In-line control of high shear granulation

Genzyme reduces probe fouling and improves NIR data using the Lighthouse Probe™

Genzyme, one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, was looking for a PAT solution to control the high shear granulation of a development product by measuring a critical product attribute, rather than relying purely on time based processing or impeller current loading. The company used an optimized Lighthouse Probe™ to get representative NIR data of a granulation process. This article explains how the data was then correlated to moisture content, bulk/tapped density and particle size of the final product.

The reason for choosing a Lighthouse Probe™ was to expose as much product to the detector as possible. This was an important consideration for a high shear granulation process where changes in the process can happen quickly. Furthermore the scanning technology used in the spectrometer was FT-NIR, which has a relatively slow scan speed when compared to diode array based spectrometers.

Also the article describes how probe fouling was overcome, by using the probe in a high shear wet granulation process. The system is capable of being upgraded to a full GMP system for installation in production.

Introduction
Genzyme was in phase three of the clinical trials of a new drug. The API had a small particle size, and associated poor flow properties. This presented Genzyne with a challenge when forming the dosage for patient administration. To improve the flow characteristics the API was to be formed into granules with other excipient materials by a high shear wet granulation process.

Genzyme chose to use the Lighthouse Probe™ from GEA Pharma Systems to monitor a high shear granulation process and to measure and quantify critical granule attributes. These measurements enabled the company to monitor the formation of the granules during the process to achieve an optimal granule size distribution.

The experiment used an FT-NIR spectrometer. This technology, whilst having high resolution and low signal-to-noise ratio for spectra, has a relatively slow scanning speed, compared to monochromatic-based spectrometers, such as diode array. Therefore, for the spectrometer to receive as much information as possible on what is occurring during the granulation process, a sample interface with a large window that would not suffer from fouling was required.

The Lighthouse Probe™
The Lighthouse Probe™ solves the traditional problem in pharmaceutical processing of product sticking to observation windows of the process analyser. It can be used with a variety of spectroscopic techniques, including NIR (Near Infrared), to take reliable in-process measurements of quality-critical product characteristics during processing, for example active content identification, uniformity, moisture content, particle morphology and coat growth during coating operations.

The probe is particularly useful when working with wet or sticky products when it is essential to ensure a clear view of the product. Conventional windows can easily become fouled when processing these types of products. The Lighthouse Probe™ uses an in-line window wash to keep a clear view at all times. Further features are the in-line calibration as well as end-of-process full CIP (Clean-in-Place).

Experimental setup
The experiment used a Bruker Matrix-F spectrometer, attached to GEA Lighthouse Probe™ operating in a PMA-1 10 L Granulator Bowl. The Lighthouse Probe™ was inserted through customised opening in the granulator lid viewing window (see fig 1).

The experiment
The experiment analysed 20 Batches in a manufacturing process DoE, which included five factors related to the high shear wet granulation step. NIR spectra were collected from the granulation process at a scanning speed of approximately one spectra every five seconds. The last six spectra collected from each granulation step was averaged and correlated against granule attributes, such as water content at the end of granulation, as well as particle size and density of the final blended product. The wet granules were subsequently tray dried, milled and blended with a lubricant.

Principle component analysis was performed on the change in spectra throughout the granulation process to provide an insight into what was occurring during the granulation process.

Results and discussion
Principal component analysis of the spectra highlighted changes in the granulation process and also highlighted the effects of changes in granulation parameters. This can be seen in the Hotelling’s T2 plot (slide 2), where the first batch in the experiment had a shorter processing time due to less water added and a slower spray rate, relative to the second batch. It is thought these inflexions indicated on the plot could be related to the point where there is sufficient water added to activate the binder in the formulation of the drug product.

Good correlation was achieved for a dynamic model for correlation of the averaged spectra at the end of the granulation process to:

Water by Karl Fischer – See slide 3
Particle size D90 and D50 values for final blend
Bulk and Tapped Density - See slide 4

Conclusions
Genzyme were looking for a PAT solution which would enable control of the high shear granulation step for a development product by measuring of a product attribute, rather than relying purely on time based processing or impeller current loading.

The Lighthouse Probe™ showed that it is well suited to monitoring a high shear wet granulation process when used as the sample interface with a NIR spectrometer. It minimises the potential for probe fouling based on the 360o window and allows for the maximum absorbance of light from the spectrometer, with which to provide a signal for correlation.

The Lighthouse Probe™ produced satisfactory initial models against key granule attributes such as water content, particle size and bulk tapped density.

This study proved the feasibility of Lighthouse Probe™ technology for monitoring and eventual control of a high shear wet granulation process.

GEA Pharma Systems is part of the GEA Group and a specialist in powder handling machinery for the pharmaceutical sector. Products include: tablet presses, granulation and agglomeration equipment, high containment valves, bulk handling equipment, and freeze drying systems for pharmaceuticals

For further editorial information contact:
Steve Jordan
The Words Workshop Ltd.
26 Swanwick Lane, Milton Keynes, MK10 9LD, England.
Tel: +44 (0) 1908 695500 Fax: +44 (0) 1908 690099
mailto:steve@thewordsworkshop.co.uk
http://www.thewordsworkshop.co.uk

For further business information contact:

All business enquiries to:
Tomas Vermeire
Lighthouse Probe Product Manager
GEA Pharma Systems
ColletteTM
Tel: +32 3 350 1258
mailto:tomas.vermeire@geagroup.com

This release was published on openPR.