In situ characterization of structural change and internal particle distributions of soft capsules based on synchrotron radiation X-ray micro computed tomography
10.16438/j.0513-4870.2019-0565
- VernacularTitle:基于同步辐射光源显微成像技术原位表征软胶囊结构变化及内部微粒分布
- Author:
Ting XIONG
1
,
2
;
Li WU
3
;
Hui PENG
4
;
Wei QIAN
4
;
Wen-ting WU
1
;
Wei-feng ZHU
1
;
Xian-zhen YIN
3
;
Ji-wen ZHANG
1
,
2
Author Information
1. School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China
2. Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
3. Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
4. By-Health Co., Ltd, Zhuhai 519040, China
- Publication Type:Research Article
- Keywords:
synchrotron radiation X-ray micro computed tomography;
italic>in situ;
propolis;
soft capsule;
structure;
particle;
stability
- From:
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica
2020;55(5):1030-1034
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
It is difficult to directly observe the structural transformation inside of soft capsules if their shells are opaque. This study was designed to noninvasively in situ measure the structural characteristics of the soft capsules and internal particle distributions to reveal the intrinsic quality of the soft capsules and develop a new technique for reverse engineering and the physical stability evaluation of the soft capsules. In this research, the CT projection images of soft capsules, namely, propolis soft capsules, were collected via synchrotron radiation X-ray micro computed tomography (SR-μCT). After three-dimensional reconstruction, the structural differences of the soft capsules under long-term test and accelerated test for 6 months were quantitatively analyzed by calculating the three-dimensional structure parameters such as volume, number and distribution of the particles inside and the thickness for the wall of the capsules. There were only a small number of particles evenly distributed in the soft capsules stored under common storage condition without layering. On the other hand, the shell wall of the soft capsule turned thinner locally at the occlusal portion and the particles with strong X-ray absorption were densely distributed at the edge of the capsule wall after the accelerated test. This study revealed that the structural parameters of soft capsules obtained by SR-μCT could be used to evaluate the influence of storage environment on the physical stability of soft capsules. The technology provides a new method for quality control and evaluation for the soft capsules.
