Near-Infrared Analysis and Process Control of Pharmaceutical Pelletization Processes

This study explored the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy in the determination of pharmaceutical pellet characteristics and to predict desired process endpoints during fluidized bed drug suspension layering and coating operations. Various strengths of diltiazem HCl pellets were prepared via a tangential-spray rotogranulation process and subsequently coated Eudragit RS30D in a Wurster column. In-line and at-line near-IR process monitoring methods were evaluated. Quantitative calibrations for potency, applied polymer solids and dissolution were developed using several different regression models. Both in-line and at-line determinations of pellet potency were effectively accomplished with average standard errors of prediction of 1.11% and 0.63%, respectively. Near-IR prediction of pellet potency of pilot-scale batches was also achieved using data from laboratory-scale experiments. For Wurster coating operations, in-line and at-line near-IR regression models for predicting applied polymer solids were developed which demonstrated R2 values of 0.98 or greater and standard errors of calibration less than 0.6%. Prediction of a t50% dissolution metric within 7 minutes of actual values was possible for pellets exhibiting 8 to 12 hour release characteristics. Qualitative assessment of applied polymer solids was also accomplished using Mahalanobis distance and bootstrap pattern recognition algorithms. This study has demonstrated the potential of near-IR spectroscopy in quantitative and qualitative assessment of pelletized pharmaceutical product characteristics and in the identification of process endpoints. Future implementation of these techniques could potentially reduce production cycle-times associated with the acquisition of laboratory test results and ensure product quality compliance throughout various stages pellet manufacturing.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Pharmaceutics

Year dc:date.available

2009

Author dc:creator

• Wargo, David J.

Contributors dc:contributor

• James Drennen
• Lawrence Block
• Carl Anderson
• Peter Wildfong
• Mitchell Johnson

• Coating
• Near-IR
• NIR
• Pelletization
• Pharmaceutical
• Process Control

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1340

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2356