Compaction of pharmaceutical tablets with different polymer matrices studied by FTIR imaging and X-ray microtomography.

Water soluble polymers are often used in tablet compaction for their desirable compaction and dissolution properties. ATR-FTIR spectroscopic imaging has been used to analyze in situ the spatial distribution of different components in tablets with different compositions. Caffeine tablets made of three different polymer matrices, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and lactose, were investigated. It was found that the distribution of caffeine is strongly affected by the composition of polymer matrix used in the tablet. X-ray tomography was used to analyze the caffeine distribution as a complementary technique. The results obtained were compared to the ATR-FTIR spectroscopic images. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association