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Updated: Jul 29, 2025

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering CARS Microscopy Visualizes Pharmaceutical Tablets During Dissolution
Published on: July 4, 2014
Application of a novel PhysioCell apparatus for biopredictive dissolution tests of oral immediate release
Michał Romański1, Marcela Staniszewska2, Jadwiga Paszkowska2
1Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 3 Rokietnicka St., 60-806 Poznań, Poland.
Abstract:
Biorelevant dissolution tests of oral solid dosage forms open the gate to valid in vitro-in vivo predictions (IVIVP). A recently developed apparatus, PhysioCell, allows mimicking the fluid flow and pressure waves occurring in the human fasted stomach. In this work, we used the PhysioCell to perform IVIVP for vortioxetine immediate-release (IR) tablets: the originator (Brintellix) and generic product candidates (VORTIO). The dissolved drug was monitored in the gastric (StressCell) and intestinal (Collection Vessel) compartments that contained biorelevant media. Simulated intermittent gastric stress at 15 min and "housekeeping wave" at 30 min increased the dissolution of Brintellix formulations only. A mechanistic model that best described the observations involved the first-order tablet disintegration with a stress-induced enhancement for Brintellix, dissolution of solid particles in the StressCell, and drug transfer to the Collection Vessel. Then, a semi-mechanistic pharmacokinetic model with dissolution parameters as inputs simulated vortioxetine plasma concentrations in healthy volunteers after single and multiple dosing of Brintellix. Despite different dissolution characteristics, VORTIO provided similar concentration profiles to the originator. In conclusion, PhysioCell dissolution tests, combined with semi-mechanistic IVIVP, can be successfully used to develop IR dosage forms exhibiting gastric stress-related effects.
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