Ultrasound transmission measurements for tensile strength evaluation of tablets

• Published in: International journal of pharmaceutics Vol. 409; no. 1; pp. 104 - 110
• Main Authors: Simonaho, Simo-Pekka, Takala, T. Aleksi, Kuosmanen, Marko, Ketolainen, Jarkko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 16-05-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Calcium phosphate; calcium phosphates; Calcium Phosphates - chemistry; Cellulose; Cellulose - chemistry; Excipients - chemistry; General pharmacology; ingredients; Lactose; Lactose - chemistry; Mechanical properties; Medical sciences; nondestructive methods; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Powder; powders; Speed of Sound; Statistical analysis; Tablet; Tablets; Tensile Strength; ultrasonics; Ultrasonics - methods; Ultrasound; Tablet; Ultrasound; Speed of Sound; Tensile strength; Measurement; Evaluation; Pharmaceutical technology; Dosage form; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0378-5173; 1873-3476
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2011.02.033

Ultrasound transmission measurements were performed to evaluate the tensile strength of tablets. Tablets consisting of one ingredient were compressed from dibasic calcium phosphate dehydrate, two grades of microcrystalline cellulose and two grades of lactose monohydrate powders. From each powder, tablets with five different tensile strengths were directly compressed. Ultrasound transmission measurements were conducted on every tablet at frequencies of 2.25
MHz, 5
MHz and 10
MHz and the speed of sound was calculated from the acquired waveforms. The tensile strength of the tablets was determined using a diametrical mechanical testing machine and compared to the calculated speed of sound values. It was found that the speed of sound increased with the tensile strength for the tested excipients. There was a good correlation between the speed of sound and tensile strength. Moreover, based on the statistical tests, the groups with different tensile strengths can be differentiated from each other by measuring the speed of sound. Thus, the ultrasound transmission measurement technique is a potentially useful method for non-destructive and fast evaluation of the tensile strength of tablets.