Verification of component distribution in pharmaceuticals

Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive investigation technique that can identify and differentiate chemical substances on the microscale. In combination with chemometric methods, it provides an analytical toolset based on confocal microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy that allows for the chemical profiling of heterogeneous materials with a precision of less than 1 µm. This application note from Thermo Fisher Scientific details a study where the Thermo Scientific™ DXR3xi Raman Imaging Microscope was used to assess the distribution of the components in liquisolid tablets manufactured with different process parameters utilizing a Thermo Scientific™ Pharma 16 Twin-Screw Extruder as a continuous processor. Either simethicone or a combination of simethicone and loperamide hydrochloride were used as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the tablets.