Claire Strasser
Caffeine exists under 2 polymorphic forms (I and II). Compression of form I induces its transformation into form II, leading to changes in its properties. Heating with DSC ensures that caffeine is in the correct form.
How do nucleating agents influence the crystallization behavior of your polymer in the mold? To answer questions like these, the kinetics of the crystallization reaction is determined for mixtures of polypropylene with different nucleating agents. The results are used to carry out predictions on the product behavior for any temperature programs.
Spray-dried a-lactose monohydrate is a matrix of amorphous lactose in which lactose monohydrate crystals are embedded. Humidity has no influence on the crystal but amorphous lactose is very hygroscopic: in presence of humidity, it will transform into the crystalline form. This has consequences on the tableting properties of the substance. Thermal Analysis gives you first Information about the water content of your lactose and the consequences for its compressing properties.
The glass transition of lactose is in direct relation with the stickiness and the flowability of powders containing it. This in turn influences the processing.
How to determine the shelf life of drugs without long time testing? First predictions about the shelf-life concerning thermal stability are achieved using thermogravimetric measurements with a kinetics Evaluation. This occurs within some hours or days.
Each of the modifications of a polymorph has different physical properties. That´s why they have to be characterized before processing, for example using DSC.
Drug excipient compatibility ensure that the efficacy of the active ingredient is not affected by the excipients. You get first information about compatibility and interaction of components with thermal analysis methods as DSC or TG.
Thermal stability of materials measured fast and easy with a thermobalance coupled to a FT-IR System. Here, this method is applied to determine the thermal stability of Eudragit® L100-55.