High throughput formulation development

Using a Powdernium^® Workstation, supplied by Symyx Technologies Europe SA, a major pharmaceutical company has established an accurate automated powder dispensing system for high throughput development of new formulations.

Weighing and dispensing samples is one of the most tedious and time consuming tasks faced by formulation scientists. Manually dispensing sub-milligram to gram quantities of materials accurately and reproducibly often represents a significant bottleneck in laboratory workflow and keeps scientists from performing higher value tasks. Faced with limited staffing resources the Pharmaceutical company sought an accurate automated powder dispensing system that offered traceable results and could cope with several difficult-to-dispense materials.

As a leading provider of integrated workflow improvement solutions, Symyx was able to provide the customer with a versatile workstation solution for accurate dispensing of a broad range of powders into a selection of different receptacles. Using a proprietary self-learning algorithm the Powdernium workstation has enabled the formulation department to successfully handle 600 weighings / day of 5 different powders (project target) with a relative standard deviation [RSD ] of less than 5%. The significant improvements in formulation accuracy and throughput have been achieved in parallel with a reduction in the time taken to report results to the requesting laboratory and an overall reduction in operating costs.

Combining accurate balance weighing, an advanced software algorithm and GMP compliant dispensing heads - Powdernium technology enables laboratories to precisely dispense and record the transferred weight of a very wide range of materials from low density to free-flowing, cohesive, micronised materials and more. Designed to provide unmatched versatility the Powdernium workstation enables precise, traceable and reproducible dispensing of sub-milligram (0.05mg) to gram quantities of materials into a wide range of containers including capsules, bottles, vials, tubes, microplates, reactor blocks and crucibles. State-of-the-art automation including robust XY and two Z-axis controls, allows the Powdernium workstation to run unattended operations speeding development, reducing costs and improving consistency. Fault tolerant and adaptive the intelligent Powdernium Easy-Dose software provides real-time data display and record storage (supports CFR Part 11 compliance) about the dispensing cycle including batch conditions and operating parameters. Using optimisation algorithms the Powdernium workstation is able to dynamically monitor and automatically control any variability in powder properties during the filling process. Incorporating Swiss precision mechanics, intelligent automation, simplicity of operation and a high level of reliability - a Powdernium workstation can be quickly installed and adding to your bottom line in just days.

Typical formulation applications that will benefit from the Powdernium workstation include dispensing API's and excipients for solubility and polymorph screening, forced degradation and compatibility studies. For further information on how the Powdernium workstation can improve the accuracy and throughput of your formulation development please visit the article webpage or contact your local Symyx office.