Pharmaceuticals and Food
MicroCT and microXRF have become integral tools used in inspection of pharmaceutical packaging and for developing new drug delivery methods and new food products. Sigray’s EclipseXRM provides 3D rapid non-destructive analysis of pharmaceutical formulations and their packaging and of food products. The AttoMap XRF microscope provides mapping of inorganic materials within a tablet for understanding active ingredient distribution and detection of contaminants. AttoMap can also be used for studying nanoparticle distribution in biological tissue.
MicroCT of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Packaging
3D x-ray microscopy (also known as microCT) is growing in recognition as an essential tool for both failure analysis and R&D of new pharmaceuticals. For example, ultrahigh resolution (<300nm spatial) imaging of pore networks and active ingredients provide understanding of the drug release mechanisms. Feedback on internal structure can accelerate time-to-market during the research and development phase. After the product has been successfully developed, microCT is still needed to identify failures in pharmaceutical packaging.
EclipseXRM provides the highest resolution and highest contrast images for the wide range of samples that a pharamaceutical central laboratory will encounter: everything from polymeric drugs to packaged lyo cakes.
3D view and cross-sections of a Pepcid AC within its packaging
Food Sciences
MicroCT provides feedback on internal microstructure of foods during development of new products and to improve the shelf life of existing products. Because x-rays are highly penetrating and non-destructive, studies using in-situ cells can be conducted to understand morphological changes during food freezing, hydration, and heating. Sigray’s EclipseXRM provides the highest contrast available for understanding phenomena such as moisture and the distribution of oil and air interfaces in pores.
