Hydrodynamic Particle Trapping for Dissolution Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the dissolution properties of pharmaceutical substances, particularly for small sample amounts, are inefficient and often damage the samples due to mechanical affixation, require extensive manual labor, and lack universal applicability, leading to inaccurate results and high resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that trap particles in a dissolution vessel using hydrodynamic fluid motion, allowing for imaging without mechanical clamping, enabling the determination of dissolution rate, intrinsic dissolution rate, and solubility through sequential imaging and computer analysis, without the need for substance-specific validation or chemical analytical methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual affixation methods (clamping or gluing) are used to immobilize particles for imaging, then particles can be kept in fixed position for imaging, but the particles may be damaged during affixation and the process becomes laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical affixation systems (clamps, glue) with an optical imaging system that captures particles in their natural suspended state. The imaging device records particle positions and dissolution without physical contact, eliminating mechanical damage while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dissolution medium flow as an intermediary that naturally positions particles in the observation zone without mechanical contact. The flowing medium serves as a carrier that brings particles into view and maintains them there during imaging, replacing the need for direct mechanical affixation.
2Measurement precision
If chemical analysis methods are used for small sample amounts, then accurate dissolution properties can be obtained, but the methods are resource consuming and specific to each substance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an optical copy (image) of the particle and its dissolution process instead of consuming the sample through chemical analysis. The imaging system captures visual information about particle size, shape, and dissolution rate without requiring chemical reagents or destroying the sample, enabling non-consumptive measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a universal imaging-based method that can measure dissolution properties of any substance without substance-specific validation. The same optical imaging system and image analysis algorithm work for all particles, replacing the need for substance-specific chemical analysis methods.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If particles are trapped using hydrodynamic motion, then particles can be imaged without mechanical contact, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dissolution medium's own flow to perform the trapping function. The medium flows in a controlled pattern that naturally creates recirculation zones where particles are held without external mechanical trapping structures. The system uses itself (the flowing medium) to provide the trapping function, avoiding additional complex components.
4Productivity
If traditional dissolution testing is performed on large numbers of candidate compounds, then comprehensive screening is possible, but the amount of sample required is too large when each compound is available in very small amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts from testing bulk samples to testing individual particles or very small numbers of particles. By segmenting the sample into single particles, the method enables high-throughput screening of many candidate compounds with minimal sample consumption per compound, allowing comprehensive evaluation of large numbers of substances.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides accurate, efficient, and cost-effective dissolution property testing for small sample amounts, reducing manual labor and sample damage, and enabling faster drug development by obtaining reliable data with minimal sample consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the particle trapping zone being formed at least partially by continuous hydrodynamic motion of the dissolution medium
Implementation Method 2
imaging the particle residue while being trapped in said particle trapping zone for providing a plurality of sequential images of the particle residue
Implementation Method 3
providing the particle into said vessel in contact with the dissolution medium for dissolving the particle
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a method and system for determining dissolution properties of a particle. The method comprises providing into a vessel dissolution medium capable of dissolving the particle and providing the particle into said vessel in contact with the dissolution medium for dissolving the particle. According to the invention, the particle is trapped in a particle trapping zone formed at a predetermined location in the vessel, the particle trapping zone being formed preferably at least partially by continuous hydrodynamic motion of the dissolution medium. Residue of the particle is imaged while being trapped in said particle trapping zone for providing a plurality of sequential images of the particle residue. Finally, at least one dissolution property of the particle is determined based on the sequential images. The invention allows for dissolution rate, intrinsic dissolution rate and/or solubility of matter to be reliably determined from very small sample amounts and without manual affixation of samples.