The poster contributed by Deborah Huck, Anne Virden, Paul Kippax and Carl Levoguer examined the use of automated image analysis and laser diffraction for characterising nasal spray formulations. The use of imaging and Raman spectroscopy together, in Malvern’s new Morphologi G3-ID system, was viewed as ‘revolutionary’ by the poster judging panel, offering researchers a unique tool for understanding the degree of interaction between APIs and excipients within OINDP formulations.

These highly complementary techniques have applications for a variety of inhaled products. Dry powder inhaler development, which demands detailed study of the dynamics of powder entrainment and dispersion, as well as an understanding of the structure of the delivered particles, offers another example. Techniques which can follow the process of particle dispersion, and then identify which species have been dispersed to a respirable particle size, can offer significant benefits, especially when developing new combination therapies.