Home > Applications > Controlled Release Testing

ORAL DELIVERY
Powder compaction High or low tolerance Powder Compaction Rigs allow measurement of the compaction forces of powders.	Granule compaction Cylinder probes can be used to assess compressibility/fracture strength properties of a single granule or a mono-layer of granules.	Powder Flow Analysis A Powder Flow Analyser provides a tool for measurement of flow properties such as caking, cohesion, flow speed dependence.
Tablet hardness Indentation hardness utilises a spherical probe to apply a specified load to characterise tabletting performance of individual components and mixtures.	Tablet strength Mechanical strength is an important determinant of tablet drug release; diametral compression provides objective failure behaviour used to monitor and control the degree of compaction.	Mini 3 point bend Allows measurement of mechanical/ tensile strength of small diameter tablets, indicating ability to withstand the rigours  of handling, transportation, dispensing and usage.
Bilayer tablet shear Enables tablet layer separation to be quantified by measuring the shear force and distance to failure.	Tablet/'Fast Melt' disintegration Provides a simple means by which to establish onset, rate and time of disintegration of fast dissolving tablets or wafers.	Tablet swelling Allows determination of dimensional changes associated with matrix  hydration and swelling by using small cylinder penetration.
Pellet swelling Progressive swelling behaviour of pellets can be accurately quantified during a defined period of liquid absorption.	Tablet coating adhesion Provides a quantitative measure of the adhesion strength of the coating to the tablet surface which is useful for studying the consequences of tablet coating formulation change.	Capsule burst strength Cylinder probes are used for puncture and compression of capsules to assess puncture resistance, burst point and seal strength.
Capsule/loop tensile rig Measures the force required to split one half of a hard gel capsule, highlighting elastic stiffness, tensile force and elongation at break point.	Tensile grips Allow the investigation of tensile properties of candidate films and thus the clinical performance of the final drug delivery device formulation.	Film support rig Allows the testing of thin, film-like products to measure burst strength, resilience and relaxation properties.

TRANSDERMAL/DERMAL DELIVERY
90° peel rig Peel strength of films or patch formulations can be investigated using porcine or synthetic skin secured to the sliding platform of a 90 degree peel rig.	Flexible substrate clamp Offers easier sample mounting and skin securing for the measurement of the adhesion of a flexible substrate material when withdrawn from a sample.	180° peel test For determination of the comparative  180° peeling or stripping characteristics  which are essential for the application  of adhesive bandages, dressings or  patches.
Spherical probe adhesion test A 1" spherical probe is often used to assess adhesive characteristics such as 'tack', adhesive cohesion and work of adhesion of transdermal patches, wound dressings.	Peltier plate Adhesive testing performed at constant temperature (e.g. 35°C for skin controlled by a Peltier Plate attached to a texture analyser) provides a more accurate measurement.	Back extrusion Assesses the consistency or extrudability of such products as gels, creams and lotions which affects removal from containers and product application.
PARENTERAL DELIVERY
Syringe actuation force Allows the measurement of the  aspiration and extraction forces  of syringes for the delivery of  injectable cements or polymers.	Gel properties Typical measurements include gel strength, Bloom strength (according to ISO standard), rupture force, adhesiveness, gel forming points and elasticity/brittleness.	Multiple indexing plate Allows ten adhesive measurements to be performed and is quickly indexable and centrally aligned to the next test region for sample setting determination.
Stent compression A cylinder probe compression test provides a measure of mechanical strength, rupture force and elasticity of coronary stents.
PULMONARY DELIVERY	MUCOSAL DELIVERY
Inhaler support rig Enables the performance of the metering valve to be assessed using a hemispherical probe which best mimics the action of the finger for drug delivery.	Mucoadhesion rig Mucoadhesion measurement of solid dosage forms, semi-solids and even systems which solidify on contact with the target organ can be performed.
RECTAL DELIVERY	VAGINAL DELIVERY	OCULAR DELIVERY
Suppository penetration Enables suppositories to be accurately evaluated to compare differences in ingredients, processing conditions and behaviour under different temperature conditions.	Intra-vaginal rings Measures the compressional force required to depress vaginal rings to determine mechanical strength of the rings before and after drug release.	Contact lens  A cylinder probe compression test provides a measure of mechanical strength and flexibility/rigidity of contact lenses.