Monash Scientists Selects Freeman Technology’s FT4 Universal Powder Tester

Freeman Technology’s FT4 universal powder tester is being used by a team of Australian scientist. The technology is used to develop methods for improving the flow properties of excipients used to carry inhaled drugs, reported Pharmacy Europe.

Pharmacy Europe quoted David Morton at Monash University as saying: “It has shown that the dynamic qualities of excipients such as lactose can be measured more accurately with the FT4 tester than using conventional techniques.”

Monash team found that using FT4 to compare the influence on the powder behaviour of this technique with a conventional blending approach, showed mechanofusion to be more effective.

Moreover, Lactose is used as a carrier for the APIs in inhaled formulations to improve delivery. One method of improving flow properties is by applying a very thin magnesium stearate coating using mechanofusion.

The team is now planing to use the FT4 to define parameters that enable the prediction of both in-process flow behaviour and aerosolisation, reported Pharmacy Europe.