A robotic dissolution system with on-line fiber-optic UV analysis

An automated, robotic system has been developed with on-line UV fiber optics for real time dissolution analysis of solid dosage forms. The system is comprised of "off-the-shelf" hardware including a UV-Vis diode array spectrophotometer, fiber optic coupler, immersion probe, robot, and dissolution apparatus. The software system is modular with the functionalities of control, data acquisition, and spectral analysis separated into three Windows applications with communications performed via Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). The fiber optic spectrophotometer collects a full spectrum over the range of 190-810 nm. Single wavelength UV analysis is performed on dosage forms in six dissolution vessels. The robotic system automates all facets of the analyses: measuring, degassing, and dispensing of the media; thermostating the media to physiologic temperature; dropping the dosage forms into the vessels; immersing the fiber optic probe at the appropriate time intervals; initiating the data acquisition, analyses, and reporting; and emptying and washing of the vessels prior to the next automated run. As a representative dosage form, 10 mg active tablets were selected and analyzed by this method. This fiber optic system has significantly improved the throughput of the robotic systems by eliminating the need for time consuming off-line HPLC or UV analyses. In addition, with the exception of system calibration, it is no longer necessary for laboratory personnel to come in contact with samples.