Taste sensing systems (electronic tongues) for pharmaceutical applications

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Electronic tongues (e-tongues) are sensor array systems utilizing specialized membranes and electrochemical techniques for substance detection.
• While established in the food industry, e-tongues are increasingly adopted in pharmaceuticals for taste assessment.
• Challenges in traditional drug taste evaluation, including toxicity and subjectivity, drive the need for objective alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of electronic tongues in the pharmaceutical industry.
• To provide guidance on system qualification, quality control, formulation development, and method validation.
• To explore approaches for both solid and liquid dosage forms.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and commercial/prototype electronic tongue systems.
• Summarization of application fields within pharmaceuticals.
• Discussion of methods for solid and liquid dosage forms.

Main Results:

• Electronic tongues present a viable, objective alternative to subjective taste assessment in drug development.
• Applications span system qualification, quality control, formulation, and comparative analyses of drug products.
• Identified challenges include the difficulty in obtaining absolute taste statements and the need for more validated data.

Conclusions:

• Electronic tongues show significant promise for pharmaceutical taste analysis, especially for pediatric formulations.
• Further research and data validation are crucial for establishing comprehensive guidance and expanding applications.
• Standardized methodologies and validation protocols are essential for the future of e-tongues in pharmaceuticals.