A novel transflectance near infrared spectroscopy technique for monitoring hot melt extrusion.

A transflectance near infra red (NIR) spectroscopy approach has been used to simultaneously measure drug and plasticiser content of polymer melts with varying opacity during hot melt extrusion. A high temperature reflectance NIR probe was mounted in the extruder die directly opposed to a highly reflective surface. Carbamazepine (CBZ) was used as a model drug, with polyvinyl pyrollidone-vinyl acetate co-polymer (PVP-VA) as a matrix and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a plasticiser. The opacity of the molten extrudate varied from transparent at low CBZ loading to opaque at high CBZ loading. Particulate amorphous API and voids formed around these particles were found to cause the opacity. The extrusion process was monitored in real time using transflectance NIR; calibration and validation runs were performed using a wide range of drug and plasticiser loadings. Once calibrated, the technique was used to simultaneously track drug and plasticiser content during applied step changes in feedstock material. Rheological and thermal characterisations were used to help understand the morphology of extruded material. The study has shown that it is possible to use a single NIR spectroscopy technique to monitor opaque and transparent melts during HME, and to simultaneously monitor two distinct components within a formulation.

Monitoring ibuprofen-nicotinamide cocrystal formation during solvent free continuous cocrystallization (SFCC) using near infrared spectroscopy as a PAT tool.

The purpose of this work was to explore NIR spectroscopy as a PAT tool to monitor the formation of ibuprofen and nicotinamide cocrystals during extrusion based solvent free continuous cocrystallization (SFCC). Drug and co-former were gravimetrically fed into a heated co-rotating twin screw extruder to form cocrystals. Real-time process monitoring was performed using a high temperature NIR probe in the extruder die to assess cocrystal content and subsequently compared to off-line powder X-ray diffraction measurements. The effect of processing variables, such as temperature and mixing intensity, on the extent of cocrystal formation was investigated. NIR spectroscopy was sensitive to cocrystal formation with the appearance of new peaks and peak shifts, particularly in the 4800-5200 cm(-1) wave-number region. PXRD confirmed an increased conversion of the mixture into cocrystal with increase in barrel temperature and screw mixing intensity. A decrease in screw rotation speed also provided improved cocrystal yield due to the material experiencing longer residence times within the process. A partial least squares analysis in this region of NIR spectrum correlated well with PXRD data, providing a best fit with cocrystal conversion when a limited range of process conditions were considered, for example a single set temperature. The study suggests that NIR spectroscopy could be used to monitor cocrystal purity on an industrial scale using this continuous, solvent-free process.

A legacy of violence in nonorganic failure to thrive.

It is often postulated that a mother's past experiences influence her ability to function as a parent. If those past experiences involve her as a victim of abuse, what lies ahead for her offspring? We studied 59 mothers of children referred for nonorganic failure to thrive (NOFTT) to the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and compared their abuse history with a group of 131 mothers of children with normal growth. The mothers of NOFTT children were younger but of the same socioeconomic groups as the comparison mothers. Mothers of NOFTT children had a significantly higher history of abuse when compared to the comparison group p < 0.001. A surprising 80% of mothers of NOFTT children reported they were victims of abuse. We alert clinicians to the likelihood that mothers of children with NOFTT may be victims of abuse and that successful treatment of the child depends upon treatment of the mother-child dyad.

Use of cation-exchange resin for the detection of alkylpyridines in beer.

A method has been devised whereby trace amounts of certain basic compounds, such as pyridines, may be detected and semi-quantified in beer in the presence of an excess of other flavour constituents including pyrazines. The method involves steam distillation of beer under reduced pressure and subsequent passage of the distillate through a column of weakly acidic Zerolit cation-exchange resin. The resin is eluted with aqueous sodium chloride, the eluate extracted with organic solvent and the concentrated extract analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Using this technique with multiple ion detection, a series of alkylpyridines was readily detectable in beers and worts at levels below 1 ppb.