Statistical process control of cocrystallization processes: A comparison between OPLS and PLS.

Orthogonal partial least squares regression (OPLS) is being increasingly adopted as an alternative to partial least squares (PLS) regression due to the better generalization that can be achieved. Particularly in multivariate batch statistical process control (BSPC), the use of OPLS for estimating nominal trajectories is advantageous. In OPLS, the nominal process trajectories are expected to be captured in a single predictive principal component while uncorrelated variations are filtered out to orthogonal principal components. In theory, OPLS will yield a better estimation of the Hotelling's T2 statistic and corresponding control limits thus lowering the number of false positives and false negatives when assessing the process disturbances. Although OPLS advantages have been demonstrated in the context of regression, its use on BSPC was seldom reported. This study proposes an OPLS-based approach for BSPC of a cocrystallization process between hydrochlorothiazide and p-aminobenzoic acid monitored on-line with near infrared spectroscopy and compares the fault detection performance with the same approach based on PLS. A series of cocrystallization batches with imposed disturbances were used to test the ability to detect abnormal situations by OPLS and PLS-based BSPC methods. Results demonstrated that OPLS was generally superior in terms of sensibility and specificity in most situations. In some abnormal batches, it was found that the imposed disturbances were only detected with OPLS.

Particle sizing measurements in pharmaceutical applications: comparison of in-process methods versus off-line methods.

It has been previously described that when a sample's particle size is determined using different sizing techniques, the results can differ considerably. The purpose of this study was to review several in-process techniques for particle size determination (Spatial Filtering Velocimetry, Focused Beam Reflectance Measurements, Photometric Stereo Imaging, and the Eyecon® technology) and compare them to well-known and widespread off-line reference methods (laser diffraction and sieve analysis). To start with, a theoretical explanation of the working mechanism behind each sizing technique is presented, and a comparison between them is established. Secondly, six batches of granules and pellets (i.e., spherical particles) having different sizes were measured using these techniques. The obtained size distributions and related D10, D50, and D90 values were compared using the laser diffraction wet dispersion method as reference technique. As expected, each technique provided different size distributions with different D values. These dissimilarities were examined and explained considering the measurement principles behind each sizing technique. The particle property measured by each particle size analyzer (particle size or chord length) and how it is measured as well as the way in which size information is derived and calculated from this measured property and how results are presented (e.g., volume or mass distributions) are essential for the interpretation of the particle size data.

Development of a fluid bed granulation process control strategy based on real-time process and product measurements.

This article describes the results of three case studies conducted consecutively, in order to develop a process control strategy for a top-spray fluid bed granulation process. The use of several real-time particle size (i.e., spatial filter velocimetry and focused beam reflectance measurement) and moisture (i.e., near infrared (NIR) and Lighthouse near infrared spectroscopy) analyzers was examined. A feed-forward process control method was developed, where in-line collected granulation information during the process spraying phase was used to determine the optimum drying temperature of the consecutive drying phase. Via real-time monitoring of process (i.e., spraying temperature and spray rate) and product (i.e., granule size distribution and moisture) parameters during the spraying period, the batch bulk density was predicted at the end of the spraying cycle, using a PLS model. When this predicted bulk density was not meeting the desired value, the developed control method allowed the calculation of an adjusted drying temperature leading to the desired batch bulk density at the end of the granulation process. Besides the development of the feed-forward control strategy, a quantitative PLS model for in-line moisture content prediction of the granulated end product was built using the NIR data.

Chemiluminometric evaluation of melatonin and selected melatonin precursors' interaction with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

Melatonin is a hormone, a derivative of tryptophan, that possesses a potent scavenging capacity for the most reactive and dangerous free radicals, being an important protection against oxidative stress. In this work, an automated flow-based procedure for assessment of melatonin, tryptophan, and 5-hydroxytryptophan scavenging capacity was developed. The presented methodology involved a multi-pumping flow system and exploited the ability of selected compounds to inhibit the chemiluminescence reaction of luminol with hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and peroxynitrite anion. The system was based on the use of several solenoid actuated micro-pumps as the only active components of the flow manifold. This enabled the reproducible insertion and efficient mixing of very low volumes of sample and reagents as well as the transportation of the sample zone toward detection for monitoring the chemiluminometric response. Furthermore, the high versatility of the proposed multi-pumping flow system allowed the implementation of distinct reactions for the in-line generation of the different reactive species assayed without requiring physical reconfiguration. The results obtained demonstrated that 5-hydroxytryptophan is the most potent scavenger, followed by melatonin and tryptophan. The developed multi-pumping flow system exhibited good measurement precision (relative standard deviations typically <2%, n=10), low operational costs, and low reagent consumption.

Automatic multi-pumping flow system for the chemiluminometric screening of scavenging capacity against singlet oxygen.

An automated multi-pumping flow system was developed for the in-line generation of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) and subsequent assessment of the scavenging capacity against this reactive species. (1)O(2) was generated by dismutation of hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by molybdate ions. The evaluation of the scavenging capacity was based on the inhibition of the chemiluminescence reaction of luminol with (1)O(2). The proposed system used solenoid micro-pumps as the only active components of the flow manifold, enabling the reproducible insertion and efficient mixing of sample and reagents as well as the transportation of the sample zone towards detection for chemiluminescence measurement, assuring a strictly reproducible timing of all analytical tasks. Several compounds were evaluated as possible (1)O(2) scavengers. The obtained results showed that only ascorbic acid, dipyrone and tryptophan exhibited scavenging capacity, with IC(50) values of 3.36 × 10(-5), 7.84 × 10(-5) and 1.28 × 10(-2) mol L(-1), respectively.