The department of pharmaceutics is equipped with small angle diffraction, small angle scattering and wide angle diffraction devices. This enables us to offer a broad range of services like stability testing, structural analysis in context with patented modifications or in process controls.
Drug liberation from its formulation and permeation studies can be performed using both excised human skin, excised stratum corneum and skin or cornea equivalents. By this means the ideal formulation for a dermal or ocular application can be found out.
Cytotoxicity of drugs and excipients is examined with cultures of epidermal and dermal cells. These examinations supplement the results of other compatibility tests.
Microscopy with digital image processing and optical methods based on scattering and diffraction of light are available. The department of pharmaceutics features devices like Malvern Master- and Zetasizer, BeckmanCoulter LS 13320 with PIDS technology and ECA (Emulsion Characteristics Analyzer). The latter provides a measurement without dilution of the sample.
Based on an AiF project an assay for the stabilty testing of ointments, creams and emulsions has been developed. The department of pharmaceutics performs those studies by orders of companies that do not feature the necessary equipment and consults them with the development of a competitive product.
The submicroscopic structure of formulations can be visualised by TEM. The images provide conclusions about the frameworks of ointments and creams or the stability of an emulsion. Other colloidal structures of different size like liposomes and their multilamelar layers can be identified as well. Thus the TEM is a valuable tool for stability examinations.
