Anders Sparén

Comparison of different variable selection methods conducted on NIR transmission measurements on intact tablets

Near infrared (NIR) transmission spectroscopy is a promising method for fast quantitative measurements on pharmaceutical tablets, but there are still some problems to overcome in order to incorporate the technique as a control tool in tablet production. The main problem is the limited precision for multivariate calibrations based on NIR transmission data. The precision is affected by several factors, where one of the most important is which variable to include in the multivariate calibration model. In this work, four different methods for variable selection in partial least square (PLS) regression were studied and compared to a calibration made with manually selected wavelengths. The methods used were genetic algorithm (GA), iterative PLS (IPLS), uninformative variable elimination by PLS (UVE-PLS) and interactive variable selection for PLS (IVS-PLS). All methods improved the predictive abilities of the model compared to the model where the wavelengths were selected manually. For the data set used in this work, IVS-PLS and GA achieved the best results with improvements in prediction error by 20%, but further measurements and investigations have to be made before any general conclusion can be drawn.

Time-resolved NIR/Vis spectroscopy for analysis of solids: Pharmaceutical tablets

Time-resolved spectroscopy in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions was used in a feasibility study for analysis of solid pharmaceuticals. The objective of the experiments was to study the interaction of light with pharmaceutical solids and to investigate the usefulness of the method as an analytical tool for spectroscopic analysis. In these experiments, a pulsed Ti:sapphire laser and white light generation in water was utilized to form a pulsed light source in the visible/NIR region. The light was focused onto the surface of tablets, and the transmitted light was detected by a time-resolving streak camera. Two types of measurements were performed. First, a spectrometer was put in front of the streak camera for spectral resolution. Secondly, the signal originating from different locations of the sample was collected. Time-resolved and wavelength/spatially resolved data were generated and compared for a number of different samples. The most striking result from the experiments is that the typical optical path length through a 3.5-mm-thick tablet is about 20–25 cm. This indicates very strong multiple scattering in these samples. Monte Carlo simulations and comparison with experimental data support very high scattering coefficients on the order of 500 cm−1. Furthermore, the data evaluation shows that photons with a particular propagation time through the sample contain a higher chemical contrast than other propagation times or than steady-state information. In conclusion, time-resolved NIR spectroscopy yields more information about solid pharmaceutical samples than conventional steady-state spectroscopy.

In-Situ Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Monitoring of the Lyophilization Process

AbstractPurpose. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to monitor the freeze-drying process in-situ. Methods. The experiment was performed in a pilot-scale freeze-dryer, in which the NIRS probe was interfaced using a lead-through to the lyophilizer. Special equipment for the sample presentation was developed. NIRS measurements were made using a FT (Fourier transform)-NIR spectrometer fitted with a single fiber reflectance probe. Results. The physical changes, that is, freezing, sublimation, and desorption, generated significant spectral changes. There was good agreement between NIRS monitoring and product temperature monitoring about the freezing process and the transition from frozen solution to ice-free material. The NIRS monitoring also provided new information about the process that was not possible to detect with product temperature monitoring, such as the rate of the desorption process and the steady-state where the drying was complete. The NIRS monitoring yields significantly more information about the actual process and essentially explains the observed changes of the product temperature during the lyophilization process. Conclusions. NIRS monitoring is a viable tool for in-situ monitoring, both qualitatively and quantitatively. It can facilitate investigations of the drying process within a sample. The small volume monitored makes sample presentation very important.

Comparison of multivariate methods for quantitative determination with transmission Raman spectroscopy in pharmaceutical formulations

The use of transmission Raman spectroscopy for quantitative assessment of pharmaceutical tablets using different multivariate approaches was investigated. Although Raman spectroscopy is most often used in backscatter geometry, in this paper a transmission approach was utilized, where the Raman scattered light is detected at the back side of the tablets. Raman spectra were recorded using a dispersive spectrometer with a 785 nm excitation laser and a typical exposure time of 10 s. The tablets were loaded to a 32‐position sample rack and measured by an automated procedure. Tablets with variation in content of paracetamol were manufactured. The data were evaluated with respect to the content of paracetamol, using partial least squares (PLS) and multivariate curve resolution (MCR). In addition, classical least squares (CLS), curve fitting and peak ratios were included for comparison. MCR, CLS and PLS gave comparable results with relative prediction errors for an independent test set in the range of 2.4–3.4%. Curve fitting and peak ratios gave higher prediction errors, typically around 4 and 6%, respectively. Interestingly, quantitative models based on only two samples in the calibration sets resulted in almost as good results as if half of the available tablets were included in the calibration. Due to the simple calibration models and the selective Raman spectra, the loadings and spectra were easy to interpret for all the multivariate methods used in this paper. The implications for content uniformity analysis by using transmission Raman in this simplified approach are discussed. Copyright

Combining experimental design and orthogonal projections to latent structures to study the influence of microcrystalline cellulose properties on roll compaction

Roll compaction is gaining importance in pharmaceutical industry for the dry granulation of heat or moisture sensitive powder blends with poor flowing properties prior to tabletting. We studied the influence of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) properties on the roll compaction process and the consecutive steps in tablet manufacturing. Four dissimilar MCC grades, selected by subjecting their physical characteristics to principal components analysis, and three speed ratios, i.e. the ratio of the feed screw speed and the roll speed of the roll compactor, were included in a full factorial design. Orthogonal projection to latent structures was then used to model the properties of the resulting roll compacted products (ribbons, granules and tablets) as a function of the physical MCC properties and the speed ratio. This modified version of partial least squares regression separates variation in the design correlated to the considered response from the variation orthogonal to that response. The contributions of the MCC properties and the speed ratio to the predictive and orthogonal components of the models were used to evaluate the effect of the design variation. The models indicated that several MCC properties, e.g. bulk density and compressibility, affected all granule and tablet properties, but only one studied ribbon property: porosity. After roll compaction, Ceolus KG 1000 resulted in tablets with obvious higher tensile strength and lower disintegration time compared to the other MCC grades. This study confirmed that the particle size increase caused by roll compaction is highly responsible for the tensile strength decrease of the tablets.

Broadband photon time-of-flight spectroscopy of pharmaceuticals and highly scattering plastics in the VIS and close NIR spectral ranges

We present extended spectroscopic analysis of pharmaceutical tablets in the close near infrared spectral range performed using broadband photon time-of-flight (PTOF) absorption and scattering spectra measurements. We show that the absorption spectra can be used to perform evaluation of the chemical composition of pharmaceutical tablets without need for chemo-metric calibration. The spectroscopic analysis was performed using an advanced PTOF spectrometer operating in the 650 to 1400 nm spectral range. By employing temporal stabilization of the system we achieve the high precision of 0.5% required to evaluate the concentration of tablet ingredients. In order to further illustrate the performance of the system, we present the first ever reported broadband evaluation of absorption and scattering spectra from pure and doped Spectralon®.

Light Leakage Effects with Different Sample Holder Geometries in Quantitative Near-Infrared Transmission Spectroscopy of Pharmaceutical Tablets

Transmission geometry is becoming an alternative to the conventional reflectance geometry in near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of pharmaceuticals. An advantage of transmission NIR is that it samples a volume whereas reflectance NIR merely samples the surface region of solid preparations. This leads to more representative measurements on complex matrices, such as some types of tablets. However, more attention must be paid to sample presentation with respect to light leakage. An investigation of the effects of the light leakage obtained with different sample holder geometries on content calibrations for transmission NIR on tablets was performed. Two different model samples, a composite and a compact tablet, were measured in sample wells in which the diameters and heights were varied according to a multivariate design. This was done in order to simulate a mismatch between the tablet and the sample well. Partial least-squares (PLS) models were built and used to evaluate the significance of the sample well geometry. Liquid chromatography was used as a reference method. As expected, for both types of tablets it was found that a small mismatch in tablet-to-well diameter deteriorated the repeatability of the NIR spectra, although, unexpectedly, this gave the best predictions and more robust models. In all, this indicates that light leakage should not be minimized at calibration, but included as a factor in the multivariate model that spans the future expected variation in light leakage.

A Review of PAT Strategies in Secondary Solid Oral Dosage Manufacturing of Small Molecules

Pharmaceutical solid oral dosage product manufacturing is a well-established, yet revolutionizing area. To this end, process analytical technology (PAT) involves interdisciplinary and multivariate (chemical, physical, microbiological, and mathematical) methods for material (e.g., materials, intermediates, products) and process (e.g., temperature, pressure, throughput, etc.) analysis. This supports rational process modeling and enhanced control strategies for improved product quality and process efficiency. Therefore, it is often difficult to orient and find the relevant, integrated aspects of the current state-of-the-art. Especially, the link between fundamental research, in terms of sensor and control system development, to the application both in laboratory and manufacturing scale, is difficult to comprehend. This review compiles a nonexhaustive overview on current approaches from the recognized academia and industrial practices of PAT, including screening, selection, and final implementations in solid oral dosage manufacturing, through a wide diversity of use cases. Finally, the authors attempt to extract a common consensus toward developing PAT application guidance for different unit operations of drug product manufacturing.

Matrix Effects in Quantitative Assessment of Pharmaceutical Tablets Using Transmission Raman and Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy.

Raman spectroscopy can be an alternative to near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) for nondestructive quantitative analysis of solid pharmaceutical formulations. Compared with NIR spectra, Raman spectra have much better selectivity, but subsampling was always an issue for quantitative assessment. Raman spectroscopy in transmission mode has reduced this issue, since a large volume of the sample is measured in transmission mode. The sample matrix, such as particle size of the drug substance in a tablet, may affect the Raman signal. In this work, matrix effects in transmission NIR and Raman spectroscopy were systematically investigated for a solid pharmaceutical formulation. Tablets were manufactured according to an experimental design, varying the factors particle size of the drug substance (DS), particle size of the filler, compression force, and content of drug substance. All factors were varied at two levels plus a center point, except the drug substance content, which was varied at five levels. Six tablets from each experimental point were measured with transmission NIR and Raman spectroscopy, and their concentration of DS was determined for a third of those tablets. Principal component analysis of NIR and Raman spectra showed that the drug substance content and particle size, the particle size of the filler, and the compression force affected both NIR and Raman spectra. For quantitative assessment, orthogonal partial least squares regression was applied. All factors varied in the experimental design influenced the prediction of the DS content to some extent, both for NIR and Raman spectroscopy, the particle size of the filler having the largest effect. When all matrix variations were included in the multivariate calibrations, however, good predictions of all types of tablets were obtained, both for NIR and Raman spectroscopy. The prediction error using transmission Raman spectroscopy was about 30% lower than that obtained with transmission NIR spectroscopy.

Exploring bacterial phenotypic diversity using factorial design and FTIR multivariate fingerprinting

Transmission Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were obtained from cultures of Staphylococcus aureus that were grown under sets of various environmental conditions enclosing ranges of potential conditions in wound sites. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether bacterial phenotypic diversity could be characterized by FTIR spectroscopy analyses of cultures of S. aureus grown under variable sets of environmental conditions. Designing experiments with full factorial design has shown to be a powerful way to explore an expectedly large array of phenotypic diversity of S. aureus. Various combinations of environmental conditions caused the bacteria to adapt their phenotype, which was assessed via FTIR spectral fingerprinting. Transmission FTIR spectroscopy was found to be superior to other vibrational spectroscopy techniques for this purpose because of its high sensitivity, reproducibility, and rapidity of analysis. The sample preparation presented was fundamental for reproducible results. Different spectral preprocessing methods were compared in combination with scaling methods to obtain distinguishable phenotypes in principal component analysis (PCA) models. Spectral preprocessing with combined filters, including standard normal variate transformation, Savitzky–Golay smoothing, and use of the first derivative in a PCA model with unit variance scaling, gave the most optimal clustering for the data in this study. Spectra obtained from each treatment group were found to have a unique FTIR profile with good reproducibility, and thus PCA resulted in full separation between all groups on three principal components. In conclusion, transmission FTIR spectroscopy in conjunction with design of experiment, and multivariate analysis are powerful tools to investigate phenotypic diversity of S. aureus. Copyright