Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026

In Vitro Model of Physiological and Pathological Blood Flow with Application to Investigations of Vascular Cell Remodeling
Published on: November 3, 2015
Effects of Pump Pulsation on Hydrodynamic Properties and Dissolution Profiles in Flow-Through Dissolution Systems
Hiroyuki Yoshida1, Akemi Kuwana2, Hiroko Shibata2
1Division of Drugs, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kamiyoga 1-18-1, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 158-8501, Japan. h.yoshida@nihs.go.jp.
Purpose:
To clarify the effects of pump pulsation and flow-through cell (FTC) dissolution system settings on the hydrodynamic properties and dissolution profiles of model formulations.
Methods:
Two FTC systems with different cell temperature control mechanisms were used. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to analyze the hydrodynamic properties of test solutions in the flow-through dissolution test cell. Two pulsation pumps (semi-sine, full-sine) and a non-pulsatile pump were used to study the effects of varied flows on the dissolution profiles of United States Pharmacopeia standard tablets.
Results:
PIV analysis showed periodic changes in the aligned upward fluid flow throughout the dissolution cell that was designed to reduce the temperature gradient during pump pulsation (0.5 s/pulse). The maximum instantaneous flow from the semi-sine pump was higher than that of the full-sine pump under all conditions. The flow from the semi-sine wave pump showed faster dissolution of salicylic acid and prednisone tablets than those from other pumps. The semi-sine wave pump flow showed similar dissolution profiles in the two FTC systems.
Conclusions:
Variations in instantaneous fluid flow caused by pump pulsation that meets the requirements of pharmacopoeias are a factor that affects the dissolution profiles of tablets in FTC systems.
Related Concept Videos
In Vitro Drug Dissolution: Compendial Testing Models II
In Vitro Drug Dissolution: Compendial Testing Models I
In Vitro Drug Dissolution: Alternative Methods
Drug Dissolution: Requirements and Profile Comparison
Theories of Dissolution: The Danckwerts' Model and Interfacial Barrier Model
Theories of Dissolution: Diffusion Layer Model
This process starts with a thin layer, saturated with the drug, forming at the interface between the solid and liquid. The solute then diffuses from this layer into the main solution. The Noyes-Whitney equation suggests that the rate of dissolution relies on the diffusion...

