsesquioxane-based anti-reflective coating (ARC) compositions, methods of preparation, and methods of deposition on a substrate. In one embodiment, the polysilsesquioxane of this disclosure is prepared in a two-step process of acid catalyzed hydrolysis of organoalkoxysilane followed by addition of tetralkoxysilane that generates silicone polymers with >40 mol % silanol based on Si-NMR. These high silanol siloxane polymers are stable and have a long shelf-life in polar organic solvents at room temperature. Also disclosed are low refractive index ARC made from these compositions with and without additives such as porogens, templates, thermal radical initiator, photo radical initiators, crosslinkers,more » Si--OH condensation catalyst and nano-fillers. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for applying coatings to flat substrates including substrate pre-treatment processes, coating processes and coating curing processes including skin-curing using hot-air knives. Also disclosed are coating compositions and formulations for highly tunable, durable, highly abrasion-resistant functionalized anti-reflective coatings.« less

  20. Survey of practices around pharmaceutical company funding for continuing professional development among medical oncologists and trainees in Australia.

    PubMed

    Lee, Yeh Chen; Kroon, René; Koczwara, Bogda; Haines, Ian; Francis, Kay; Millward, Michael; Kefford, Richard; Olver, Ian; Mileshkin, Linda

    2017-08-01

    The completion of continuing professional development (CPD) is mandatory for medical oncologists and trainees (MO&T). Pharmaceutical companies may fund some CPD activities, but there is increasing debate about the potential for conflicts of interest (COI). To assess current practices around funding to attend CPD activities. An electronic survey was distributed to Australian MO&T. The survey asked questions about current practices, institutional policies and perceptions about attending CPD funded by pharmaceutical companies. The design looked at comparing responses between MO&T as well as their understanding of and training around institutional and ethical process. A total of 157 of 653 (24%) responses was received, the majority from MO (76%). Most CPD activities attended by MO&T were self-funded (53%), followed by funding from institutions (19%), pharmaceutical companies (16%) and salary award (16%). Most institutions allowed MO&T to receive CPD funding from professional organisations (104/157, 66%) or pharmaceutical companies (90/157, 57%). A minority of respondents (13/157, 8%) reported that the process to use pharmaceutical funds had been considered by an ethics committee. Although 103/157 (66%) had received pharmaceutical funding for CPD, most (109/157, 69%) reported never receiving training about potential COI. The lack of education was more noticeable among trainees (odds ratio (OR) 8.61, P = 0.02). MO&T acknowledged the potential bias towards a pharmaceutical product (P = 0.05) but believed there was adequate separation between themselves and pharmaceutical companies (P < 0.01). Majority of CPD attended by MO&T is self-funded. There is lack of clarity in institutional policies regarding external funding support for CPD activities. Formal education about potential COI is lacking. © 2017 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

  1. Surface characterization of an energetic material, pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN), having a thin coating achieved through a starved addition microencapsulation technique

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Worley, C.M.

    The objective of this research was to: (1) determine the nature of a thin coating on an explosive material which was applied using a starved addition microencapsulation technique, (2) understand the coating/crystal bond, and (3) investigate the wettability/adhesion of plastic/solvent combinations using the coating process. The coating used in this work was a Firestone Plastic Company copolymer (FPC-461) of vinylchloride/trifluorochloroethylene in a 1.5/1.0 weight ratio. The energetic explosive examined was pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN). The coating process used was starved addition followed by a solvent evaporation technique. Surface analytical studies, completed for characterization of the coating process, show (1) evidence that themore » polymer coating is present, but not continuous, over the surface of PETN; (2) the average thickness of the polymer coating is between 16-32 A and greater than 44 A, respectively, for 0.5 and 20 wt % coated PETN; (3) no changes in surface chemistry of the polymer or the explosive material following microencapsulation; and (4) the presence of explosive material on the surface of 0.5 wt % FPC-461 coated explosives. 5 refs., 15 figs., 6 tabs.« less

  2. Factors Influencing Residual Stresses in Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Thermal Barrier Coatings

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    McGrann, Roy T. R.; Rybicki, Edmund F.; Shadley, John R.; Brindley, William J.

    1997-01-01

    To improve gas turbine and diesel engine performance using thermal barrier coatings (TBC's) requires an understanding of the factors that influence the in-service behavior of thermal barrier coatings. One of the many factors related to coating performance is the state of stress in the coating. The total stress state is composed of the stresses due to the in-service loading history and the residual stresses. Residual stresses have been shown to affect TBC life, the bond strength of thermal spray coatings, and the fatigue life of tungsten carbide coatings. Residual stresses are first introduced in TBC's by the spraying process due to elevated temperatures during processing and the difference in coefficients of thermal expansion of the top coat, bond coat, and substrate. Later, the residual stresses can be changed by the in-service temperature history due to a number of time and temperature dependent mechanisms, such as oxidation, creep, and sintering. Silica content has also been shown to affect sintering and the cyclic life of thermal barrier coatings. Thus, it is important to understand how the spraying process, the in-service thermal cycles, and the silica content can create and alter residual stresses in thermal barrier coatings.

  3. Osteoconductivity and Hydrophilicity of TiO2 Coatings on Ti Substrates Prepared by Different Oxidizing Processes

    PubMed Central

    Yamamoto, Dai; Kawai, Ikki; Kuroda, Kensuke; Ichino, Ryoichi; Okido, Masazumi; Seki, Azusa

    2012-01-01

    Various techniques for forming TiO2 coatings on Ti have been investigated for the improvement of the osteoconductivity of Ti implants. However, it is not clear how the oxidizing process affects this osteoconductivity. In this study, TiO2 coatings were prepared using the following three processes: anodizing in 0.1 M H3PO4 or 0.1 M NaOH aqueous solution; thermal oxidation at 673 K for 2 h in air; and a two-step process of anodizing followed by thermal oxidation. The oxide coatings were evaluated using SEM, XRD, and XPS. The water contact angle on the TiO2 coatings was measured as a surface property. The osteoconductivity of these samples was evaluated by measuring the contact ratio of formed hard tissue on the implanted samples (defined as the R B-I value) after 14 d implantation in rats' tibias. Anatase was formed by anodizing and rutile by thermal oxidation, but the difference in the TiO2 crystal structure did not influence the osteoconductivity. Anodized TiO2 coatings were hydrophilic, but thermally oxidized TiO2 coatings were less hydrophilic than anodized TiO2 coatings because they lacked in surface OH groups. The TiO2 coating process using anodizing without thermal oxidation gave effective improvement of the osteoconductivity of Ti samples. PMID:23316128

  4. Coating Carbon Fibers With Platinum

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Effinger, Michael R.; Duncan, Peter; Coupland, Duncan; Rigali, Mark J.

    2007-01-01

    A process for coating carbon fibers with platinum has been developed. The process may also be adaptable to coating carbon fibers with other noble and refractory metals, including rhenium and iridium. The coated carbon fibers would be used as ingredients of matrix/fiber composite materials that would resist oxidation at high temperatures. The metal coats would contribute to oxidation resistance by keeping atmospheric oxygen away from fibers when cracks form in the matrices. Other processes that have been used to coat carbon fibers with metals have significant disadvantages: Metal-vapor deposition processes yield coats that are nonuniform along both the lengths and the circumferences of the fibers. The electrical resistivities of carbon fibers are too high to be compatible with electrolytic processes. Metal/organic vapor deposition entails the use of expensive starting materials, it may be necessary to use a furnace, and the starting materials and/or materials generated in the process may be hazardous. The present process does not have these disadvantages. It yields uniform, nonporous coats and is relatively inexpensive. The process can be summarized as one of pretreatment followed by electroless deposition. The process consists of the following steps: The surfaces of the fiber are activated by deposition of palladium crystallites from a solution. The surface-activated fibers are immersed in a solution that contains platinum. A reducing agent is used to supply electrons to effect a chemical reduction in situ. The chemical reduction displaces the platinum from the solution. The displaced platinum becomes deposited on the fibers. Each platinum atom that has been deposited acts as a catalytic site for the deposition of another platinum atom. Hence, the deposition process can also be characterized as autocatalytic. The thickness of the deposited metal can be tailored via the duration of immersion and the chemical activity of the solution.

  5. Effective virus inactivation and removal by steps of Biotest Pharmaceuticals IGIV production process

    PubMed Central

    Dichtelmüller, Herbert O.; Flechsig, Eckhard; Sananes, Frank; Kretschmar, Michael; Dougherty, Christopher J.

    2012-01-01

    The virus validation of three steps of Biotest Pharmaceuticals IGIV production process is described here. The steps validated are precipitation and removal of fraction III of the cold ethanol fractionation process, solvent/detergent treatment and 35 nm virus filtration. Virus validation was performed considering combined worst case conditions. By these validated steps sufficient virus inactivation/removal is achieved, resulting in a virus safe product. PMID:24371563

  6. Forming Refractory Insulation On Copper Wire

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Setlock, J.; Roberts, G.

    1995-01-01

    Alternative insulating process forms flexible coat of uncured refractory insulating material on copper wire. Coated wire formed into coil or other complex shape. Wire-coating apparatus forms "green" coat on copper wire. After wire coiled, heating converts "green" coat to refractory electrical insulator. When cured to final brittle form, insulating material withstands temperatures above melting temperature of wire. Process used to make coils for motors, solenoids, and other electrical devices to be operated at high temperatures.

  7. The properties of electrodeposited Zn-Co coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahieu, J.; de Wit, K.; de Cooman, B. C.; de Boeck, A.

    1999-10-01

    The possibility of increasing the corrosion resistance of automotive sheet steel by electrodepositing with Zn-Co alloy coatings was investigated. Process variables during electrodeposition such as current density, electrolyte flow rate, and pH were varied in order to examine their influence on the electroplating process. Cobalt contents varying from 0.2 to 7 wt% were easily obtained. The influence of these process parameters on the characteristics of the coating could be related to the hydroxide suppression mechanism for anomalous codeposition. The structure and the morphology of the coatings were determined using SEM and XRD analysis. Application properties important for coating systems used in the automotive industry, such as friction behavior, adhesion, and corrosion behavior, were investigated on coatings with varying cobalt content. The corrosion resistance of the Zn-Co alloy layers was found to be better than that of pure zinc coatings.

  8. Size-dependent surface phase change of lithium iron phosphate during carbon coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Jiajun; Yang, Jinli; Tang, Yongji; Liu, Jian; Zhang, Yong; Liang, Guoxian; Gauthier, Michel; Karen Chen-Wiegart, Yu-Chen; Norouzi Banis, Mohammad; Li, Xifei; Li, Ruying; Wang, Jun; Sham, T. K.; Sun, Xueliang

    2014-03-01

    Carbon coating is a simple, effective and common technique for improving the conductivity of active materials in lithium ion batteries. However, carbon coating provides a strong reducing atmosphere and many factors remain unclear concerning the interface nature and underlying interaction mechanism that occurs between carbon and the active materials. Here, we present a size-dependent surface phase change occurring in lithium iron phosphate during the carbon coating process. Intriguingly, nanoscale particles exhibit an extremely high stability during the carbon coating process, whereas microscale particles display a direct visualization of surface phase changes occurring at the interface at elevated temperatures. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the effect of particle size during carbon coating and the interface interaction that occurs on carbon-coated battery material—allowing for further improvement in materials synthesis and manufacturing processes for advanced battery materials.

  9. Metallized coatings for corrosion control of Naval ship structures and components

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1983-01-01

    In attempting to improve corrosion control, the U.S. Navy has undertaken a program of coating corrosion-susceptible shipboard components with thermally sprayed aluminum. In this report the program is reviewed in depth, including examination of processes, process controls, the nature and properties of the coatings, nondestructive examination, and possible hazards to personnel. The performance of alternative metallic coating materials is also discussed. It is concluded that thermally sprayed aluminum can provide effective long-term protection against corrosion, thereby obviating the need for chipping of rust and repainting by ship personnel. Such coatings are providing excellent protection to below-deck components such as steam valves, but improvements are needed to realize the full potential of coatings for above-deck service. Several recommendations are made regarding processes, materials, and research and development aimed at upgrading further the performance of these coatings.

  10. Ceramic electrolyte coating methods

    DOEpatents

    Seabaugh, Matthew M.; Swartz, Scott L.; Dawson, William J.; McCormick, Buddy E.

    2004-10-12

    Processes for preparing aqueous suspensions of a nanoscale ceramic electrolyte material such as yttrium-stabilized zirconia. The invention also includes a process for preparing an aqueous coating slurry of a nanoscale ceramic electrolyte material. The invention further includes a process for depositing an aqueous spray coating slurry including a ceramic electrolyte material on pre-sintered, partially sintered, and unsintered ceramic substrates and products made by this process.

  11. In-line agglomeration degree estimation in fluidized bed pellet coating processes using visual imaging.

    PubMed

    Mehle, Andraž; Kitak, Domen; Podrekar, Gregor; Likar, Boštjan; Tomaževič, Dejan

    2018-05-09

    Agglomeration of pellets in fluidized bed coating processes is an undesirable phenomenon that affects the yield and quality of the product. In scope of PAT guidance, we present a system that utilizes visual imaging for in-line monitoring of the agglomeration degree. Seven pilot-scale Wurster coating processes were executed under various process conditions, providing a wide spectrum of process outcomes. Images of pellets were acquired during the coating processes in a contactless manner through an observation window of the coating apparatus. Efficient image analysis methods were developed for automatic recognition of discrete pellets and agglomerates in the acquired images. In-line obtained agglomeration degree trends revealed the agglomeration dynamics in distinct phases of the coating processes. We compared the in-line estimated agglomeration degree in the end point of each process to the results obtained by the off-line sieve analysis reference method. A strong positive correlation was obtained (coefficient of determination R 2 =0.99), confirming the feasibility of the approach. The in-line estimated agglomeration degree enables early detection of agglomeration and provides means for timely interventions to retain it in an acceptable range. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Pharmaceutical drug marketing strategies and tactics: a comparative analysis of attitudes held by pharmaceutical representatives and physicians.

    PubMed

    Parker, R Stephen; Pettijohn, Charles E

    2005-01-01

    A variety of promotional strategies have been used to stimulate sales of pharmaceutical drugs. Traditionally, push techniques have been the predominant means used to encourage physicians to prescribe drugs and thus increase sales. Recently, the traditional push strategy has been supplemented by a pull strategy. Direct-to-consumer advertising is increasingly used to encourage consumers to request advertised drugs from their physicians. This research compares the attitudes of two of the most affected participants in the prescriptive sales processes; physicians and pharmaceutical sales representatives. The findings indicate differences between physicians and pharmaceutical sales representatives regarding the efficacy and ethical considerations of various promotional strategies.

  13. Occurrence of 25 pharmaceuticals in Taihu Lake and their removal from two urban drinking water treatment plants and a constructed wetland.

    PubMed

    Hu, Xia-Lin; Bao, Yi-Fan; Hu, Jun-Jian; Liu, You-Yu; Yin, Da-Qiang

    2017-06-01

    Pharmaceuticals in drinking water sources have raised significant concerns due to their persistent input and potential human health risks. The seasonal occurrence of 25 pharmaceuticals including 23 antibiotics, paracetamol (PAR), and carbamazepine (CMZ) in Taihu Lake was investigated; meanwhile, the distribution and removal of these pharmaceuticals in two drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and a constructed wetland were evaluated. A high detection frequency (>70%) in the Taihu Lake was observed for nearly all the 25 pharmaceutics. Chlortetracycline (234.7 ng L -1 ), chloramphenicol (27.1 ng L -1 ), erythromycin (72.6 ng L -1 ), PAR (71.7 ng L -1 ), and CMZP (23.6 ng L -1 ) are compounds with both a high detection frequency (100%) and the highest concentrations, suggesting their wide use in the Taihu Basin. Higher concentrations of chloramphenicols, macrolides, PAR, and CMZP were observed in dry season than in wet season, probably due to the low flow conditions of the lake in winter and the properties of pharmaceuticals. The overall contamination levels of antibiotic pharmaceutics (0.2-74.9 ng L -1 ) in the Taihu Lake were lower than or comparable to those reported worldwide. However, for nonantibiotic pharmaceutics, PAR (45.0 ng L -1 ) and CMZP (14.5 ng L -1 ), significantly higher concentrations were observed in the Taihu Lake than at a global scale. High detection frequencies of 25 pharmaceuticals were observed in both the two DWTPs (100%) and the wetland (>60%) except for florfenicol and sulfapyridine. The removal efficacies of the studied pharmaceuticals in DWTP B with advanced treatment processes including ozonation and granular activated carbon filtration (16.7-100%) were superior to DWTP A with conventional treatment processes (2.9-100%), except for sulfonamides. Wetland C with the constructed root channel technology was efficient (24.2-100%) for removing most pharmaceuticals. This work suggests that the application of cost-effective technologies such as constructed wetlands should be considered as an efficient alternative for removing pharmaceuticals from water supply sources.

  14. Strategic funding priorities in the pharmaceutical sciences allied to Quality by Design (QbD) and Process Analytical Technology (PAT).

    PubMed

    Aksu, Buket; De Beer, Thomas; Folestad, Staffan; Ketolainen, Jarkko; Lindén, Hans; Lopes, Joao Almeida; de Matas, Marcel; Oostra, Wim; Rantanen, Jukka; Weimer, Marco

    2012-09-29

    Substantial changes in Pharmaceutical R&D strategy are required to address existing issues of low productivity, imminent patent expirations and pressures on pricing. Moves towards personalized healthcare and increasing diversity in the nature of portfolios including the rise of biopharmaceuticals however have the potential to provide considerable challenges to the establishment of cost effective and robust supply chains. To guarantee product quality and surety of supply for essential medicines it is necessary that manufacturing science keeps pace with advances in pharmaceutical R&D. In this position paper, the EUFEPS QbD and PAT Sciences network make recommendations that European industry, academia and health agencies focus attention on delivering step changes in science and technology in a number of key themes. These subject areas, all underpinned by the sciences allied to QbD and PAT, include product design and development for personalized healthcare, continuous-processing in pharmaceutical product manufacture, quantitative quality risk assessment for pharmaceutical development including life cycle management and the downstream processing of biopharmaceutical products. Plans are being established to gain commitment for inclusion of these themes into future funding priorities for the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Nano spray drying for encapsulation of pharmaceuticals.

    PubMed

    Arpagaus, Cordin; Collenberg, Andreas; Rütti, David; Assadpour, Elham; Jafari, Seid Mahdi

    2018-05-17

    Many pharmaceuticals such as pills, capsules, or tablets are prepared in a dried and powdered form. In this field, spray drying plays a critical role to convert liquid pharmaceutical formulations into powders. In addition, in many cases it is necessary to encapsulate bioactive drugs into wall materials to protect them against harsh process and environmental conditions, as well as to deliver the drug to the right place and at the correct time within the body. Thus, spray drying is a common process used for encapsulation of pharmaceuticals. In view of the rapid progress of nanoencapsulation techniques in pharmaceutics, nano spray drying is used to improve drug formulation and delivery. The nano spray dryer developed in the recent years provides ultrafine powders at nanoscale and high product yields. In this paper, after explaining the concept of nano spray drying and understanding the key elements of the equipment, the influence of the process parameters on the final powders properties, like particle size, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading and release, will be discussed. Then, numerous application examples are reviewed for nano spray drying and encapsulation of various drugs in the early stages of product development along with a brief overview of the obtained results and characterization techniques. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Multivariate analysis in the pharmaceutical industry: enabling process understanding and improvement in the PAT and QbD era.

    PubMed

    Ferreira, Ana P; Tobyn, Mike

    2015-01-01

    In the pharmaceutical industry, chemometrics is rapidly establishing itself as a tool that can be used at every step of product development and beyond: from early development to commercialization. This set of multivariate analysis methods allows the extraction of information contained in large, complex data sets thus contributing to increase product and process understanding which is at the core of the Food and Drug Administration's Process Analytical Tools (PAT) Guidance for Industry and the International Conference on Harmonisation's Pharmaceutical Development guideline (Q8). This review is aimed at providing pharmaceutical industry professionals an introduction to multivariate analysis and how it is being adopted and implemented by companies in the transition from "quality-by-testing" to "quality-by-design". It starts with an introduction to multivariate analysis and the two methods most commonly used: principal component analysis and partial least squares regression, their advantages, common pitfalls and requirements for their effective use. That is followed with an overview of the diverse areas of application of multivariate analysis in the pharmaceutical industry: from the development of real-time analytical methods to definition of the design space and control strategy, from formulation optimization during development to the application of quality-by-design principles to improve manufacture of existing commercial products.

  17. Friction surfaced Stellite6 coatings

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rao, K. Prasad; Damodaram, R.; Rafi, H. Khalid, E-mail: khalidrafi@gmail.com

    2012-08-15

    Solid state Stellite6 coatings were deposited on steel substrate by friction surfacing and compared with Stellite6 cast rod and coatings deposited by gas tungsten arc and plasma transferred arc welding processes. Friction surfaced coatings exhibited finer and uniformly distributed carbides and were characterized by the absence of solidification structure and compositional homogeneity compared to cast rod, gas tungsten arc and plasma transferred coatings. Friction surfaced coating showed relatively higher hardness. X-ray diffraction of samples showed only face centered cubic Co peaks while cold worked coating showed hexagonally close packed Co also. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Stellite6 used as coating material formore » friction surfacing. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Friction surfaced (FS) coatings compared with casting, GTA and PTA processes. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Finer and uniformly distributed carbides in friction surfaced coatings. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Absence of melting results compositional homogeneity in FS Stellite6 coatings.« less

  18. Innovative approaches for converting a wood hydrolysate to high-quality barrier coatings.

    PubMed

    Ryberg, Yingzhi Zhu; Edlund, Ulrica; Albertsson, Ann-Christine

    2013-08-28

    An advanced approach for the efficient and controllable production of softwood hydrolysate-based coatings with excellent oxygen-barrier performance is presented. An innovative conversion of the spray-drying technique into a coating applicator process allowed for a fast and efficient coating process requiring solely aqueous solutions of softwood hydrolysate, even without additives. Compared to analogous coatings prepared by manual application, the spray-drying produced coatings were more homogeneous and smooth, and they adhered more strongly to the substrate. The addition of glyoxal to the aqueous softwood hydrolysate solutions prior to coating formation allowed for hemicellulose cross-linking, which improved both the mechanical integrity and the oxygen-barrier performance of the coatings. A real-time scanning electron microscopy imaging assessment of the tensile deformation of the coatings allowed for a deeper understanding of the ability of the coating layer itself to withstand stress as well as the coating-to-substrate adhesion.

  19. Chemical vapor deposition of mullite coatings

    DOEpatents

    Sarin, Vinod; Mulpuri, Rao

    1998-01-01

    This invention is directed to the creation of crystalline mullite coatings having uniform microstructure by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The process comprises the steps of establishing a flow of reactants which will yield mullite in a CVD reactor, and depositing a crystalline coating from the reactant flow. The process will yield crystalline coatings which are dense and of uniform thickness.

  20. A process for preparing an ultra-thin, adhesiveless, multi-layered, patterned polymer substrate

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bryant, Robert G. (Inventor); Kruse, Nancy H. M. (Inventor); Fox, Robert L. (Inventor); Tran, Sang Q. (Inventor)

    1995-01-01

    A process for preparing an ultra-thin, adhesiveless, multi-layered, patterned polymer substrate is disclosed. The process may be used to prepare both rigid and flexible cables and circuit boards. A substrate is provided and a polymeric solution comprising a self-bonding, soluble polymer and a solvent is applied to the substrate. Next, the polymer solution is dried to form a polymer coated substrate. The polymer coated substrate is metallized and patterned. At least one additional coating of the polymeric solution is applied to the metallized, patterned, polymer coated substrate and the steps of metallizing and patterning are repeated. Lastly, a cover coat is applied. When preparing a flexible cable and flexible circuit board, the polymer coating is removed from the substrate.

  1. Deposition stress effects on thermal barrier coating burner rig life

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Watson, J. W.; Levine, S. R.

    1984-01-01

    A study of the effect of plasma spray processing parameters on the life of a two layer thermal barrier coating was conducted. The ceramic layer was plasma sprayed at plasma arc currents of 900 and 600 amps onto uncooled tubes, cooled tubes, and solid bars of Waspalloy in a lathe with 1 or 8 passes of the plasma gun. These processing changes affected the residual stress state of the coating. When the specimens were tested in a Mach 0.3 cyclic burner rig at 1130 deg C, a wide range of coating lives resulted. Processing factors which reduced the residual stress state in the coating, such as reduced plasma temperature and increased heat dissipation, significantly increased coating life.

  2. Deposition stress effects on the life of thermal barrier coatings on burner rigs

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Watson, J. W.; Levine, S. R.

    1984-01-01

    A study of the effect of plasma spray processing parameters on the life of a two layer thermal barrier coating was conducted. The ceramic layer was plasma sprayed at plasma arc currents of 900 and 600 amps onto uncooled tubes, cooled tubes, and solid bars of Waspalloy in a lathe with 1 or 8 passes of the plasma gun. These processing changes affected the residual stress state of the coating. When the specimens were tested in a Mach 0.3 cyclic burner rig at 1130 deg C, a wide range of coating lives resulted. Processing factors which reduced the residual stress state in the coating, such as reduced plasma temperature and increased heat dissipation, significantly increased coating life.

  3. Effect of Spray Particle Velocity on Cavitation Erosion Resistance Characteristics of HVOF and HVAF Processed 86WC-10Co4Cr Hydro Turbine Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumar, R. K.; Kamaraj, M.; Seetharamu, S.; Pramod, T.; Sampathkumaran, P.

    2016-08-01

    The hydro plants utilizing silt-laden water for power generation suffer from severe metal wastage due to particle-induced erosion and cavitation. High-velocity oxy-fuel process (HVOF)-based coatings is widely applied to improve the erosion life. The process parameters such as particle velocity, size, powder feed rate, temperature, affect their mechanical properties. The high-velocity air fuel (HVAF) technology, with higher particle velocities and lower spray temperatures, gives dense and substantially nonoxidized coating. In the present study, the cavitation resistance of 86WC-10Co4Cr-type HVOF coating processed at 680 m/s spray particle velocity was compared with HVAF coatings made at 895, 960, and 1010 m/s. The properties such as porosity, hardness, indentation toughness, and cavitation resistance were investigated. The surface damage morphology has been analyzed in SEM. The cohesion between different layers has been examined qualitatively through scratch depth measurements across the cross section. The HVAF coatings have shown a lower porosity, higher hardness, and superior cavitation resistance. Delamination, extensive cracking of the matrix interface, and detachment of the WC grains were observed in HVOF coating. The rate of metal loss is low in HVAF coatings implying that process parameters play a vital role in achieving improved cavitation resistance.

  4. Solventless visible light-curable coating: I. Critical formulation and processing parameters.

    PubMed

    Bose, Sagarika; Bogner, Robin H

    2010-06-30

    Film coating is generally accomplished by spraying polymers dissolved in solvents onto a cascading bed of tablets. The limitations associated with the use of solvents (both aqueous and organic) can be overcome by the use of solventless coating technologies. In this proposed solventless photocurable film coating system, each layer of coating onto the pellets (non-pareil beads) was formed using liquid photocurable monomer, powdered pore-forming agents, photosensitizers and photoinitiators in a mini-coating pan and later cured by visible light. Yield, coating efficiency, variation in color, diameter and roundness were determined for each batch to evaluate process efficiency and coating quality. It was found that the ratio (S/L ratio) of the amount of solid (S) pore-forming agent to volume of liquid (L) monomer, particle size and type of the pore-forming agent, concentration of initiator, and total exposure (light intensity x exposure time) of light were critical formulation and processing parameters for the process. Using lactose as a pore-forming agent, an optimum ratio of pore-forming agent to photocurable polymer was 1.8-3.0 to achieve good process efficiency and uniformity. The ratio was sensitive to particle size and type of pore-forming agent. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Process for producing radiation-induced self-terminating protective coatings on a substrate

    DOEpatents

    Klebanoff, Leonard E.

    2001-01-01

    A gas and radiation are used to produce a protective coating that is substantially void-free on the molecular scale, self-terminating, and degradation resistant. The process can be used to deposit very thin (.apprxeq.5-20 .ANG.) coatings on critical surfaces needing protection from degradative processes including, corrosion and contamination.

  6. Sequential ozone advanced oxidation and biological oxidation processes to remove selected pharmaceutical contaminants from an urban wastewater.

    PubMed

    Espejo, Azahara; Aguinaco, Almudena; García-Araya, J F; Beltrán, Fernando J

    2014-01-01

    Sequential treatments consisting in a chemical process followed by a conventional biological treatment, have been applied to remove mixtures of nine contaminants of pharmaceutical type spiked in a primary sedimentation effluent of a municipal wastewater. Combinations of ozone, UVA black light (BL) and Fe(III) or Fe₃O₄ catalysts constituted the chemical systems. Regardless of the Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP), the removal of pharmaceutical compounds was achieved in 1 h of reaction, while total organic carbon (TOC) only diminished between 3.4 and 6%. Among selected ozonation systems to be implemented before the biological treatment, the application of ozone alone in the pre-treatment stage is recommended due to the increase of the biodegradability observed. The application of ozone followed by the conventional biological treatment leads high TOC and COD removal rates, 60 and 61%, respectively, and allows the subsequent biological treatment works with shorter hydraulic residence time (HRT). Moreover, the influence of the application of AOPs before and after a conventional biological process was compared, concluding that the decision to take depends on the characterization of the initial wastewater with pharmaceutical compounds.

  7. Contribution of hot-melt extrusion technology to advance drug delivery in the 21st century.

    PubMed

    Tiwari, Roshan V; Patil, Hemlata; Repka, Michael A

    2016-01-01

    Hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology is applied successfully in the plastic, rubber and food industry. HME has also emerged as an important technology for drug delivery applications in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing because of its process automation and low-cost scale-up properties, which reduce labor costs and capital investment. There are a number of commercial FDA-approved HME-derived products, signifying the commercial feasibility of this novel technique in drug delivery applications. HME is a highly efficient, solvent-free continuous processing technique for the development of solid dispersions; thus, research efforts to develop sustained, modified and targeted drug delivery systems to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are of interest. This review focuses on both the innovations and applications of HME in the production of pharmaceutical formulations, and on the significant findings of the general principles regarding formulation and process development via HME as described in published articles. Challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies to produce efficient drug formulations may be partly overcome by HME's advantages - high drug-loading capacity, good content uniformity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of processing scale-up. Nevertheless, HME's high processing temperatures may be an obstacle if adequate knowledge about the product's formulation is lacking.

  8. Distribution, mass load and environmental impact of multiple-class pharmaceuticals in conventional and upgraded municipal wastewater treatment plants in East China.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Xiangjuan; Qiang, Zhimin; Ben, Weiwei; Zhu, Bing; Qu, Jiuhui

    2015-03-01

    The occurrence, fate and environmental impact of 30 pharmaceuticals including sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, macrolides, dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, β-blockers, antiepileptics, lipid regulators, and stimulants were studied in two municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in Wuxi City, East China. A total of 23 pharmaceuticals were detected in wastewater samples, with a maximum concentration of 16.1 μg L(-1) (caffeine) in the influent and 615.5 ng L(-1) (azithromycin) in the effluent; 19 pharmaceuticals were detected in sludge samples at concentrations up to 12.13 mg kg(-1), with ofloxacin, azithromycin and norfloxacin being the predominant species. Mass balance analysis showed that biodegradation primarily accounted for the removal of sulfonamides, most of the macrolides, and other miscellaneous pharmaceuticals, while adsorption onto the sludge was the primary removal pathway for fluoroquinolones, tetracylines, and azithromycin during biological treatment. The total mass loads of target pharmaceuticals per capita in the two WWTPs were in the ranges of 2681.8-4333.3, 248.0-416.6 and 214.6-374.5 μg per day per inhabitant in the influent, effluent and dewatered sludge, respectively. The upgraded Plant A adopting the combined anaerobic/anoxic/oxic and moving bed biofilm process exhibited a much higher removal of target pharmaceuticals than the conventional Plant B adopting the C-Orbal oxidation ditch process. The concentration levels of sulfamethoxazole, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and clarithromycin in the effluent, ofloxacin in the sludge, and the mixture of all target pharmaceuticals in both effluent and sludge posed a high risk to algae in aquatic environments.

  9. Tracking acidic pharmaceuticals, caffeine, and triclosan through the wastewater treatment process.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Paul M; Foster, Gregory D

    2005-01-01

    Pharmaceuticals are a class of emerging contaminants whose fate in the wastewater treatment process has received increasing attention in past years. Acidic pharmaceuticals (ibuprofen, naproxen, mefenamic acid, ketoprofen, and diclofenac), caffeine, and the antibacterial triclosan were quantified at four different steps of wastewater treatment from three urban wastewater treatment plants. The compounds were extracted from wastewater samples on Waters Oasis hydrophilic-lipophilic balance solid-phase extraction columns, silylated, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For the chemicals studied, it was found that the majority of the influent load was removed during secondary treatment (51-99%), yielding expected surface water concentrations of 13 to 56 ng/L.

  10. Crystallization processes in pharmaceutical technology and drug delivery design

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shekunov, B. Yu; York, P.

    2000-04-01

    Crystallization is a major technological process for particle formation in pharmaceutical industry and, in addition, plays an important role in defining the stability and drug release properties of the final dosage forms. Industrial and regulatory aspects of crystallization are briefly reviewed with reference to solid-state properties of pharmaceuticals. Crystallization, incorporating wider definition to include precipitation and solid-state transitions, is considered in terms of preparation of materials for direct compression, formation of amorphous, solvated and polymorphic forms, chiral separation of drugs, production of materials for inhalation drug delivery and injections. Finally, recent developments in supercritical fluid particle technology is considered in relationship to the areas discussed.

  11. Tablet coating by injection molding technology - Optimization of coating formulation attributes and coating process parameters.

    PubMed

    Desai, Parind M; Puri, Vibha; Brancazio, David; Halkude, Bhakti S; Hartman, Jeremy E; Wahane, Aniket V; Martinez, Alexander R; Jensen, Keith D; Harinath, Eranda; Braatz, Richard D; Chun, Jung-Hoon; Trout, Bernhardt L

    2018-01-01

    We developed and evaluated a solvent-free injection molding (IM) coating technology that could be suitable for continuous manufacturing via incorporation with IM tableting. Coating formulations (coating polymers and plasticizers) were prepared using hot-melt extrusion and screened via stress-strain analysis employing a universal testing machine. Selected coating formulations were studied for their melt flow characteristics. Tablets were coated using a vertical injection molding unit. Process parameters like softening temperature, injection pressure, and cooling temperature played a very important role in IM coating processing. IM coating employing polyethylene oxide (PEO) based formulations required sufficient room humidity (>30% RH) to avoid immediate cracks, whereas other formulations were insensitive to the room humidity. Tested formulations based on Eudrajit E PO and Kollicoat IR had unsuitable mechanical properties. Three coating formulations based on hydroxypropyl pea starch, PEO 1,000,000 and Opadry had favorable mechanical (<700MPa Young's modulus, >35% elongation, >95×10 4 J/m 3 toughness) and melt flow (>0.4g/min) characteristics, that rendered acceptable IM coats. These three formulations increased the dissolution time by 10, 15 and 35min, respectively (75% drug release), compared to the uncoated tablets (15min). Coated tablets stored in several environmental conditions remained stable to cracking for the evaluated 8-week time period. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Influence of process parameters on the content of biomimetic calcium phosphate coating on titanium: a Taguchi analysis.

    PubMed

    Thammarakcharoen, Faungchat; Suvannapruk, Waraporn; Suwanprateeb, Jintamai

    2014-10-01

    In this study, a statistical design of experimental methodology based on Taguchi orthogonal design has been used to study the effect of various processing parameters on the amount of calcium phosphate coating produced by such technique. Seven control factors with three levels each including sodium hydroxide concentration, pretreatment temperature, pretreatment time, cleaning method, coating time, coating temperature and surface area to solution volume ratio were studied. X-ray diffraction revealed that all the coatings consisted of the mixture of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) and the presence of each phase depended on the process conditions used. Various content and size (-1-100 μm) of isolated spheroid particles with nanosized plate-like morphology deposited on the titanium surface or a continuous layer of plate-like nanocrystals having the plate thickness in the range of -100-300 nm and the plate width in the range of 3-8 μm were formed depending on the process conditions employed. The optimum condition of using sodium hydroxide concentration of 1 M, pretreatment temperature of 70 degrees C, pretreatment time of 24 h, cleaning by ultrasonic, coating time of 6 h, coating temperature of 50 degrees C and surface area to solution volume ratio of 32.74 for producing the greatest amount of the coating formed on the titanium surface was predicted and validated. In addition, coating temperature was found to be the dominant factor with the greatest contribution to the coating formation while coating time and cleaning method were significant factors. Other factors had negligible effects on the coating performance.

  13. Investigation of the effects of process sequence on the contact resistance characteristics of coated metallic bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Turan, Cabir; Cora, Ömer Necati; Koç, Muammer

    2013-12-01

    In this study, results of an investigation on the effects of manufacturing and coating process sequence on the contact resistance (ICR) of metallic bipolar plates (BPP) for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are presented. Firstly, uncoated stainless steel 316L blanks were formed into BPP through hydroforming and stamping processes. Then, these formed BPP samples were coated with three different PVD coatings (CrN, TiN and ZrN) at three different thicknesses (0.1, 0.5 and 1 μm). Secondly, blanks of the same alloy were coated first with the same coatings, thickness and technique; then, they were formed into BPPs of the same shape and dimensions using the manufacturing methods as in the first group. Finally, these two groups of BPP samples were tested for their ICR to reveal the effect of process sequence. ICR tests were also conducted on the BPP plates both before and after exposure to corrosion to disclose the effect of corrosion on ICR. Coated-then-formed BPP samples exhibited similar or even better ICR performance than formed-then-coated BPP samples. Thus, manufacturing of coated blanks can be concluded to be more favorable and worth further investigation in quest of making cost effective BPPs for mass production of PEMFC.

  14. The effects of plasma spray parameters and atmosphere on the properties and microstructure of WC-Co coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ghosh, D.; Lamy, D.; Sopkow, T.; Smuga-Otto, I.

    Wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings deposited by plasma spray process are increasingly used in severe environments in resource industries, such as oil and gas, oil sands, mining, pulp and paper, etc. While there is a large volume of literature in the area of plasma spray coatings, comparatively few papers deal with the co-relation between coating properties and microstructure as a function of plasma spray processing parameters. In this study, the effect of some plasma spray processing variables and atmosphere (air or inert gas) on the microstructure and the properties of WC-Co coatings were studied. The properties of the coatings measured include: microhardness, porosity by image analysis, wear resistance by dry sand/rubber wheel abrasion test (ASTM G 65-91) and corrosion properties by AC impedance technique. Phase analyses of the coatings were also performed by X-ray diffraction. From the above, optimized coatings were developed for oil and gas industry applications.

  15. Iron-Based Amorphous Coatings Produced by HVOF Thermal Spray Processing-Coating Structure and Properties

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Beardsley, M B

    2008-03-26

    The feasibility to coat large SNF/HLW containers with a structurally amorphous material (SAM) was demonstrated on sub-scale models fabricated from Type 316L stainless steel. The sub-scale model were coated with SAM 1651 material using kerosene high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) torch to thicknesses ranging from 1 mm to 2 mm. The process parameters such as standoff distance, oxygen flow, and kerosene flow, were optimized in order to improve the corrosion properties of the coatings. Testing in an electrochemical cell and long-term exposure to a salt spray environment were used to guide the selection of process parameters.

  16. Oxidation resistant coatings for ceramic matrix composite components

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Vaubert, V.M.; Stinton, D.P.; Hirschfeld, D.A.

    Corrosion resistant Ca{sub 0.6}Mg{sub 0.4}Zr{sub 4}(PO{sub 4}){sub 6} (CMZP) and Ca{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}Zr{sub 4}(PO{sub 4}){sub 6} (CS-50) coatings for fiber-reinforced SiC-matrix composite heat exchanger tubes have been developed. Aqueous slurries of both oxides were prepared with high solids loading. One coating process consisted of dipping the samples in a slip. A tape casting process has also been created that produced relatively thin and dense coatings covering a large area. A processing technique was developed, utilizing a pre-sintering step, which produced coatings with minimal cracking.

  17. Contrast Experiment on Advanced Treatment of Pharmaceutical and Paper-making Wastewater through Cinder Fenton-like Process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiaofeng, Jia; Xiaoyu, Chen; Wenning, Mai

    2018-06-01

    The Fenton-like process of catalyzing H2O2 with Fe2+ and cinder is adopted to subject pharmaceutical and paper-making wastewater to advanced treatment. The influence of each factor is determined using orthogonal experiment and single factor test. The optimal combination of influencing factors is 0.3mmol · L-1 of FeSO4 · 7H2O, [H2O2]:[Fe2+]=8:1 and 10g · L-1 of pyrites cinder. The reaction time in pharmaceutical wastewater and paper-making wastewater is 30min and 60min respectively, testifying to the fact that the reaction in pharmaceutical wastewater is faster than that in paper-making wastewater and the lower utilization rate of cinder in pharmaceutical wastewater. Under the optimal reaction condition, the COD removal rate of these two kinds of wastewater can reach as high as 65% and 72%. Characterized by simple operation and requiring less reagent dosage, this method does not have to regulate the pH of flooding water and allows the repeated usage of cinder.

  18. Creating knowledge structures in the pharmaceutical industry: the increasing significance of virtual organisation.

    PubMed

    Salazar, A; Howells, J

    2000-01-01

    This paper explores the specific trend and challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry regarding the exploitation of Internet e-commerce technology and virtual organisation to develop and maintain competitive advantage. There are two important facets of the current trend. One is the rapid development of a complex network of alliances between the established pharmaceutical companies and the specialised biotechnology company start-ups. The other is the rapid growth of internet e-commerce companies dedicated to developing specialised technological platforms for acquiring and selling genetic and biochemical knowledge. The underlying challenge is how big pharmaceutical companies can emulate some of the innovation processes of smaller biotechnology company start-ups, and how they can appropriate and applied new technological knowledge on the development of new drugs. Pharmaceutical companies in order to retain competitive advantage need to continuously monitor all aspects of knowledge management with regard to the R&D and manufacturing process (as well as customer management and marketing). Technological change and organisational restructuring should be aimed at boosting the capacity of large firms to innovate rapidly.

  19. Magnetorheological materials, method for making, and applications thereof

    DOEpatents

    Shen, Rui; Yang, Hong; Shafrir, Shai N.; Miao, Chunlin; Wang, Mimi; Mici, Joni; Lambropoulos, John C.; Jacobs, Stephen D.

    2014-08-19

    A magnetorheological material comprises a magnetic particle and a ceramic material, wherein the magnetorheological material is in a dried form and further wherein a portion of the ceramic material is in the form of a nanocrystalline coating over the entire exterior surface of the magnetic particle and another portion of the ceramic material is in the form of a free nanocrystal. A magnetorheological material comprises a magnetic particle having a ceramic material coating over an external surface thereof as a result of a coating process, and a free nanocrystal of the ceramic material in the form of a residual by-product of the coating process. A sol-gel process for making a magnetorheological product comprises providing a sol of a desired ceramic coating material; combining a desired quantity of carbonyl iron (CI) particles with the sol to coat the CI particles with the ceramic coating material; creating a resulting quantity of nanocrystalline ceramic material-coated CI particles and a quantity of free nanocrystals of the ceramic material; and, drying the resulting quantity of coated CI particles and free nanocrystals to a moisture content equal to or less than 2 wt %.

  20. Testing of Environmentally Preferable Aluminum Pretreatments and Coating Systems for Use on Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Clayton, C.; Raley, R.; Zook, L.

    2001-01-01

    The solid rocket booster (SRB) has historically used a chromate conversion coating prior to protective finish application. After conversion coating, an organic paint system consisting of a chromated epoxy primer and polyurethane topcoat is applied. An overall systems approach was selected to reduce waste generation from the coatings application and removal processes. While the most obvious waste reduction opportunity involved elimination of the chromate conversion coating, several other coating system configurations were explored in an attempt to reduce the total waste. This paper will briefly discuss the use of a systems view to reduce waste generation from the coating process and present the results of the qualification testing of nonchromated aluminum pretreatments and alternate coating systems configurations.

  1. The Effectiveness of a NiCrY-Coating on a Powder Metallurgy Disk Superalloy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gabb, Timothy P.; Miller, Robert A.; Nesbitt, James A.; Draper, Susan L.; Rogers, Richard B.; Telesman, Jack

    2018-01-01

    Protective ductile coatings could be necessary to mitigate oxidation and corrosion attack on superalloy disks in some turbine engine applications. However, the effects of coatings on fatigue life of the disk during service are an important concern. The objective of this study was to investigate how such a coating could perform after varied post-coating processing. Cylindrical gage fatigue specimens of powder metallurgy-processed disk superalloy LSHR were coated with a NiCrY coating, shot peened, preparation treated, exposed, and then subjected to fatigue at high temperature. The effects of varied shot peening, preparation treatment, and exposures on fatigue life with and without the coating were compared. Each of these variables and several of their interactions significantly influenced fatigue life.

  2. Plasma sprayed manganese-cobalt spinel coatings: Process sensitivity on phase, electrical and protective performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, Su Jung; Pala, Zdenek; Sampath, Sanjay

    2016-02-01

    Manganese cobalt spinel (Mn1.5Co1.5O4, MCO) coatings are prepared by the air plasma spray (APS) process to examine their efficacy in serving as protective coatings from Cr-poisoning of the cathode side in intermediate temperature-solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). These complex oxides are susceptible to process induced stoichiometric and phase changes which affect their functional performance. To critically examine these effects, MCO coatings are produced with deliberate modifications to the spray process parameters to explore relationship among process conditions, microstructure and functional properties. The resultant interplay among particle thermal and kinetic energies are captured through process maps, which serve to characterize the parametric effects on properties. The results show significant changes to the chemistry and phase composition of the deposited material resulting from preferential evaporation of oxygen. Post deposition annealing recovers oxygen in the coatings and allows partial recovery of the spinel phase, which is confirmed through thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA)/differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and magnetic hysteresis measurements. In addition, coatings with high density after sintering show excellent electrical conductivity of 40 S cm-1 at 800 °C while simultaneously providing requisite protection characteristics against Cr-poisoning. This study provides a framework for optimal evaluation of MCO coatings in intermediate temperature SOFCs.

  3. Electrically Conductive and Protective Coating for Planar SOFC Stacks

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Choi, Jung-Pyung; Stevenson, Jeffry W.

    Ferritic stainless steels are preferred interconnect materials for intermediate temperature SOFCs because of their resistance to oxidation, high formability and low cost. However, their protective oxide layer produces Cr-containing volatile species at SOFC operating temperatures and conditions, which can cause cathode poisoning. Electrically conducting spinel coatings have been developed to prevent cathode poisoning and to maintain an electrically conductive pathway through SOFC stacks. However, this coating is not compatible with the formation of stable, hermetic seals between the interconnect frame component and the ceramic cell. Thus, a new aluminizing process has been developed by PNNL to enable durable sealing, preventmore » Cr evaporation, and maintain electrical insulation between stack repeat units. Hence, two different types of coating need to have stable operation of SOFC stacks. This paper will focus on the electrically conductive coating process. Moreover, an advanced coating process, compatible with a non-electrically conductive coating will be« less

  4. Some ozone advanced oxidation processes to improve the biological removal of selected pharmaceutical contaminants from urban wastewater.

    PubMed

    Espejo, Azahara; Aguinaco, Almudena; Amat, Ana M; Beltrán, Fernando J

    2014-01-01

    Removal of nine pharmaceutical compounds--acetaminophen (AAF), antipyrine (ANT), caffeine (CAF), carbamazepine (CRB), diclofenac (DCF), hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), ketorolac (KET), metoprolol (MET) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)-spiked in a primary sedimentation effluent of a municipal wastewater has been studied with sequential aerobic biological and ozone advanced oxidation systems. Combinations of ozone, UVA black light and Fe(III) or Fe3O4 constituted the chemical systems. During the biological treatment (hydraulic residence time, HRT = 24 h), only AAF and CAF were completely eliminated, MET, SMX and HCT reached partial removal rates and the rest of compounds were completely refractory. With any ozone advanced oxidation process applied, the remaining pharmaceuticals disappear in less than 10 min. Fe3O4 or Fe(III) photocatalytic ozonation leads to 35% mineralization compared to 13% reached during ozonation alone after about 30-min reaction. Also, biodegradability of the treated wastewater increased 50% in the biological process plus another 150% after the ozonation processes. Both untreated and treated wastewater was non-toxic for Daphnia magna (D. magna) except when Fe(III) was used in photocatalytic ozonation. In this case, toxicity was likely due to the ferryoxalate formed in the process. Kinetic information on ozone processes reveals that pharmaceuticals at concentrations they have in urban wastewater are mainly removed through free radical oxidation.

  5. Experiment Research on Hot-Rolling Processing of Nonsmooth Pit Surface.

    PubMed

    Gu, Yun-Qing; Fan, Tian-Xing; Mou, Jie-Gang; Yu, Wei-Bo; Zhao, Gang; Wang, Evan

    2016-01-01

    In order to achieve the nonsmooth surface drag reduction structure on the inner polymer coating of oil and gas pipelines and improve the efficiency of pipeline transport, a structural model of the machining robot on the pipe inner coating is established. Based on machining robot, an experimental technique is applied to research embossing and coating problems of rolling-head, and then the molding process rules under different conditions of rolling temperatures speeds and depth are analyzed. Also, an orthogonal experiment analysis method is employed to analyze the different effects of hot-rolling process apparatus on the embossed pits morphology and quality of rolling. The results also reveal that elevating the rolling temperature or decreasing the rolling speed can also improve the pit structure replication rates of the polymer coating surface, and the rolling feed has little effect on replication rates. After the rolling-head separates from the polymer coating, phenomenon of rebounding and refluxing of the polymer coating occurs, which is the reason of inability of the process. A continuous hot-rolling method for processing is used in the robot and the hot-rolling process of the processing apparatus is put in a dynamics analysis.

  6. Experiment Research on Hot-Rolling Processing of Nonsmooth Pit Surface

    PubMed Central

    Gu, Yun-qing; Fan, Tian-xing; Mou, Jie-gang; Yu, Wei-bo; Zhao, Gang; Wang, Evan

    2016-01-01

    In order to achieve the nonsmooth surface drag reduction structure on the inner polymer coating of oil and gas pipelines and improve the efficiency of pipeline transport, a structural model of the machining robot on the pipe inner coating is established. Based on machining robot, an experimental technique is applied to research embossing and coating problems of rolling-head, and then the molding process rules under different conditions of rolling temperatures speeds and depth are analyzed. Also, an orthogonal experiment analysis method is employed to analyze the different effects of hot-rolling process apparatus on the embossed pits morphology and quality of rolling. The results also reveal that elevating the rolling temperature or decreasing the rolling speed can also improve the pit structure replication rates of the polymer coating surface, and the rolling feed has little effect on replication rates. After the rolling-head separates from the polymer coating, phenomenon of rebounding and refluxing of the polymer coating occurs, which is the reason of inability of the process. A continuous hot-rolling method for processing is used in the robot and the hot-rolling process of the processing apparatus is put in a dynamics analysis. PMID:27022235

  7. A process for the production of a scale-proof and corrosion-resistant coating on graphite and carbon bodies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fitzer, E.

    1981-01-01

    A process for the production of a corrosion resistant coating on graphite and carbon bodies is described. The carbon or graphite body is coated or impregnated with titanium silicide under the addition of a metal containing wetting agent in a nitrogen free atmosphere, so that a tight coating is formed.

  8. Blast Coating of Superelastic NiTi Wire with PTFE to Enhance Wear Properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dunne, Conor F.; Roche, Kevin; Twomey, Barry; Hodgson, Darel; Stanton, Kenneth T.

    2015-03-01

    This work investigates the deposition of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) onto a superelastic NiTi wire using an ambient temperature-coating technique known as CoBlast. The process utilises a stream of abrasive (Al2O3) and a coating medium (PTFE) sprayed simultaneously at the surface of the substrate. Superelastic NiTi wire is used in guidewire applications, and PTFE coatings are commonly applied to reduce damage to vessel walls during insertion and removal, and to aid in accurate positioning by minimising the force required to advance, retract or rotate the wire. The CoBlast coated wires were compared to wire treated with PTFE only. The coated samples were examined using variety of techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD), microscopy, surface roughness, wear testing and flexural tests. The CoBlast coated samples had an adherent coating with a significant resistance to wear compared to the samples coated with PTFE only. The XRD revealed that the process gave rise to a stress-induced martensite phase in the NiTi which may enhance mechanical properties. The study indicates that the CoBlast process can be used to deposit thin adherent coatings of PTFE onto the surface of superelastic NiTi.

  9. The Role of Zinc Layer During Wetting of Aluminium on Zinc-coated Steel in Laser Brazing and Welding

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gatzen, M.; Radel, T.; Thomy, C.; Vollertsen, F.

    The zinc layer of zinc-coated steel is known to be a crucial factor for the spreading of liquid aluminium on the coated surface. For industrial brazing and welding processes these zinc-coatings enable a fluxless joining between aluminium and steel in many cases. Yet, the reason for the beneficial effect of the zinc to the wetting process is not completely understood. Fundamental investigations on the wetting behaviour of single aluminium droplets on different zinc-coated steel surfaces have revealed a distinct difference between coated surfaces at room temperature and at elevated temperature regarding the influence of different coating thicknesses. In this paper the case of continuous laser brazing and welding processes of aluminium and commercial galvanized zinc-coated steel sheets are presented. It is shown that in the case of bead-on-plate laser beam brazing, the coating thickness has a measureable effect on the resulting wetting angle and length but does not have a significant impact in case of overlap laser beam welding. This might be linked to different heat transfer conditions. The results also strongly indicate that proper initialbreakup of oxide layers is still required to accomplish good wetting on zinc-coated surfaces.

  10. Application of the near-infrared spectroscopy in the pharmaceutical technology.

    PubMed

    Jamrógiewicz, Marzena

    2012-07-01

    Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is currently the fastest-growing and the most versatile analytical method not only in the pharmaceutical sciences but also in the industry. This review focuses on recent NIR applications in the pharmaceutical technology. This article covers monitoring, by NIR, of many manufacturing processes, such as granulation, mixing or drying, in order to determine the end-point of these processes. In this paper, apart from basic theoretical information concerning the NIR spectra, there are included determinations of the quality and quantity of pharmaceutical compounds. Some examples of measurements and control of physicochemical parameters of the final medicinal products, such as hardness, porosity, thickness size, compression strength, disintegration time and potential counterfeit are included. Biotechnology and plant drug analysis using NIR is also described. Moreover, some disadvantages of this method are stressed and future perspectives are anticipated. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Dual chain synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs

    DOEpatents

    Zamora, Paul O [Gaithersburg, MD; Pena, Louis A [Poquott, NY; Lin, Xinhua [Plainview, NY

    2012-04-24

    The invention provides synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs having two peptide chains each branched from a branch moiety, such as trifunctional amino acid residues, the branch moieties separated by a first linker of from 3 to about 20 backbone atoms, which peptide chains bind a heparin-binding growth factor receptor and are covalently bound to a non-signaling peptide that includes a heparin-binding domain, preferably by a second linker, which may be a hydrophobic second linker. The synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs are useful as pharmaceutical agents, soluble biologics or as surface coatings for medical devices.

  12. Dual chain synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs

    DOEpatents

    Zamora, Paul O [Gaithersburg, MD; Pena, Louis A [Poquott, NY; Lin, Xinhua [Plainview, NY

    2009-10-06

    The invention provides synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs having two peptide chains each branched from a branch moiety, such as trifunctional amino acid residues, the branch moieties separated by a first linker of from 3 to about 20 backbone atoms, which peptide chains bind a heparin-binding growth factor receptor and are covalently bound to a non-signaling peptide that includes a heparin-binding domain, preferably by a second linker, which may be a hydrophobic second linker. The synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs are useful as pharmaceutical agents, soluble biologics or as surface coatings for medical devices.

  13. Valsartan.

    PubMed

    Ardiana, Febry; Suciati; Indrayanto, Gunawan

    2015-01-01

    Valsartan is an antihypertensive drug which selectively inhibits angiotensin receptor type II. Generally, valsartan is available as film-coated tablets. This review summarizes thermal analysis, spectroscopy characteristics (UV, IR, MS, and NMR), polymorphism forms, impurities, and related compounds of valsartan. The methods of analysis of valsartan in pharmaceutical dosage forms and in biological fluids using spectrophotometer, CE, TLC, and HPLC methods are discussed in details. Both official and nonofficial methods are described. It is recommended to use LC-MS method for analyzing valsartan in complex matrices such as biological fluids and herbal preparations; in this case, MRM is preferred than SIM method. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Electrostatic formation of liquid marbles and agglomerates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liyanaarachchi, K. R.; Ireland, P. M.; Webber, G. B.; Galvin, K. P.

    2013-07-01

    We report observations of a sudden, explosive release of electrostatically charged 100 μm glass beads from a particle bed. These cross an air gap of several millimeters, are engulfed by an approaching pendant water drop, and form a metastable spherical agglomerate on the bed surface. The stability transition of the particle bed is explained by promotion of internal friction by in-plane electrostatic stresses. The novel agglomerates formed this way resemble the "liquid marbles" formed by coating a drop with hydrophobic particles. Complex multi-layered agglomerates may also be produced by this method, with potential industrial, pharmaceutical, environmental, and biological applications.

  15. Formulation and process considerations affecting the stability of solid dosage forms formulated with methacrylate copolymers.

    PubMed

    Petereit, H U; Weisbrod, W

    1999-01-01

    General considerations concerning the stability of coated dosage forms are discussed, in order to avoid predictable interactions which may cause long-term stability problems. As polymers themselves maintain a high chemical stability and a low reactivity, instability phenomena mainly have to be explained by interactions of low molecular weight substances or physical changes. Possible interactions of functional groups can be predicted easily and insulating subcoates are proper countermeasures. Impurities, remaining in the polymeric material from the manufacturing process, may accelerate the hydrolysis of sensitive drugs. Instabilities of coated dosage forms are mainly based on physical interactions, caused by improper formulations of coating suspensions (i.e. plasticizers or pigments) or the film coating process. Residual moisture or solvents, probably enclosed in the core and migrating over time, may increase the permeability of coatings, due to plasticizing effects. The functionality of coatings from aqueous dispersions is linked to coalescence of latex particles. Thus any incomplete film formation, caused by too high or too low coating temperatures, may result in high permeable coatings. During storage, preferably under stress conditions this process will continue and thus change the release profile. Therefore bed temperatures of 10-20 degrees C above MFT must ensure the formation of homogeneous polymer layers during the coating process. Stability test procedures and packaging materials also need to be adapted to the physicochemical properties of the dosage form, in order to get meaningful results in stability tests.

  16. Process optimization for particle removal on blank chrome mask plates in preparation for resist application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osborne, Stephen; Smith, Eryn; Woster, Eric; Pelayo, Anthony

    2002-03-01

    As integrated circuits require smaller lines to provide the memory and processing capability for tomorrow's marketplace, the photomask industry is adopting higher contrast resists to improve photomask lithography. Photomask yield for several high-contrast resist recipes may be improved by coating masks at the mask shop. When coating at a mask shop, an effective method is available that uses coat/bake cluster tools to ensure blanks are clean prior to coating. Many high-contrast resists are available, and some are more susceptible to time-dependent performance factors than conventional resists. One of these factors is the time between coating and writing. Although future methods may reduce the impact of this factor, one current trend is to reduce this time by coating plates at the mask shop just prior to writing. Establishing an effective process to clean blanks prior to coating is necessary for product quality control and is a new task that is critical for maskmakers who previously purchased mask plates but have decided to begin coating them within their facility. This paper provides a strategy and method to be used within coat/bake cluster tools to remove particle contamination from mask blanks. The process uses excimer-UV ionizing radiation and ozone to remove organic contaminants, and then uses a wet process combined with megasonic agitation, surfactant, and spin forces. Megasonic agitation with surfactant lifts up particles, while the convective outflow of water enhances centripetal shear without accumulating harmful charge.

  17. National transparency assessment of Kuwait's pharmaceutical sector.

    PubMed

    Badawi, Dalia A; Alkhamis, Yousif; Qaddoumi, Mohammad; Behbehani, Kazem

    2015-09-01

    Corruption is one of several factors that may hinder the access to pharmaceuticals. Since Kuwait has the highest per-capita spending on pharmaceuticals in the region, we wanted to evaluate the level of transparency in its pharmaceutical sector using an established assessment tool adapted by the World Health Organization. Standardized questionnaires were conducted via semi-structured interviews with key informants to measure the level of transparency in eight functions of the public pharmaceutical sector. The scores for the degree of vulnerability to corruption reflected marginal to moderate venerability to corruption for most pharmaceutical sectors. The perceived strengths included availability of appropriate laws, the presence of clear standard operating procedures, and the use of an efficient registration/distribution system. Weaknesses included lack of conflict of interest guidelines and written terms of reference, absence of pharmacoeconomic studies, and inconsistencies in law enforcement. Findings reveal that few functions of Kuwait pharmaceutical sector remain fairly vulnerable to corruption. However, the willingness of Kuwait Ministry of Health to adopt the assessment study and the acknowledgement of the weaknesses of current processes of the pharmaceutical sector may assist to achieve a transparent pharmaceutical system in the near future. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Metal Coatings

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1994-01-01

    During the Apollo Program, General Magnaplate Corporation developed process techniques for bonding dry lubricant coatings to space metals. The coatings were not susceptible to outgassing and offered enhanced surface hardness and superior resistance to corrosion and wear. This development was necessary because conventional lubrication processes were inadequate for lightweight materials used in Apollo components. General Magnaplate built on the original technology and became a leader in development of high performance metallurgical surface enhancement coatings - "synergistic" coatings, - which are used in applications from pizza making to laser manufacture. Each of the coatings is designed to protect a specific metal or group of metals to solve problems encountered under operating conditions.

  19. Phosphorus recovery from fosfomycin pharmaceutical wastewater by wet air oxidation and phosphate crystallization.

    PubMed

    Qiu, Guanglei; Song, Yonghui; Zeng, Ping; Xiao, Shuhu; Duan, Liang

    2011-06-01

    Fosfomycin pharmaceutical wastewater contains highly concentrated and refractory antibiotic organic phosphorus (OP) compounds. Wet air oxidation (WAO)-phosphate crystallization process was developed and applied to fosfomycin pharmaceutical wastewater pretreatment and phosphorus recovery. Firstly, WAO was used to transform concentrated and refractory OP substances into inorganic phosphate (IP). At 200°C, 1.0MPa and pH 11.2, 99% total OP (TOP) was transformed into IP and 58% COD was reduced. Subsequently, the WAO effluent was subjected to phosphate crystallization process for phosphorus recovery. At Ca/P molar ratio 2.0:1.0 or Mg/N/P molar ratio 1.1:1.0:1.0, 99.9% phosphate removal and recovery were obtained and the recovered products were proven to be hydroxyapatite and struvite, respectively. After WAO-phosphate crystallization, the BOD/COD ratio of the wastewater increased from 0 to more than 0.5, which was suitable for biological treatment. The WAO-phosphate crystallization process was proven to be an effective method for phosphorus recovery and for fosfomycin pharmaceutical wastewater pretreatment. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Double dielectric barrier (DBD) plasma-assisted deposition of chemical stabilized nanoparticles on polyamide 6,6 and polyester fabrics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ribeiro, A. I.; Modic, M.; Cvelbar, U.; Dinescu, G.; Mitu, B.; Nikiforov, A.; Leys, C.; Kuchakova, I.; Vanneste, M.; Heyse, P.; De Vrieze, M.; Carneiro, N.; Souto, A. P.; Zille, A.

    2017-10-01

    The development of new multifunctional textiles containing nanoparticles (NPs) has a special interest in several applications for pharmaceutical and medical products. Cu, Zn and Ag are the most promising antimicrobial NPs, exhibiting strong antibacterial activities. However, most of antimicrobial textiles coated with NPs are not able to perform a controlled release of NPs because of the high degree of aggregation. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of NPs stabilizers such as citrate, alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in Cu, Zn and Ag NPs dispersions. The obtained dispersions were used to develop a new class of antibacterial NPs coatings onto polyamide 6,6 (PA66) and polyester fabrics (PES) by Double Dielectric Barrier (DBD) plasma discharge. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to evaluate the best dispersing agent in terms of size, polydispersity index and zeta potential. Coating efficiency was evaluated by SEM, XPS and FTIR. The washing fastness of the coatings developed was also tested. The results show that the best dispersions were obtained using 2.5% of citrate for ZnO, 5% Alginate for Cu and 2.5% alginate for Ag NPs. SEM, XPS and FTIR analysis shows that DBD is an efficient deposition technique only for Ag and Cu NPs and that better perform in PA66 than PES fabric. The DBD deposition in air display similar results in term of NPS deposition of usually more efficient plasma jets using carrier gas such as N2 and Ar.

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