Fiber Optic Dissolution Testing

Abstract

Dissolution testing is an important part ofthe Drug Release Group ofa pharmaceutical company. Technology has brought about new and faster testing equipment that utilizes fiber optic cables. One limitation to this system is the inescapable added scattering of the turbid particles in the solution of interest. Scattering is different for every size and shape ofparticle so it is difficult to remove this unwanted contribution to the spectrum. The individual particles spectra are additive when placed in combination with each other and can easily be subtracted from the spectrum when their concentrations are known. However when an absorber or other such substance is placed in solution with particles ofunknown quantity it is more difficult to remove the added scattering. Although with the use offirst and second derivatives of the spectrum the scattering begins to disappear, especially for the larger particle sizes.