All4Nutra
This poster was presented by RCPE, MERCK, TU Graz, Phyllon and hhu at the EuPFI conference 2025 in Bordeaux:
Introduction
Film-coated minitablets have become a popular dosage form for targeted patient populations, such as pediatrics, due to improved swallowing (<3 mm diameter) and flexible dosing. Minor alterations to the coating thickness can affect drug release and dose uniformity in active coatings. Thus, monitoring the coating process becomes imperative.
The current study aims to use, for the first time, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) as promising process analytical technology (PAT) to monitor the thickness and structure of coating layers of minitablets.
Methods
Composition (API-loaded and Placebo)
Amlodipine Besylate 4.3%
Water
Parteck® COAT (PVA 5-88)
Triethyl Citrate
Talc
Results
- Coating layer thickness increases over time in both placebo and API-loaded minitablets
- API-loaded cores show quicker thickness increase → higher solid content
- Smoother minitablet surface in the placebo minitablets → API in suspension
- Direct proportionality on the increase of the coating thickness for placebo and API-loaded minitablets
Conclusion
- UHR-OCT can detect a coating thickness increase in the placebo and API-loaded minitablets
- Large number of automatic detections of the coating layer in a very short time
- UHR-OCT is a promising PAT for inline monitoring of the coating of minitablets
- Future work will focus on the inline implementation of UHR-OCT
See the full technical poster on Coating monitoring of pediatric minitablets using OCT here
(click the picture to download the poster)
Source: Poster Coating monitoring of pediatric minitablets using Optical, Coherence Tomography (OCT),
R. Martins Fraga, L. L. D. Uth, M. Beretta, V. Herndler, T. Kipping, O. Zupančič, J. Breitkreutz, M. Spoer, J. Khinast, RESEARCH CENTER PHARMACEUTICAL ENGINEERING, MERCK, TU Graz, Phyllon Pharmaceutical technology, hhu Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, www.rcpe.at
