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A comparative study on two electronic tongues for pharmaceutical formulation development
Katharina Woertz1, Corinna Tissen, Peter Kleinebudde
1Institute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany. Katharina.Woertz@uni-duesseldorf.de
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
|March 1, 2011
Summary
Electronic tongues (sensor arrays) assess pharmaceutical taste. Both tested systems accurately correlated with human taste, with the TS-5000Z system passing performance qualification for taste-masked drug development.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Sensor Technology
- Pharmaceutical Science
Background:
- Electronic tongues are sensor arrays used for taste assessment in pharmaceuticals.
- Two leading systems, AlphaMOS Astree2 and Insent TS-5000Z, utilize potentiometry with different sensor technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare the Astree2 and TS-5000Z electronic tongue systems for pharmaceutical applications.
- Evaluate their applicability and limitations in taste assessment and taste-masking development.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of software, sensors, and measurement procedures.
- Analytical experiments using substances of varying ionic character (sodium saccharin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, quinine, caffeine).
- Performance qualification and validation against human taste assessment.
Main Results:
- Both systems detected ionic substances more readily than neutral ones.
- The TS-5000Z system completed performance qualification; both systems passed validation correlating with human taste.
- Taste masking of ibuprofen and quinine hydrochloride by maltodextrin was successfully evaluated by both systems.
- The TS-5000Z demonstrated better inter-day reproducibility due to its reference measurement approach.
Conclusions:
- Both electronic tongue systems are suitable for pharmaceutical taste assessment and taste-masking development.
- The Insent TS-5000Z offers superior inter-day reproducibility.
- Further research can leverage these systems to enhance oral drug formulation development.
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