Evaluating critical film coating characteristics of sustained-release coated pellets with different size using terahertz pulsed imaging

Cite this paper as: Haaser, M.; Karrout, Y.; Velghe, C.; Cuppok, Y.; Gordon, K.; Pepper, M.; Siepmann, J.; Strachan, C.; Taday, P.; Rades, T. Evaluating critical film coating characteristics of sustained-release coated pellets with different size using terahertz pulsed imaging. In Proceedings of the 2nd Electron. Conf. Pharm. Sci., 1-31 May 2012; Sciforum Electronic Conferences Series, 2012.

Sustained-release coated pellets with different sizes (6, 2.5 and 1 mm in diameter) were investigated using terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI). Three batches of metoprolol succinate layered sugar starter cores coated with a 75:25 (w/w) polymer blend of Kollicoat SR and Kollicoat IR (approximate coating thickness of 60 μm,according to the weight gain) were analysed to evaluate the effect of size on coating thickness and morphology (depicted by the terahertz electric field peak strength, TEFPS) Ten pellets from each batch were mapped individually using TPI. From the terahertz waveform the interface between coating and drug layer, and between drug layer and core were determined. The TPI measurements were carried out on pellet surface areas of approximately 33, 2.2 and 0.4 mm² for pellets with 6, 2.5 and 1 mm diameters, respectively. Results indicated a large variation in the average coating thickness between all pellet sizes. Smaller pellets (2.5/1 mm in diameter) showed a higher average coating thickness (81 and 70 μm, respectively) compared to 6 mm pellets (50 μm), suggesting a better coating efficiency for smaller pellets. This was also confirmed by scanning electron microcopy (SEM). Since no difference in the surface morphology could be observed using SEM, differences in the average TEFPS values between 6 mm pellets (16.2%) and 2.5/1 mm pellets (2.2 and 2.6%, respectively) are related to signal reflection loss due to the increase in curvature of smaller pellets. Although the largest pellets showed the thinnest average coating, the fastest drug release was obtained from the smallest pellets due to the larger surface area exposed to the dissolution media. Pellets of 2.5 mm in diameter showed a faster initial drug release with slower release kinetics at the end of dissolution testing compared to large pellets. TPI proved highly suitable to evaluate film coating characteristics as well as detect drug layer/core interface of different sized sustained-release coated pellets.

for more information and full paper see http://www.sciforum.net/presentation/808


also see http://www.teraview.com/applications/index.html

International Symposium on Frontiers in THz Technology (FTT 2012)

Late in the last century, the rapid development of terahertz technology began, and in this century, a variety of applications including industrial applications have come to be expected. Many new techniques have been presented, and various applications have been proposed. The full-scale industrial application of terahertz technology has just begun in worldwide. In Japan, Terahertz Technology Forum and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science have been promoting the industrial applications of terahertz technology. At this symposium we would like to highlight what can and cannot be accomplished using the technology once it has matured, and also its particular advantageous points as compared with other techniques.　We hope to further connect this discussion to future development and realistic industrial applications. Therefore, the scope of this symposium is to discuss the current state of affairs across a broad range—from basic technologies to industrial applications—and to clarify the prospects for the future.

Date	November 27-29, 2012
Venue	Todaiji Culture Center, Nara, JAPAN
Important Dates	June 30, 2012: Deadline for Abstract Submission  July 31, 2012 : Notification of Acceptance  Aug. 31, 2012 : Deadline for Submission of Extended Abstract  Oct. 15, 2012 : Deadline for Early Registration
Registration Fee	Before Oct. 15, 2012 Regular : JPY 50,000 / Student : JPY 20,000 After Oct. 16, 2012 Regular : JPY 60,000 / Student : JPY 25,000
Organized by	Committee on Terahertz Science  Technology and Industrial Development (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)  Terahertz Technology Forum
Technically  Co-sponsored by	The Japan Society of Infrared Science and Technology  The Spectroscopical Society of Japan  Professional Group of Terahertz Technology, The Japan Society of Applied Physics
Co-sponsored by	MIC, MEXT, JST

For more information see  http://www.ftt2012.com/index.html

For information about terahertz applications click here

More terahertz talks at the Ohio Innovation Sensor Summit

Session 2: Advances in THz Systems and Components (Pacey)
Moderator: Gilbert Pacey, Group leader CBRNE and THz Groups IDCAST/UDRI
The region of the electromagnetic spectrum known as terahertz (THz) has gained increasing interest due to availability of new sources and detection systems. Progress in ultrafast detection schemes, combined with femtosecond (1 fs ) 10-15 s) laser pumped nonlinear crystals, has brought the technique from specialized laboratories to realizing potential in mainstream applications. THz spectroscopy is a low power technique, facilitating nondestructive analysis of fragile materials; the energy in a THz pulse is less than typical background radiation present in the environment. The spectral range covers both rotational transitions from the microwave regime and vibrational modes from the infrared. This unique overlap of spectral features provides opportunities to analyze samples with completely new perspectives. The session will feature new hardware and applications that will extend the utilization of THz. The State of Ohio has a significant investment and presence in THz with the IDCAST THz Collaborative Research Laboratory, HELIOS, Tracycer Diagnostic Systems, Lake Shore Cryogenics, and Wright State University’s THz Group.
9:30 - 10:00	“First Results from World's Largest Format 80x64 Real Time THz Camera Traycer Diagnostics” Lee Mosbacker, Traycer Diagnostic Systems
10:00 - 10:30	“Turnkey solution for material characterization at THz frequencies” David Daughton, Lake Shore Cryotronics Inc, Application Scientist
10:30 - 10:45	Break
10:45 - 11:15	“Dayton Area Collaborative Development of Terahertz Waveguides and Metamaterial Devices”, Jason Deibel, Department of Physics, Wright State University
11:15 - 11:45	“Analytical Chemical Sensing in the THz Spectral Range”, Ivan Medvedev, Department of Physics, Wright State University

TeraView to present at the Ohio Innovation Sensor Summit

The Ohio Innovation Sensor Summit will be in Dayton, Ohio on June 12 and 13, 2012. The first day will have Keynotes, Concurrent lecture sessions, and a Tech Expo Mixer in the late afternoon and early evening. The second day will have keynotes, exhibitions, poster sessions and demonstrations of Ohio Sensor Technology. This event will be held at Dayton’s Tech Town 2020 located at the corner of Monument and Taylor Streets.

TeraView's will present on recent developments in the area of on-line terahertz sensors.  

To arrange a meeting with TeraView please contract Dr Rob May. 

To learn more about TeraView please visit our web site at www.teraview.com

For more information about the summit please visit the conference web site 

3rd EOS Topical Meeting on Terahertz Science & Technology (TST 2012)

17 - 20 June 2012, Kaiserstejnsky Palace, Prague, Czech Republic


The programme has now been published.


http://www.myeos.org/system/files/events/tst2012/EOS_TST2012_advance_programme.pdf


Invited speakers include;

Xi-Cheng Zhang, The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester (US).

Equation Chapter 1 Section 1THz wave air photonics: bridging the “gap” and beyond

Keith A. Nelson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)

High-field THz pulse generation and nonlinear THz spectroscopy

Edmund H. Linfield, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds (GB)

Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers

Marco Rahm, Department of Physics and Research Center OPTIMAS, University of Kaiserslautern (DE) & Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM (DE)

Metamaterial Terahertz Transmission Optics and Surface Waves

Oleg Mitrofanov, University College London (GB)

Progress in development of waveguides for terahertz applications

Kodo Kawase, Nagoya University, Ecotopia Science Institute (JP) & RIKEN, Advanced Science Institute (JP)

Nonlinear optical THz sources and applications

Miriam S. Vitiello, CNR- Istituto Nazionale di Ottica and LENS (European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy) (IT) & NEST, CNR - Istituto Nanoscienze and Scuola Normale Superiore (IT)

Quantum Cascade Lasers as versatile, narrow-linewidth sources in the Terahertz range

Giacomo Scalari, Institute of Quantum Electronics, ETH Zürich (CH)

THz LC microcavities: from quantum cascade lasers to ultrastrong light-matter coupling

Hynek Němec, Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (CZ)

What can we learn about charge transport from terahertz spectra?

Alexej Pashkin, University of Konstanz, Department of Physics and Center for Applied Photonics (DE)

Unconventional superconductors studied by ultrafast multi-terahertz spectroscopy

Junichiro Kono, Rice University, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering/ Department of Physics & Astronomy (US)

Terahertz Dynamics of Quantum-Confined Electrons in Carbon Nanomaterials

David G. Cooke, Department of Physics, McGill University (CA)

Sub-picosecond THz spectroscopy of polymer bulk heterojunction films

for other information see http://www.myeos.org/events/tst2012