Pharma: The application of texture analysis on the latest developments

As with all healthcare-related topics, the integration of these trends and innovations into the industry involves rigorous testing, regulatory scrutiny, and continuous monitoring for safety and efficacy. The following innovations provide a glimpse into the future of medicine and the direction in which medical care is heading.

What are the new ingredient and product ideas in pharmaceutical and medical product research, development and production and how can a Texture Analyser be applied?

Pharmaceuticals and medical products are ever-evolving sectors with continuous research to improve efficacy, delivery mechanisms, and patient outcomes. Here are some of the newer ingredient and product ideas in pharmaceutical and medical research, development, and production and a typical academic reference to show how the Texture Analyser has already being applied:

• Personalised medicine: Custom-tailored treatments for individual patients based on their genetic makeup or unique response profiles, ensuring maximum efficacy and minimal side effects
• Biosimilars: Biologically derived drugs that are "similar" to another already FDA-approved biological product. They can provide more affordable treatment options once the original product's patents expire.
• Biodegradable implants: Devices or implants made from materials designed to break down over time in the body, reducing the need for follow-up surgeries for removal.
• 3D Printed drugs and medical devices: Utilising 3D printing technology to create patient-specific pills or medical devices.
• Nanomedicine: Using nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery, improving the precision and effectiveness of treatments.
• Smart pills: Pills embedded with digestible sensors to monitor drug intake, ensuring patients adhere to their medication regimens.
• Gene and cell therapies: Treatments that involve altering the genes inside a patient's cells to treat or prevent disease.
• Extended-release formulations: Drugs designed to be released over a prolonged period, reducing the frequency of doses needed.
• Wearable medical devices: Devices like glucose monitors and heart rate trackers that patients can wear to monitor various health metrics continuously.
• Microbiome therapies: Drugs or treatments designed to target or utilise the body's microbiome (the collection of microbes living in and on our bodies) to promote health and treat diseases.
• Biologics: Proteins, monoclonal antibodies, or nucleic acids used to treat diseases. Examples include drugs for autoimmune diseases and certain types of cancer.
• RNA therapeutics: Utilising RNA molecules, such as siRNA or mRNA, to treat diseases. mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 are a notable example.
• Immunotherapies: Leveraging the body's immune system to target and destroy disease, especially in cancer treatment.
• Peptides: Short chains of amino acids that can act as hormones, neurotransmitters, or growth factors.
• Prodrugs: Inactive compounds that become active drugs when metabolised in the body, allowing for targeted delivery or improved drug properties.
• Synthetic biology: Designing and constructing novel biological entities or redesigning existing biological systems.
• Drug-eluting devices: Stents or patches that slowly release drugs over time to a targeted area.
• Digital therapeutics: Software-based therapies, sometimes paired with drugs, to treat diseases.
• Orphan drugs: Drugs developed specifically for rare diseases.
• Neurotech devices: Devices interfacing with the brain or nervous system, including neuroprosthetics or brain-computer interfaces.
• Advanced wound care: Products that use technologies like negative pressure or hydrogels to promote wound healing.

Here is some recent interesting research in pharmaceutical and medical product development using the Texture Analyser:

• Development of a standardized method for measuring bioadhesion and mucoadhesion that is applicable to various pharmaceutical dosage forms
• 3D printed microneedles for anticancer therapy of skin tumours
• Challenges in the development of drug device combination products for biopharmaceuticals (PDF)
• Texture analysis–a versatile tool for pharmaceutical evaluation of solid oral dosage forms
• 3D printed biodegradable multifunctional implants for effective breast cancer treatment
• A new approach to atopic dermatitis control with low-concentration propolis-loaded cold cream
• Texture Analysis and Bioadhesive of a Hydrogel as Platforms for Herbal Gel in Sports Massage
• Semi-solid extrusion 3D printing ODFs: an individual drug delivery system for small scale pharmacy

Using a Texture Analyser in pharmaceutical and medical product development

In the realm of pharmaceutical and medical product research and development (R&D), the Texture Analyser assumes a pivotal role, contributing to the advancement of products with enhanced performance and user experience. This versatile instrument finds applications across diverse areas, playing a crucial role in optimising pharmaceutical and medical products.

The Texture Analyser's capabilities encompass critical evaluations, such as tablet hardness and friability, gauging the strength of tablets and their resistance to chipping or breakage during handling. Additionally, it delves into the realm of gel consistency, where it meticulously assesses the viscosity and stability of medical gels and ointments, influencing their application and effectiveness. The Texture Analyser's significance extends to patient comfort, as it quantifies needle penetration force, determining the force required for a needle to penetrate tissues or medical delivery devices. This assessment ensures the design and functionality of products align with patient well-being. Furthermore, the tool is instrumental in evaluating swelling properties of hydrogel-based products and certain drug delivery mechanisms, offering insights into their fluid absorption, and swelling behaviour.

The Texture Analyser's impact on medical stents is profound, elucidating their compressibility and response under compressive forces. The evaluation of adhesive strength, a critical aspect for medical tapes, patches, and transdermal delivery systems, ensures their secure attachment. Coating durability analysis assesses the resilience and effectiveness of protective or functional coatings on pills or medical devices, thus contributing to the longevity of products.

While dissolution rates are traditionally analysed through dissolution apparatus, the Texture Analyser provides complementary insights into how specific drug formulations might degrade or dissolve over time. In the realm of medical devices, it quantifies syringe plunger force, guaranteeing user-friendliness by assessing the force required to depress a syringe plunger. Finally, the Texture Analyser's assessment of soft gel capsule integrity ensures these capsules exhibit the necessary strength and flexibility. Through its multifaceted applications, the Texture Analyser strengthens the foundation of pharmaceutical and medical product innovation, enriching product quality, functionality, and patient well-being. By understanding and optimising these properties, pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers can ensure that their products are effective, safe, and user-friendly. Texture Analysers provide the quantitative data needed to make informed decisions during the product development process.

Typical pharmaceutical product test and resulting graph

Find out more about typical tests that a Texture Analyser can perform for pharmaceutical and medical product texture measurement.

Request an article about how to apply a Texture Analyser to pharmaceutical and medical product testing.

There is a Texture Analysis test for virtually any physical property. Contact Stable Micro Systems today to learn more about our full range of solutions.

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For more information on how to measure texture, please visit the Texture Analysis Properties section on our website.

The TA.XTplusC texture analyser is part of a family of texture analysis instruments and equipment from Stable Micro Systems. An extensive portfolio of specialist attachments is available to measure and analyse the textural properties of a huge range of food products. Our technical experts can also custom design instrument fixtures according to individual specifications.

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